Montpelier, VT—The Vermont Senate and House Republican caucuses issued the following joint statement:
“13.8 percent–that’s how much, on average, Vermonters can expect their property tax bills to rise if Governor Scott’s veto of the yield bill is overturned,” said Senate Minority Leader Randy Brock (R-Franklin). “That increase is entirely unacceptable. Our Democrat colleagues have the choice at their disposal to work with us to avoid a double-digit property tax hike. But instead of continuing to work on meaningful solutions to do all we can to lower rates and help Vermonters, the Democrat Majority in Montpelier has thrown up their hands and decided there is nothing more they can do for their constituents.”
“Legislative leadership is attempting to cast blame at Governor Scott and Legislative Republicans for not offering ‘solutions’ to the property tax crisis,” added Rep. Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney). “Let me be clear: while the responsibility for rising property taxes rests squarely upon the shoulders of the Democrat supermajority, countless solutions have been advanced over the past several years by our side of the aisle–each one of which has been rejected. A list of just some of these rejected solutions that have been presented in current and previous sessions since 2017 is included below.”
“This crisis was entirely avoidable–it didn’t have to be this way,” noted Senate Assistant Minority Leader Brian Collamore (R-Rutland). “In fact, even earlier this year, the House Ways and Means Committee gave bipartisan consideration to meaningful cost containment proposals–only for such ideas to be abandoned by the Democrat supermajority once the unions voiced their opposition.”
“Instead of rolling up their sleeves, the supermajority seems intent on doubling down on the failed policies of the past,” concluded Rep. Casey Toof (R-St. Albans). “Unfortunately, everyday Vermonters–from farmers in Ferrisburgh to single moms in Sunderland will bear the consequences of these massive tax increases. They deserve better, which is why Gov. Scott’s veto should be sustained and Legislative Leadership should come to the negotiating table with the Governor and Republicans in both chambers.”
Cost containment ideas proposed by the Scott administration and Republican legislators over the past several years include, among other proposals, the following:
- Enacting variable growth caps on per pupil spending (see here);
- Tying school spending to student population changes (see here);
- Capping statewide property tax increases (see here);
- Adjusting excess spending thresholds (see here and here);
- Meaningfully reducing excessive property tax adjustments (see here and here);
- Asset testing the income sensitivity program for certain earners (see here);
- Making the universal meals program progressive (see here and here);
- Aligning student-to-staff ratios to be more in-line with peer states through natural attrition (see here, here, and here);
- Implementing a multi-vote structure for districts with lower student-to-staff ratios (see here);
- Setting clear statutory boundaries on health care cost sharing (see here, here, and here);
- Adjusting the funding formula to tighten the connection between spending and taxing decisions (see here and here);
- Strategically utilizing reserves to soften rate increases (see here and here);
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