By Guy Page

The Vermont House gave preliminary approval Thursday to H.949, the education finance Yield Bill and its proposed 7% property tax increase, but not before three Republican amendments to cut taxes failed. House Democrats, the majority, voted to:

1. Opt out of the $1700 federal tax credit for donating to private school scholarships, proposed by Rep. Mike Tagliavia (R-Corinth). Ways & Means spokesperson Charlie Kimbell (D-Woodstock) said the tax credit is out of step with the usual tax deduction for education charitable donations, and said Ways & Means didn’t want to establish funding for a parallel form of education to the public school system. 

2. Consider a wealth tax on the highest earners ($250K or more filing jointly), after the House approves its education plan. The State of Vermont needs more funding for its many program needs, and concerns about wealthy Vermonters fleeing are unwarranted given the history of other states with wealth taxes, Reps. Monique Priestley (D-Bradford) and Esme Cole (D-Hartford) argued. There was no discussion about cost-cutting.

3. Allocate $1.7 million from a local ‘payment in lieu of taxes’ surplus to paying for the statewide reappraisal. The revenue is an outcome of growing local option taxes, into which the state makes payments in lieu of taxes. Municipalities thought they had a deal to allocate that funding to municipal highway funds, and cried foul – to no avail.

 In effect the State is seizing local option tax revenue and, instead of returning it to municipalities for much needed highway work, will pay for the unpopular, mandated statewide property tax reappraisal. 

Tougher bail amendment on House calendar today – The Vermont House today will consider an amendment by Rep. Gina Galfetti that would toughen bail requirements. 

The Barre Town rep’s amendment to H.937 (miscellaneous judiciary procedures) would allow a judge to place bail of $1000 (up from $200) for some misdemeanors and would expand its permitted use::

(A) to mitigate risk of flight from prosecution;

(B) to reasonably ensure protection of the public;

(C) to reasonably ensure protection of a victim or witness; or

(D) to address concerns identified in the release recommendation of the law enforcement officer who arrested or cited the defendant for the offense.

Guv signs unfunded farm/forestry disaster relief bill – Governor Scott on March 26 signed into law S.60, establishing the Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund to provide payments for farm and forestry operation losses due to weather conditions. However, in his letter to legislators he noted the bill, as passed, has not actual funding.

“It’s important to note, this bill does not include any funding for weather event relief and it remains to be seen whether the Security Special Fund receives any funding in the future,” Scott said. 

Teen plans VT gov run

A 14-year-old from Stowe will stand for governor and could appear on the general election ballot this fall, the Journal-Opinion cites from an ABC News report.

“I know it sounds crazy, a 14-year-old running for governor, but honestly, look at the people in charge right now,” [Dean] Roy said in a post on his campaign’s Instagram page. “They’ve been doing this forever and things still aren’t working.”

Roy started his own party, Freedom and Unity, to secure its nomination. 

Vermont does not have an explicit minimum age requirement for governor. 

A spokesperson for Gov. Phil Scott applauded Roy’s interest, but sounded a note of caution:

“He believes it’s important for our youth to get involved,” said press secretary Amanda Wheeler. “But the Governor also believes that a teenager may not be best suited to serve in that role given the lack of experience and lived perspectives youth have at that point in their lives.”