The proposal addresses an estimated $200 million increase in the education fund, which could result in an average property tax increase of about 12%.
Gov. plans to use Budget Adjustment Act funds to buy down property tax hike
Soulia: Vermont’s quiet tax break that everyone pays for
Vermont’s Use Value Appraisal Program—commonly known as the Current Use Program—has been a central part of the state’s land management approach for more than four decades.
Could VT’s property tax crisis close the door on $2.1 billion in outdoor recreation?
While Vermont property owners who permit recreational use of their land are legally protected, they receive no compensation or tax relief for their generosity.
BREAKING: Statewide property tax projected to rise 12% next year
Scott said education taxes already have risen more than 40% over the last five years while student enrollment, performance, and educational opportunities have declined.
Statewide property reappraisal, and what it means for you
A comprehensive guide to the statewide reappraisal mandate, market disruption, and what Vermont homeowners should understand.
Burlington eyes shifting property tax burden to business, wealthy
Charter Committee hits pause on tax fairness measures, ponders advisory vote
New state law gives veterans tax relief
The bill allows a 100% income tax exemption on military retirement pay and survivor benefits for those earning under $125,000, phasing out by $175,000.
Despathy: Vermont carbon policy is legal plunder
Vermont has both the lowest energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Vermont does not need a greater tax burden. Period.
Soulia: Estimating VT’s real-feel tax burden
On paper, Vermont’s tax burden appears moderate: according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), the combined state and local tax burden ranges from 6.3% for the wealthiest households to 10.6% for the lowest-income earners. But when actual Vermonters break down their paychecks and monthly bills, the numbers often feel much higher—sometimes pushing into the 30–40% range before factoring in basic living costs like housing, fuel, and food.
Tariff income tops $100 billion for 1st time ever
Other key economic metrics strong, White House claims
Highly celebrated tax relief for veterans coupled with benefits for those without a tax ID number
The long-awaited bill comes coupled with provisions that would allow eligible residents to receive public benefits if they lack a tax identification number.
Gov. Scott to hold signing ceremony for bill easing taxes on families, retirees, veterans
The signing ceremony is scheduled for noon at the State House and will be attended by legislators, advocates, and Vermont military retirees.
Roper: A final plea for property tax relief
It’s time for taxpayers’ budgets to come first!
Roper: Vermont has a $9.1 BILLION budget
Ronald Reagan once quipped that government is like a baby, an endless appetite on one end, and no discipline on the other. No place lives up to – or down to as the case may be — that analogy more so than Vermont.
Keelan: three out-of-control engines heading full speed to collision and disaster
The driverless engines of State
Livingston: Trump’s tariff chess
A game-theory breakdown for the NDD (Narrative Dependency Disorder–Points to reliance on media narratives as a substitute for analysis) afflicted
Hartford hit with reappraisal sticker shocker
Hartford recently announced major construction is needed for the high school building after learning PCB levels are considered dangerous and in need of remediation, with no help coming from the state. A lawsuit against Monsanto may be the only thing available outside of increasing taxes.
Rodgers: Taxing veterans?
Everyone in this country owes our military veterans a debt of gratitude. It’s long past time for the Legislature to pay that debt forward.
Roper: Climate activist admits no real savings from “Social Cost of Carbon”
If there’s any benefit at all, it doesn’t get back to the people paying the bills.
Roper: Democrats – again – block efforts to repeal/reform unpopular climate laws
Special interests have issued their marching orders, and the Democrats are obeying.
Roper: Now a $17 million tax increase on beer, wine, & liquor?!
It’s enough to drive you to drink.
MacDonald: Vermont has the third highest total tax burden
Democrats are trying to make NH to be just like the rest of New England.
House leaders’ refusal to exempt military pensions stalls tax reform bill
Momentum ground to a halt on March 25 when Rep. Jed Lipsky (I-Stowe) proposed a floor amendment to add a military pension tax exemption to the package.
