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.”