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By Guy Page
Count Gov. Phil Scott as one Vermonter who will vote no on the school budget next Tuesday at Town Meeting.
Scott, a Berlin resident, declared his intention at a press conference February 25 at the Vermont State House (52 minutes, five second mark).
Are you planning on voting for your personal budget at this point?,” WCAX reporter Calvin Cutler asked. Scott answered:
“Because of the whole county increase – my town not so bad – But the other counties are significant. It’s like $250 per $100,000 [of assessed home value] of increase based on their projections.
“At this point I will be voting no,” Scott said.
WCAX then asked: “Would you encourage other voters around the state to vote no?” Scott answered: “I’m encouraging other voters to do their homework and make that decision themselves.”
He noted that he received a flyer from the school district on the impact of the proposed tax increase, and that he figured out pretty quickly based on the predicted cost/$100,000 of home value how much he would owe.
A $250/$100,000 increase on a home valued at $400,000 would increase property taxes by $1000, amid declining public school enrollment and test scores.
The Legislature has yet to deliver a specific package to reduce school spending, as required by Act 73, passed last year. Senate and House are discussing different solutions varying in both school district size and access to school choice.
The Senate minority leader Scott Beck said a resounding no vote at Town Meeting will impact decisions made after the lawmakers return from Town Meeting break on Tuesday, March 10.
Asked by VDC about the possibility of a repeat of the 2024 tax revolt, Beck (R-Caledonia) said: “I don’t know if there will be another property tax revolt, we’ll find out. It will to a large degree inform the conversation if school budgets and even municipal budgets go down at a higher clip than they normally would. That sends us a signal about what people are thinking about.”
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Categories: Education, Local government
I’m not going to vote no. I’m going to vote HELL NO !
I have voted no on every town and school budget for many years so i can complain about the high taxes. Now, if you vote yes do not come back on this website and complain about your high property taxes. Many people own property in Vermont that can not vote and they are screwed.
It is a no for me. Personally, I am very tired of the Legislature “kicking the can down the road”. If education were a manufactured product, the company would already be out of business. Decreased sales, decreased quality of product, and increased costs to produce, not to mention the union demanding higher wages. Ok Democrats and Progressives how is education any different?
GOV. Scott is not alone.
Last year’s vote already sent a message, why would Beck need another one? It’s the same exact issue. Fix the problem, that’s your job!
Anyone that votes yes has to have a mental problem. They should probably seek professional help. as it is, the schools are making way too much money. They’re having ghost teachers that don’t even exist. It’s time to clamp down and make these schools accountable or close them. We are one of the worst educated states in the entire country and the teachers want more money, it’s about time that we either replace the teachers that can’t do their job properly or close the school and consolidate so we have a lot less teachers
I’m voting No here in Rutland City.
We have a proposed $69,400,000 = $69.4 million. Student enrollment is down, student test scores are down, Administrative/Teacher expenses are up. Taxpayers wallets are down!
Gregory Thayer, MBA
#ParentsRightsInEducation
#CutSpendingNOW
Funny, when he voted against Donald Trump in the election it was everywhere, national and international news, on every pod cast, every tv show everywhere and well in advance of the election.
Not seeing this in VT.Digger, if any of them do, it will be last minute.
The borg has a plan, they have a road they want us to go down and it is one way. You take and love it, just ask the new staff member at VDC for first hand experience.
He may not see the same love he’s used to in the press this time, as he’s not going along with the communist manifesto on this one.
Know in the end Vermonters and the kids will be last.
We need some change.
I guess that if he pretends to be one of us, by voting no, that we will forget that the high taxes are his fault to begin with. Or, maybe, his became a real boy.