August 2, 2024
It’s shaping up to be an expensive summer for Vermonters, with cost pressures coming from every direction.
- Many faced sticker shock when opening their property tax bills in July, as on average, they’ve increased 13.8% statewide,
- The new childcare contribution has taken effect, adding the state’s new payroll tax,
- A new tax on prewritten software accessed remotely has now been enacted,
- A new study foreshadowed the potential cost of the Clean Heat Standard, and
- Health insurance costs are set to spike!
It’s election season and a great time to engage with your elected officials, share your perspective on these issues, and make your voice heard by voting!
In this update:
VOTE On Or Before August 13th
Voting is already underway for party primaries and represents your best opportunity to address issues around housing, public safety, and affordability. Candidates who win their contests on August 13th will be on the ballot on November 5th.
We’ve got the resources to help you!
Work Begins on Education System Woes, and How To Pay For It
The education system is straining Vermonters’ finances, and it’s clear things need to change. As part of the yield bill, which sets the statewide property tax rate, the Legislature created the Commission on the Future of Public Education. The Commission and its Steering Committee have now each had one meeting, and there is already concern that the focus will not be on the issue that precipitated the Commission’s creation; sky-high property taxes.
The Lake Champlain Chamber has assembled a working group focussing on the Vermont education system with the goals of;
- Following the work of the Commission,
- Better understanding of the issues of Vermont’s education system,
- Helping members and the community at large navigate the complexities that have led to unsustainable cost increases,
- Delivering possible solutions to the legislature to balance quality education with affordability.
For more information, contact [email protected]
Vermont’s Climate Goals Cost Coming Into Focus
This past week, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resourcesrreleased the state’s annual greenhouse gas emissions report, showing the state is on pace to hit emissions targets enshrined in statute via the Global Warming Solutions Act.
- However, climate advocates are taking issue with the accounting and the Conservation Law Foundation is taking the step of filing a lawsuit against the state asserting that the state will miss its 2025 emission targets.
Meanwhile, legislation passed to ensure that Vermont met its emissions targets has resulted in the creation of a Clean Heat Standard, which effectively creates a fee on fossil fuels used for heating.
- The Public Utilities Commission Clean Heat Standard Technical Advisory Group learned from a commissioned report that the program could cost upwards of $17.3 billion to operate over the next 25 years, a cost that was originally expected to be as low as $2 billion.
- The cost of this program has been a point of contention since its inception, and Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, Julie Moore, has repeatedly estimated that it could cost upwards of 70 cents per gallon.
- Before the report was released, the Speaker of the House issued a statement bemoaning perceived misinformation about the program’s cost.
- A revision to the study will be due in September, and the stakes are high for legislators who backed the “Affordable Heat Act” as if the study does not come in with a lower number, the cost could be as high as $7 per gallon.
State Finances Come in Strong for the Year
This week, the E-Board heard about tax revenue performance from the last fiscal year.
- Overall, revenue exceeded projections, which were primarily driven by personal income and interest income, though the education fund did come in slightly under budget.
- The State continues to derive unprecedented income from interest on cash reserves from federal funds that have yet to be deployed.
- However, cigarette and tobacco tax revenues declined.
- The economy has shown resilience despite high interest rates.
- While there’s optimism about continued growth, concerns remain about the potential for a slowdown.
- Factors such as the continued and frequent flooding in Vermont, the impact of inflation, the evolving nature of tobacco products, and the implementation of the childcare tax are creating challenges for accurate forecasting.
Public Safety Issues Linked to Violations of Conditions of Release
This week, Burlington’s police Chief was again in the media calling on consequences for those who are repeatedly offending.
Earlier in the month, the Chief also presented data outlining that 93% of individuals who are violating their conditions of release by committing crimes while awaiting trial for crimes they previously committed have those VCRs dismissed.
Violations of conditions of release were a focus of our advocacy during this past session, which culminated in the passage of S.195.
- This act introduces new criteria for courts to consider when setting bail or conditions of release, including a defendant’s current court-ordered supervision status, compliance with court orders, and history of court appearances.
- The $200 bail cap for expungeable misdemeanors is lifted if the defendant faces additional charges while awaiting trial. Courts can now impose new pretrial supervision and expanded home detention programs. Violations of release conditions are subject to a clarified statute for prosecutors.
It is our hope that this new statutory guidance will start to influence decisions soon.
Additionally, using a firearm while selling or trafficking drugs is now considered a violent act for bail decisions. Community restitution, or “work crew,” is codified as a sentencing alternative. The Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee will review the Pretrial Supervision Program, and the Corrections Monitoring Commission must self-review and recommend operational reforms.
The Laundry List
- The Vermont Department of Tax released a comprehensive summary of changes to Vermont tax law from this past session. Read more here.
- The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) is seeking your input on transportation options within the County. They want to know how you currently get around and how you would prefer to travel. This survey is part of their effort to develop a Regional Transportation Options Plan aimed at understanding and improving transportation modes such as bus, carpool, bike, walk, and more. Survey
- Does your business site have 3 or more acres of impervious surfaces? Under Vermont’s Clean Water Act, all “three-acre” sites are required to obtain the Three-Acre Permit to manage and treat stormwater runoff. To assist in meeting this requirement, the Three-Acre Permit Obtainment Assistance (POA) Program is offering grants. This program is distributing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help cover design and permitting costs for affected sites. For more information and to apply, visit here.
- September 11 & 12, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) is hosting a free educational seminar in Burlington on health plan laws compliance for employer-provided plans. This two-day, in-person seminar is targeted at small-business owners and plan administrators and features speakers from federal and state regulators. More information here.
- As Vermont communities face significant damage from severe and unpredictable weather events, the Vermont Department of Economic Development is urging businesses of all types and sizes to complete the Flood Damage Survey for Businesses. This will enhance the relief and recovery efforts by helping the state assess the nature and extent of flood-related damage sustained by businesses across the state. Complete the survey. This survey is in addition to making a damage report to Vermont211.org. If you have not already reported damage to Vermont 211, please do so ASAP.