Failure to continue Trump tax cuts would cost average VT family $2000+, AFP says
‘My warning to everybody who is thinking about letting these tax cuts fade into history: if you hit households who are already struggling to make ends meet with an unexpected loss of household income, you are going to be in for a whirlwind of a surprise when 2026 comes around,” Roper said.
Roper: Treasurer’s report: “Cap & Invest” Program on Fossil Fuels requires 80¢/gal gas tax to meet GWSA mandates
Low-income, rural Vermonters hit hardest; no safety net program possible.
Thayer: Vermont’s path to tax simplicity
Funding government with a Unified Consumption Tax
Roper: Senate Democrats block vote to repeal Clean Heat Standard
Vermonters expected quick action in 2025 to wipe Act 18 (the Clean Heat Standard law) from the books. That has not happened.
Winooski school tax to drop
“Making some compromises to keep the spending increase in check”
Soulia: VT’s PILOT Program: What it is and how it affects taxpayers
Vermont’s rural taxpayers are subsidizing PILOT payments that disproportionately go to larger municipalities, despite their own financial challenges.
Roper: Pucker up for kissing your sister
Thoughts on Education and Property Tax Reform, Part 1
Soulia: Vermont’s “temporary” hotel voucher program
Originally designed to provide shelter during severe weather, the program’s cost has skyrocketed to tens of millions of dollars annually.
New Senate majority leader: ‘We need to be listening to everyone’
Ram Hinsdale will serve as Vermont Senate majority leader starting Jan. 8, after beating incumbent Majority Leader Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, in a close contest.
Education secretary proposes overhaul with five large school districts
The idea is to reconnect voters with the impacts of their votes and reign in runaway property taxes, Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders said today.
Roper: Governor Scott wants to lower property taxes and reform public education
Despite the Vermont Teacher’s Union’s assertion, Vermont now spends more per pupil — $27,000 on average – than any other state but one.
Payroll tax would fund proposed Medicaid expansion
Under S 1, if the federal government won’t pay for Medicaid, Vermonters will foot the bill.
School funding overhaul called for by administration
Saunders said while other states clarify the amount of funds they have to work with before they discuss spending, Vermont’s system works the other way around.
Roper: House Democrats circling wagons around Clean Heat Standard
Clean Heat Standard repeal kicked over to Committee controlled by those who made it law in the first place.
Bartley: Balancing reform, affordability, and Vermont’s future
It’s clear: Vermonters are calling for thoughtful reforms to keep our state affordable, functional, and equitable for all residents.
Soulia: $1000 per bill introduced and you pay the tab
$1.2 Million Spent on Legislative Proposals in 2023-2024
Roper: Legislature, resolve to cut spending in the new year
Since 2019, the year before Covid, the state budget has grown from about $5.8 billion to $8.5 billion. That’s a $2.7 billion spending increase in just 4 years.
Keelan: VT nonprofits a new source of State revenue?
The Vermont nonprofit sector is one of the largest sectors of the State’s economy, measured by revenue generated and employees, yet is primarily unregulated.
2024 in Education: Costs rise, performance declines
In 2024, the Green Mountain State saw education costs, aka property taxes, rise more than 13%. All while academic performance continued to decline.
Kinsley: No victory on property taxes this year
What we have is a distribution of resources problem. The resources we have are not making it to the right places to improve (or even maintain) student outcomes.
Vermont State Treasurer press release on returning $1.3 million to Vermonters
The program will rightfully return a total of nearly $1.3 million to over 5,000 Vermonters before the holiday season.
Roper: Climate Council doubles down on Clean Heat/Gas & Diesel carbon taxes
Time to repeal this unelected, worse than useless committee.
Soulia: The massive tax burden hiding in plain sight
How much are you really paying?
Roper: More bad news for unworkable Heat Standard
PUC recommends not adopting obligations; cites lack of data, and harm to low-income Vermonters.
Pharmaceutical companies owe Vermont nearly $3 million in unpaid fees
There are roughly 200 companies on the late-list provided by the state all with outstanding balances totaling close to $3 million as of October.
Roper: Why are property taxes absurdly high?
Money committee chairs simply do not care about taxpayers.
