By Undersigned State and Local Organizations

Vermonters do not need another reminder that our state has an affordability problem. They live it every day.

The cost of housing, healthcare, taxes, and everyday necessities is placing enormous pressure on families and employers alike. These challenges demand meaningful solutions. But solutions must be measured by more than the appeal of their promises.

In June, business and community leaders warned that Vermont’s economic trajectory demands urgent action. That call for regulatory modernization, fiscal stewardship, intentional growth, and accountability remains just as relevant today.

Governing is not an exercise in economic theory.

Decisions made in Montpelier have real and lasting consequences. They determine whether families can afford to stay, whether businesses can create jobs, and whether communities can sustain the services and opportunities that make Vermont a place worth calling home.

The 2026 Vermont Business Climate Survey reinforces the urgency of that earlier warning.

Half of participating businesses reported raising prices over the past year. One-third delayed hiring or left positions unfilled. Approximately one-quarter postponed or canceled capital investments.

These are not abstract economic indicators. They are decisions affecting Vermont households, workers, and communities right now.

We cannot make Vermont more affordable without strengthening the economy that supports Vermonters.

Our organizations represent industries with different challenges but a shared stake in Vermont’s future.

Tourism and hospitality bring visitor spending into our state, supporting employment, local businesses, and public revenues. Manufacturing generates jobs, innovation, and investment. Retailers, restaurants, and service providers sustain the economic activity that keeps our communities vibrant.

These contributions cannot be taken for granted. Policies affecting one industry often have consequences across the broader economy.

Vermont needs healthcare reform that improves affordability and access. We need more housing, a stronger workforce, and sustainable funding for essential public services.

But identifying a problem is not the same as solving it.

Every major proposal deserves rigorous consideration. What will it cost? Who will pay? How will it be implemented? What happens if the assumptions prove wrong? And will it actually make Vermont more affordable?

These questions are not obstacles to progress. They are essential to responsible governing. Sustainable solutions require examining spending priorities and long-term costs, not simply assuming additional taxes can resolve every challenge.

The Business Climate Survey also reveals a troubling disconnect. Nearly seven in ten expressed concerns about whether government spending decisions are supporting long-term affordability and economic growth.

Rebuilding confidence requires fiscal discipline. It requires economic understanding, predictable policymaking, and accountability for results.

Vermont’s economic future depends on confronting difficult realities, recognizing tradeoffs, and pursuing practical solutions grounded in evidence.

That requires understanding how our economy works before making decisions that could fundamentally change it. It means recognizing that businesses cannot absorb unlimited costs, and that economic growth is essential to sustaining the public services Vermonters depend on and the quality of life Vermonters value.

And it means approaching the responsibility of governing with the seriousness it deserves.

Our organizations represent different sectors and perspectives. We share a commitment to advancing Vermont’s economy and ensuring that public policy reflects the realities facing the people and businesses who make it work.

Vermont cannot afford policies that sound good but fail to deliver.

We need economic leadership that respects the contributions of our industries, recognizes the lasting consequences of government decisions, and holds proposals to the same standard: credible financing, workable implementation, and measurable results.

Our economic future deserves more than promises. It deserves solutions that work.