Governor Scott released his first recommended state budget for Vermont today. He prefaced his comments by pointing to Vermont’s shrinking workforce as our single largest obstacle – I wholeheartedly agree. His budget proposed a massive realignment of our education system to include early education and childcare as well as post secondary education, and innovative realignments at the Agency of Comerce and Department of Commerce. True to his word, he delivered a budget without an increase in taxes or fees, and which takes a fresh look at how government is best organized to serve Vermonters. It is the second part that I most appreciate, because we can’t level fund and protect the most vulnerable if we don’t examine how we are currently operating for opportunities to innovate.
The Governor has proposed a radical relook at our education system. He has proposed funding school districts at their FY 2017 district spending levels and holding median property tax bills to their current FY 2017 levels. I know at least one of my rural districts, currently looking at a .50 property tax increase despite cutting their budget by 750K, would very much like for this proposal to be possible. The Governor has also asked school boards, a number of whom have already finalized their budgets, to go back and sharpen their pencils in order to come back with level funded budgets. In order to accommodate that work, the Governor has proposed that all school budgets be voted on on May 28th, four months from today’s budget address. I hope to meet with the Administration in the coming days to understand how they envision this working with the myriad pending Act 46 votes and whether or not they are supporting an extension of any of the Act 46 deadlines as a result of this proposal.
Governor Scott has also proposed significant additional programs for Vermont’s property taxpayers to fund. We do not currently have an education system that can be easily modified to do what the Governor has recommended and maintain equity. The system we do have is in the process of a massive and historic reorganization. Here is a link to the Governor’s budget recommendations. I will be reading these recommendations with an open mind, remembering that Vermont students have equal protection under the law provided for them in the Vermont Constitution and that the property tax burden is largely considered to be untenable at current rates.
The Governor has also proposed that non-Medicaid eligible clients be able to bypass the Vermont Health Connect system to enroll with the healthcare provider of their choice, needed increases in funds for opiate treatment, investments in workforce housing, closing the Windsor work camp, a scholarship program for Vermont National Guardsman, and an entrepreneurial reorganization of Vermont’s Commerce and Labor entities.
The House Appropriations Committee has announced a series of public hearings on the Governor’s proposed budget. The full schedule is linked here, but the Southern Vermont hearing will be Feb 13th in Bellows Falls at the Windham Antiques Center at 6 pm. After reviewing the Governors recommend budget, consider either attending this hearing, or submitting written comments. Do you love the Governor’s proposals, or think you have a better idea? It actually does matter and your voice will be considered.
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are almost certainly right. Setting high expectations is an optimistic vote of confidence that a goal is achievable. I’m honored to represent so many people, school districts, businesses and towns that “think they can” and possess the Vermont optimism which allows us to take on big challenges without fear. I’m honored that these same folks “thought I could” and elected me as their representative two years ago. Representing a rural district heavily impacted by the recession and Irene, I have been immensely encouraged by the collaborations, recovery and growth we are seeing in our district. Stamford reaching out to work with Readsboro on improving internet service, Searsburg and Stratton working to partner on Act 46 to keep school choice for their students, Dover working for years with neighboring Wilmington to finally complete the Valley trail connecting villages and resorts or Dover and Wardsboro working together to determine if they can offer their students more opportunities. And of course the long term efforts of Whitingham and our neighbors in Wilmington to keep and improve their schools.
“With regard to the various levels of school choice that currently exist in the Valley, Section 4 of Act 46 specifically states that compliant districts cannot be forced to give up their existing school choice and that nothing in the Act is intended to take away school choice. It is important to note that a school district’s voters still have the ability to decide to change or alter school choice. The State Board of Education has elected to begin looking at the existing rules which allow independent and private schools to access public dollars. The Vermont School Boards Association, of which I am a board member, has testified that independent schools should be required to be held to a number of the same standards as public schools. A change in the rules of how independent/private schools can access public funding would require public meetings. To monitor this discussion, watch meetings, read materials and minutes presented at meetings go to 
I was talking to a young twenty-something at a breakfast last weekend and asked her if she was registered to vote. Not yet she said. I’ve known her she was little and so I pressed a bit. She then patiently explained to me that she is thoroughly disgusted by the presidential election, and that really, living in Vermont, her vote won’t count anyway.
from Dover, Readsboro, Searsburg, Somerset, Stamford, Wardsboro,
I have had to turn multiple campaign contributions away because as your independent state representative I continue to choose not to accept support from special interests, political parties or political action committees.