Instead of raising the fees on every Vermonter, why don’t state lawmakers draw their wanted revenue from their political paymasters?
by Kolby LaMarche
Our ever-so-helpful state legislature is set to give Vermonters a special New Year’s present: increased fees at the DMV.
Starting on January 1st, 2024, fees to register, inspect, and operate a car will increase.
A driver’s license, which once cost $32, will now increase to $39. Registration was $76, now you can expect to pay nearly $100.
To some, these fees may seem miniscule; just a few more bucks out of the bloated bank accounts of wealthier Vermonters. But for poor and low-income Vermonters – all 194,000 of us – these heightened fees not only signal further economic hardship but also serve as a stark reminder that our legislature exercises limited concern for us.
2023 was already a bad enough year for struggling Vermonters. For example, take the increased taxes on home heating through the Clean Heat Standard set to hit economically disadvantaged families who are unable to afford a completely new home heating system.
Or the Democratic supermajority’s ejection of hundreds of homeless Vermont families from their shelters without a safety net or any plan, while all campaigning on protecting “vulnerable” Vermonters as they actively harm them.
In 2024, legislators seem bound to compound their gross mistreatment of poor and low-income Vermonters – hell, any Vermonter at all.
Despite numerous warnings from individuals and organizations across Vermont regarding inequities within the Clean Heat Standard, the state legislature nonetheless steamrolled ahead, declaring those in opposition to the “climate-conscious” legislation – those who genuinely cared about low-income Vermonters – mouthpieces for Big Oil.
Furthermore, Jay Green, the state’s own “Racial Equity Policy Analyst” was scolded by Rep. Laura Sibilia for stating concerns over the bill’s impact on poor Vermonters.
The DMV fee increases followed a somewhat similar process.
Earlier in March of this year, Vermont’s Commissioner of Finance and Management, Adam Greshin, warned that the fee increases weren’t necessary.
In an interview with VTDigger, Grenshin said that in recent decades, DMV fees have increased “far faster than inflation.” Greshin continued, saying “This is a fee increase on virtually every Vermonter who drives…this is a big deal.”
Democratic legislators, clearly, ignored Greshin’s informed warning. In fact, House Democrats, according to Republican lawmakers, acted with some haste to pass the increased fees just before the end of the session, leaving some important voices absent.
“Talk about lack of transparency on the part of this Legislature,” Rep. Pattie McCoy, R-Poultney, told VTDigger.
Rep. Carl Demrow, proponent of the fee increase, said the bill kept up with inflation and would bring in an additional $20 million to the Transportation Fund to help offset lost revenues due to cars becoming more fuel efficient.
“I think that we need to focus on sustainability, and that is key to the policies we are enacting, they are sustainable,” Rep. Theresa Wood told NBC 5.
Instead of raising the fees on every Vermonter – which will impact the finances of poor and low-income people, why don’t state fee-makers draw their revenue from their cohort of paymasters?
Don’t tax the single mother with an ageing car, tax those with three or four cars, those with second, even third homes in Vermont, or those with $200k worth of metal floating in Lake Champlain.
So, when you’re puttering around Vermont in your car – after the costly and over-critical vehicle inspection, after you’ve paid almost $100 to register it for a year, and after you’ve finally been mailed your license plate – you will probably pop a tire on one of Vermont’s many, many potholes.
When you go to the mechanic and realize you cannot afford the repair because the mechanic’s rate is $105 an hour and you’ve just spent all your money on fees to get the car, just remember: that is your representative’s version of “stability”.
And soon begins the another VT legislative session.
Burning Sky is dedicated to providing critique and commentary on the issues of the day from an unapologetic perspective, fueling change in the heart of Vermont. Authored by Kolby LaMarche every Saturday.