By Don Keelan
Every so often, I write a column regarding Vermont’s critical housing situation and offer suggestions on how it might be mitigated. By doing so, I have to endure the wrath of those readers who don’t wish to see change that would turn rural Vermont into a Hoboken, New Jersey—even suggesting that I move. They have closed their eyes to what is happening around them.
I am not responsible for the negative changes that have taken place in Vermont since my arrival in 1986.
The huge decline in the State’s public school population is an example. In 1996-97, according to the State Profile of Public Education and Secondary Education, Vermont had 1,404 Pre-K students and 104,939 K-12 students, for a total of 106,341.
Today, according to a recent report, Vermont State Education Profile August 30, 2024, the stats are: “8,319 and 74,449 in Pre K and K-12, a total of 82,828. A decrease in K-12 enrollment of 30,488.”
Some colleges were recently operating in Vermont, and they are also now gone: Marlboro, Southern Vermont, St. Joseph, Burlington College, Goddard, Vt. College of Fine Arts, New England Culinary Institute, and Green Mountain College.
Change has even taken place in Vermont’s centuries-old Catholic Dioceses organization. A spokesperson and a recent email from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington were quite disheartening. In 1985, there were 100 parishes, now only 66, and the number of Diocesan priests has declined by 57 (from 121 to 64). The latest change to take place for the Diocese was reported in the VTDigger on September 30, “Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese, facing more abuse claims, files for bankruptcy.”
The Green Mountain Care Board recently notified the public in August that of Vermont’s 14 hospitals, four need to close or repurpose to avoid a pending disaster in the delivery of health care by 2030.
In Bennington, one specialty practice has a sign posted at the check-out: “No new appointments until Jan. 2026.” Indeed, this was not the case in 1986.
Two long-established state institutions, the Vermont State Police and the Vermont Veterans Home, are finding it difficult to fully carry out their missions. Why? Over the years, their staffing has been depleted and nearly impossible to fill.
A long-time member of the VSP noted to this writer that their ranks are down approximately 60 troopers from an authorized strength of 328 to a force of 268 today.
Also, according to a senior official at the State’s nearly two-hundred-year-old Veterans Home in Bennington, the authorized staffing total at the home is 195 presently. They need to call in out-of-state temps to fill 64 open positions.
If some readers feel the above is concerning, do not fret. Some ‘good news’ has occurred in the past several years.
The VTDigger noted in an article on September 26 by Shaun Robinson that “Vermont regulators (will) stop accepting new retail cannabis applications next month.” The retail market for the sale of cannabis (marijuana) has been spectacular, with the State now having 80 retailers in operation and 21 applications for additional retail stores pending.
Also, in the Digger, on August 23rd, reporter Theo Wells-Spackman noted that as of the Fiscal Year, June 30, 2024, the retail market had $128 million in reported sales, well above the $ 86 million forecasted by the Joint Fiscal Office, back in 2022. The State’s take is 20%.
More positive changes have occurred. Vermont currently has 11 Methadone hub centers. Now that Vermont has adopted sports betting as a new source of revenue, gambling addiction assistance centers will soon open as well.
Some well-known and long-established stores in Burlington have recently left the city, which is not a problem. A ‘safe injection site’ is planned to open soon.
I am not sure anyone could have forecasted the monumental changes that have taken place since 1986 in education, housing, mental/physical health care, homelessness, crime/illegal drugs, population aging, and increases in taxes at all levels.
Vermont needs leaders who have the courage to address the core issues. Let’s hope it is not too late. Seeking tax revenue from cannabis, gambling, and fossil fuels won’t do it.
The author is a U.S. Marine (retired), CPA, and columnist living in Arlington, VT.