By Rep. Jim Harrison
Recognizing that previous legislative action has had unintended consequences on education spending, the House Ways & Means Committee advanced a bill, H.850, on Friday to allow school districts more time to redo their budgets (and potentially make cuts) to the proposals they make to voters. The bill, advanced by the committee on a strong 12-0 vote, includes some funding to help towns with the costs of rescheduling school votes.
The legislation removes the 5% cap (the cap initially applied to residential property taxes if a school budget increased 10% or less) on the equalized homestead rate as it is believed that caused some districts to further increase their spending, thinking it was “free” money. The cap was included in the new pupil weighting bill, Act 127, passed two years ago.
However, the new bill does offer some transitional help to districts that got hurt under the changes in Act 127, including two towns in the author’s legislative district. Under the latest proposal, the Barstow school (Chittenden and Mendon) would receive no reduction in the equalized homestead rate; Mountain Views (Killington) would receive a 1-cent per hundred reduction and Pittsfield an 8-cent reduction. Tax rates will still increase by double digits if proposed spending increases are approved by voters.
More changes are likely as the committee considers potential new taxes to help lower rates, but until the state has a better idea of what total spending will be like, it is very hard to determine how much money will be needed (or can pass politically). Currently, proposed school budgets (before any bonds for new schools) are up an estimated $243 million (14.8%), which is a record increase in collective school budgets statewide. And without new revenue, statewide property tax rates will be up over 20%. For FAQ on the pending legislation, H.850, click here.
Perhaps another area of a second thought involves the annual mid-year budget adjustment bill. The House spent the entire revenue one-time surplus ($29 million) when it approved the bill a few weeks ago. The Senate, recognizing that the extra funds were already accounted for in the Governor’s proposed budget for the new fiscal year, removed much of the extra spending in its version of the bill. They appropriately realized you can’t spend the same money twice without creating a hole in next year’s budget. The spending plan will now need to be negotiated with the House before it heads to the Governor.
Other issues of interest:
At his weekly press conference last week, Governor Scott reiterated his call for the legislature to prioritize regulatory reform to make it easier, less expensive, and faster to build the housing we desperately need. He indicated that some legislative committees were moving in the opposite direction that he believes will make it harder to proceed with new housing. Scott contends that H.687, under consideration by the House Energy & Environment Committee, dramatically increases projects where Act 250 would be automatically triggered.
The future of a bill to ban flavored tobacco, S.18, is a bit uncertain as it may lower state revenues by as much as $15 million. Given the tight budget year coming up, passage could mean either cuts to other programs or increases in another tax.
Legislation to further increase legislative pay now appears to be on the back burner in a Senate Committee given the tighter budget year ahead.
A bill to require 100% renewable energy for Vermont’s electric power needs by 2030, was advanced by the House Energy & Environment Committee. It is unclear how much the legislation will increase electric rates, although the Dept. of Public Service has estimated close to $1 billion if you include the new electric infrastructure necessary for local renewable sources.
The Senate Judiciary Committee appears ready to resume increasing the age of offenders (from 19 to 20) who are referred to family court instead of criminal court, despite objections raised by Governor Scott.
The House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation, H.563, which would make entering another’s auto without the owner’s permission a crime. Under current law, it is not illegal to enter an unlocked vehicle unless you remove materials or steal the vehicle.
The author, a Republican member of the Vermont House, represents Killington, Mendon, and Chittenden and sits on the Appropriations Committee.
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Categories: Legislation
Repeal Act 127. Equity driven initiatives have never and will never work.
It’s nice to see they realize that 20.5% tax increases on the schools will create revotes.
here is a thought. stop spending. get rid of some administration. principal. vice principal, school board, superintendent, state department of education and a federal one. let us get rid of a layer somewhere
There is a way to do just that. It’s called one school district for the whole State. I sponsored this bill 8 years ago while I served on the Education Committee in the House.
“A bill to require 100% renewable energy for Vermont’s electric power needs by 2030, was advanced by the House Energy & Environment Committee.”
Why are they pushing this nonsense?
Sue them for false claims about CO2 and global warming. They are crooks.
when you get a 20.5 percent increase in your property tax bill on your home//// will you not pay/// will you hire a lawyer and sue the town you live in after you voted down the budget/// will you protest on the state house lawn/// this will be an interesting year/// try not to have your name in a property tax sale///
In a couple years, there will be a reassessment of real estate property, ehich is already overdue. Watch out. This year’s 2 digit increase will be followed by an even more spectacular one in a short while. And we all know that home prices have skyrocketed in the last 5 years.
Gonna be huge. And you know what? The windfall will be spent like water, and you’ll see another increase after that, too. But don’t go out and do one of those “mostly peaceful” protests. That’s way too much work on our part… and besides, we don’t like getting arrested or being on the news, or any of that Lefty stuff that always works for the other side.
You are so mistaken. You see this is free money. Just ask them, they will tell you.
The very thought of an increase in expenditure in the range of 20% is obscene. it sounds to me like school boards and legislators themselves need to go back to school. Have they ever heard of fiscal discipline? I will vote now on any tax increase above the increase in the CPI.
The classic bait and switch, they will tell us 20%, then come back and say we cut spending down 50% and we only have a 10% increase now!
The press won’t ask any questions and it’ll pass, with everyone thinking they did a great job, meanwhile our price per pupil goes even higher, higher than everyone in the country, but they sell this kook-aid every time.
The other classic is, we can’t cut because it will leave the underserved without a teacher! Meanwhile they giver everyone great raises, except for those teaching the underserved!
They do this all the time, every year…….and nobody questions, the press frames it just like they want
and we can’t figure out what they are doing. Master and Phd level grifting, they all got A+ in those classes.
More changes are likely as the committee considers potential new taxes to help lower rates, but until the state has a better idea of what total spending will be like, it is very hard to determine how much money will be needed (or can pass politically).
In the end, they’re just playing a numbers game instead of looking at real cost reductions. To say your are lower rates, while raising taxes is deceptive at best.
Real cost reduction -YES!
i got hit with a view tax on one of my properties a few years ago/// let the trees grow up/// no more view/// last reassessment value dropped 40 percent/// paid about 6000.00 more in taxes between assessments/// hope the tourists driving by enjoyed the view/// no more view///
If only Vermont was a constitutional republic and not a corporation, there would be no personal income tax or property tax. If only the Federal Reserve was never established, there would no personal income tax. If only we were not lied to and deceived for 100+ years, the Legislature would operate for the People, by the People and not for the corporation, by the corporation. Time to dissolve the corporation as it is beyond ever being solvent and return to sound money that is actually backed by something other than delusional beliefs our currency has any value whatsoever. How long before this fakery system implodes upon itself?