New school revenue plan not a good response to ‘tax revolt,” GOP lawmaker says
by Guy Page
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 8-4 Wednesday, April 17 to approve a new school funding plan to plug the $200 million spending gap with cloud and short term rental taxes and a 15% property tax hike.
A proposed 20% statewide property tax has been met with widespread voter resistance at Town Meeting and subsequent revotes of failed school budget proposals.
The committee’s “yield” bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee. It would:
- Raise the statewide property tax 15%
- Create a 1.5% tax on short term rentals, aka bnb’s, to generate $6.5 million
- Create a ‘cloud’ tax on internet services, which will raise $20 million
The bill also pledges to study a long-term alternative to funding schools with property taxes.
The vote comes a day after six school districts rejected a proposed 2024-25 budget for a second time. Two districts approved budgets rejected by voters at Town Meeting.
All four no votes were Republicans. Eep. Carolyn Branagan (R-Georgia/Fairfax) said they were disappointed it does not address school spending.
“This bill does nothing to control spending, but it does raise taxes,” she said.
Branagan predicts school boards and voters will be unhappy with the bill. She notes they’re pretty unhappy now.
“What we have here is a real taxpayer revolt. An old fashioned revolt. And we’re due for it,” Branagan said. “This has gone on for a long time. The property taxes have been too high.”
House leaders and representatives of the Vermont NEA, Superintendent’s Association, and School Board Association will tout the plan at a press conference at 2:30 PM today at the State House.
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Categories: Education
branagan has been in the state house way too long/// she should have spent less time on the impeachment committee against the franklin county sheriff/// she did not voice any concern about the covid kill shot/// they all belong in jail/// just pay the extra taxes and shut your mouth/// branagan has been a fraud and still is////
The COVID kill shot? You really that stupid?
In the chambers where decisions weigh,
The House Ways and Means had their say.
With a vote of eight to four, they set in motion,
A plan to fill a budgetary ocean.
A $200 million gap, a fiscal plight,
To be bridged by taxes, casting some in light.
A 15% hike in property’s grasp,
While the cloud and rentals face a taxing clasp.
Short-term rentals, BnBs in their view,
And the digital realm, where transactions brew.
Yet amidst this plan, a pledge they made,
To explore alternatives where property taxes fade.
But resistance brews in the public eye,
With voters rejecting, raising a cry.
Town meetings echo with dissenting voices,
Against a property tax, their staunch choices.
Republicans stand firm, a unified front,
Claiming the bill lacks fiscal shunt.
For Carolyn Branagan, it’s clear to see,
A discontent brewing in democracy’s plea.
“This bill does naught to stem the spending tide,
But raises taxes, a harsh ride.”
She predicts unrest, a discontented sea,
As taxpayers voice their outcry, loud and free.
A revolt, she claims, is on the brink,
Born of years where taxes sink.
For too long, the burden’s been borne,
And now it’s time for change to adorn.
–ChatGPT
branagan/// as long as the tax money keeps flowing, branagans government check will keep growing////
Guy, Thank you for your fine reporting and for the VDC.
And they wonder why native Vermonters are leaving? These taxes upon taxes are unsustainable. How about NOT raising property taxes statewide again! How about STOP SPENDING other peoples money. How about putting forth a renters tax??! Ever thought about that?? Most of those 20 somethings under the rusty dome DO NOT own property or kids in the school system. Yet they have NO issue with slapping on more and more taxes. Guess the state is missing the socialist phase and going full blown communist country!!
I don’t think they ‘wonder why’ native Vermonters are leaving. I think that’s their plan.
Enough is enough. I’m a Democrat who is more than ready to vote a few Republicans into the Vermont legislature. The Dems seem to be too stupid to notice that taxpayers are NOT a bottomless pit of money. You’d think they would catch on to that after watching so many school budgets bite the dust, but apparently not.
Thanks for finally waking up, please follow through with your intention and bring some friends along.
Well, my utopian fantasy has crashed again. It looks like they aren’t going to consider getting us out of the schooling business. Awakening to the realities of bankruptcy is not on their agenda. They are going to go ahead and manipulate us to get more of our money to support these failed schooling enterprises and their stakeholder infrastructures. It’s going to be so much simpler, efficient, consumer-responsive and inexpensive when they finally realize all they need to do is give the allotted funds to families. Parents can contract with teachers for the schooling services and curriculum appropriate for their child. Liberty is always better…right?
It seems like they are just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic before it sinks. How about a new idea like, I don’t know, cut spending? Stop raping the Vermont tax payers! Some of us are stuck here, didn’t vote for these people and can’t escape.
Why not 20% on the AirBnBs? They’re the ones with money and extra rooms and properties. These politicians take away the motel system from the vacationing public and give it to the “those experiencing homelessness,” and force travelers to deal with empty nester divorcés who know there’s a housing shortage but give zero cares while voting for equity nonsense for others.
It’s time to replace the Progressive movemont in the State House. Listen to the Governor, no new taxes and fees on hard working Vermonters. Want to reduce Education costs; try one school district for the state. .
So, tax internet use? Did I understand that right? In addition to a 15% property tax, which they seem so in love with. This thing is getting worse and worse.
you understand correctly
So a legislator said at the press conference today, Larry – and gave you credit
Want to reduce education costs…GET THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF EDUCATION! NOT GIVE IT STATE WIDE CONTROL!!!
“When people spend other people’s money on other people (government) neither cost nor quality matter” Milton Friedman
Which is why every scheme in the past has proven to cost more, have your property taxes ever gone down? Is it bad enough yet??
I CAN’T AFFORD THIS!!!! NO KIDS IN SCHOOL, ON A FIXED INCOME, WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still say implement a Proposition 2 and 1/2 like Massachusetts where school budgets can only increase by that amount!! No more! Requires some cuts some times oh and return the negotiation for health insurance back to local boards, not the state where increases are out of site, 16 1/2 percent this year, ridiculous 👎👎👎.
In 1977 when Act 60 was designed and implemented a large minority of legislators, many D’s & many R’s proposed a Value Added Tax (VAT). Thus of course would have our MANY out of state visitors help fund our schools. Current formula with tweaks over te years was doomed to failure said that minority. They were called fear mongers but they look real smart now
The answer to this is NOT more taxes!!! What will the idiots do when the golden goose (taxpayers) gives up the ghost…tax goose burials??? You can only squeeze so of something out of anything before there is nothing left…just saying.
If the leadership defaults on representing the people’s interests, would it stand to reason the people should now default, en masse, on the leadership’s interests? If the beast doesn’t get it’s sustenance (our money), it shall starve. They’re trying to do it to us – when will the collective grab the table cloth and rip it out from under their gluttoneous feasting?