by Rep. Mark Higley
Vermont has a citizen legislature and should be doing the business of the State for a short period of time, and then head back to our jobs and communities. Many now seem to have the time and the aspirations to work on their efforts nearly full-time, in my opinion, to the detriment of Vermont. 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. Of course, the bills being considered come from the majority perspective.
There’s been a lot of back-and-forth lately regarding the bills being passed in Montpelier and the Governor’s veto of many. The Governor has certainly impressed upon the Legislature his priorities in his State of the State addresses and his budgets. He stressed his three top priorities were affordability, drugs and crime, and housing. On the affordability front, there is more than just the property tax increase of 13.8%. It is many more priorities of the super majority that are adding to the lack of affordability for Vermonters to live and work in this State.
In 2023, we added DMV fees of 20%, the so-called affordable heat act adding $.70 or more to the cost of heating fuel (if approved), a child care payroll tax starting in July 2024 where even a family of four making as much as $172,500 per year can qualify for a benefit. The initial consideration was for the most generous benefits in a paid family and sick leave bill, paid through a payroll tax. OPR fee increases, (this is your professional licensing fees). After the federal money ran out for the universal meals program, the state decided to add this to the education tax, which was in the neighborhood of $29 million a year.
In 2024 we have the 13.8% average increase in education property taxes, with not much hope in coming years for relief. A renewable energy standard bill that could add as much as $1 billion to ratepayers, yet when pushed, our joint fiscal office downgraded that estimate to be between $150M and $450M. A housing bill, while it is relaxing Act 250 regulations in our village centers and downtown areas, will increase the restrictions in rural areas through new ANR environmental criteria. New Residential and Commercial building energy standards going into effect July 2024, adding thousands of dollars to construction costs.
Many smaller bills having an increase on agencies’ budgets with new staff, IT, and projected program costs. Add these to the everyday costs of inflation. All this, with many of my colleagues ideas and amendments voted down, as well as options put forth by the Governor.
I mentioned in our Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, that even though we are a policy committee we need to understand the cumulative effects of what our legislation would have on Vermonters. In my opinion the majority’s agenda requiring mandates and over regulation has added to our overall cost of working and living in Vermont. Vermonters have always been an independent lot, making ends meet somehow. However, with these ever increasing fees, taxes, mandates and regulations in Montpelier, some are becoming dependent or considering a move.
Many ask me, “why the majority doesn’t understand this cumulative effect on Vermonters”? I can only say maybe it doesn’t affect them the way it does a majority of the constituents I’m talking with. I certainly believe many that aspire to this agenda are doing it for what they consider to be “in the best interest of Vermonters”. I believe they need to take a step back and understand that maybe we all can’t afford this utopian agenda.
Years ago, at a debate, my opponent talked again and again about programs we should be investing in. At one point, a member of the audience stood and said “every time you say the word invest, I reach for my wallet”. So true, as most all bills require revenue from some source to implement. Vermont’s Industrial and Commercial tax base is so small compared to other states, that the burden, one way or another, falls on the taxpayers.
Author is a Lowell resident and the Orleans-Lamoille State Representative.