By Guy Page

Sen. Chris Mattos (R-Chittenden) has introduced a bill that would give seniors who have lived in Vermont 10 years an exemption from paying property taxes.

S.315 was introduced January 27 and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, of which Mattos is a member. Mattos is a Milton resident and Realtor.

The bill proposes to exempt from the homestead property tax long-term residents who are 65 years of age or older. It would phase in the exemption over a four-year period, with eligible persons fully exempt from the homestead property tax beginning fiscal year 2030.

Eligible property owners would be 65 years of age or older as of December 31 of the taxable year; and domiciled in Vermont for at least 10 consecutive years. It would prohibit second home owners and people moving to Vermont to take advantage of the new provision.

House Education vice-chair: slow progress on education funding reform

The committee charged with planning Act 73 school funding reform is making some progress – but maybe not enough to confidently tell property tax payers there will be property tax relief this year, Vice-Chair of House Education Committee Rep. Chris Taylor (R-Milton) told VDC this morning. 

Can Vermonters expect property tax relief out of the Legislature this session? “I don’t think I can give a definite answer,” Taylor said. “If it’s not relief, it’s stabilization.” When asked what legislative action would provide tax relief, Taylor answered, “For this session, I don’t know.”

Taylor said he is a ‘sponsor at heart’ of Rep. Gina Galfetti’s bill to freeze education spending for three years. The busy vice-chair and Milton Town Manager missed sending the email declaring his co-sponsorship, but said today “I believe that should be looked at.”

It is unclear whether the bill will progress in House Ways and Means. There’s more hope for Sen. Phil Baruth’s plan to cap spending, rather than freeze taxes.

Right now, House Education is working on establishing the super-school district map required by Act 73. 

“I am really hoping this week that we do start talking maps,” Taylor said. “I think we’re going to see some movement. There’ s gonna be some difference in the size of the districts. There’s some discrepancy in the difference between four and eight.” 

He said the idea of sharing services among school districts has merit. But it may not be necessary if the new districts are large enough. In general, Taylor said, “We are making progress. Starting to see some shifts in belief in outside organizations.” He said he is “hesitantly optimistic” about passing out a school reform bill this year.

New nuclear site in Vernon?

Sen. Scott Beck spoke approvingly this morning on WVMT’s Morning Drive about siting a new nuclear reaction in Vernon, former home of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. The site still contains a transmission grid switchyard able to transmit huge amounts of power to Vermont and New England. Current legislation calls for a study of a modular nuclear reactor in Vermont.

Freshman Republican introduces nine bills

A freshman legislator from Williamstown has proposed legislation on issues he believes haven’t been addressed by the current Legislature. 

“They’re all conversations,’ Republican Josh Dobrovich said. “There were things that were not being discussed.” The bill he most strongly hopes to progress is H.769, which would protect some parental oversight of children from DCF enforcement.