New software tax bill comes due
The expansion of the state sales and use tax to include software is one of two new taxes created by the Vermont Legislature this spring to reduce the 20% school spending property tax increase down to 14%.
VT 5th highest sports betting tax in U.S.
New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island have the highest tax rate for sports-books, at 51%, earning all three Northeast states a collective No. 1 ranking. Vermont, which entered the sports betting market last year, was ranked fifth highest in the nation, according to the report with a 31.7% tax rate on sports betting.
Magwire: High taxes driving out native Vermonters
Wealthy blue state retirees can afford Vermont’s climbing taxes and housing prices. People born, raised and trying to raise a family here can’t.
Roper: Who voted how to make Vermont so freakin’ unaffordable?
The key roll call votes driving up property taxes, energy costs, health insurance premiums and more.
Koch: Much ado about climate change
It’s time we stop trying to “lead the nation” and start trying to “save our neighborhoods.”
IRS enforcement is on the rise
Here’s how to stay prepared year-round.
Legislature imposes child-care tax, but removes promised cap on tuition
Capping the cost of childcare by 1.5% annually would provide financial relief for young parents, justifying the new payroll tax, supporters said.
Cairns: Reassessment, etc. will price many homes out of property tax credits
Increased property assessments won’t increase the amount of the property tax credit.
Beck: How the supermajority operates
It isn’t moderate to impose $17B in carbon fees or increase electric rates by $1B, the super majority voted for these over the Governor’s veto too.
Beck: It isn’t Moderate to crush Vermonters
Clean Heat Standard was designed for the benefit of special interest groups and climate legislators with no understanding of economics, science, or Vermonters.
2025 school property taxes published
More than 30 communities are paying more than 20% more in school property taxes.
Roper: Clean Heat Standard comes with $17 BILLION price tag!
Would require $3.20 per gallon carbon tax on home heating fuel.
Wennberg: Fund each student’s education, not the System
Before Act 60, regardless of the funding formula then in place, every time the property tax reached about 70% of the cost of education, a tax revolt ignited..
Roper: Conservation Law Foundation cashes in on GWSA “Please, Sue Us!” Clause
Vermont taxpayers will foot the massive bill for legal costs
Dame: Smaller paychecks start this week
One estimate indicates we are garnishing the wages of Vermonters to the order of nearly $120 million per year.
Roper: What “Paying Just a Little More” really means
An analysis of the new payroll tax that hit this month.
Roper: The Property Tax gaslighting has begun!
No, a 14% property tax increase is not a decrease.
Shorts: Wild truck chase in Burlington/ Payroll tax takes effect
Stolen F-150 leads police on dangerous chase in the Queen City/ The Vermont Child Care Contribution tax goes into effect beginning today.
Roper: This massive Property Tax increase may be unconstitutional
How’s that for adding insult to injury!
Higley: A perspective on the session
Talk in Montpelier is about how we don’t have nearly enough time to consider all the bills we should, and how we need a doubling of our pay.
Harrison: Overridden!
Clearly the Democratic supermajority in the legislature and Governor Scott are not on the same page and see such issues as affordability differently.
Veto override roll calls, 2024
A comprehensive list of the Legislators involved in the final Veto Override votes, and how they voted.
Lawmakers weigh in as Vermont House overrides most of Gov’s vetoes
Vetoes overridden include public education funding, overdose prevention centers, Act 250 modernization, renewable energy legislation.
A single-digit vs. double-digit property tax increase should be a simple choice
“Let me be clear: while the responsibility for rising property taxes rests squarely upon the shoulders of the Democrat supermajority”
Breaux: Vermont tries and fails to tax unrealized gains
There’s a compelling reason that even the most progressive states can’t generate any momentum for taxing unrealized gains: it’s pure guesswork.
Banzhaf: Some pro-Hamas campus protests violate IRS Code – others don’t
Aid illegal Palestine protests, lose tax exemption
Despathy: Tap Trees. Not Vermonters!
Vermonters hold legitimate fears and anxiety about the decisions made by our Democratic supermajority.
