House to consider $9.3 billion state budget, 7% property tax hike bills
By Guy Page
A day after the Act 181 reform rally attracted about 300 concerned landowners to the State House lawn, the path forward for Act 181 reform has two apparent tracks:
- Repeal the road rule and other rural development Act 250 review requirements. This tack is favored by most Senate Republicans and at least one Democrat. OR
- Push road rule implementation out to 2030. When VDC asked Lt. Gov. John Rodgers whether a delay until 2030 would actually benefit road rule supporters because by 2030 Vermont may not have Phil Scott or another anti-road rule governor to influence the change, Rodgers said that’s why enforceable, forward-looking legislation must be passed this year.
Due to the likelihood of an extended House floor session this evening, the Rural Caucus listening session on Act 181 will be postponed until next Wednesday evening Room 11, Rep. Mike Tagliavia told VDC.
Tagliavia, who would repeal the road rule and other ‘tier 3’ restrictions, said he hopes the rally has influenced lawmakers.
“The rally went really well,” the Corinth lawmaker said. “I was happy to see the number of people.” He said he worried that “if the weather was too nice, everyone who was sugaring wouldn’t be in attendance.”
“Rural Vermont needs a leg up like Tier 1 (urban areas granted less Act 250 review by Act 181) needs a leg up. It (Act 181) advanced one small area of Vermont over another area.”
He said he’s hopeful for significant Act 181 reform under the Golden Dome this year, but added, “hopes can be dashed.”
State House insiders are concerned a Trifecta of land conservation, property tax delinquencies, and tax concessions due to Act 181 will increase the property tax load on other property tax payers.
Act 181 reform advocate Neil Ryan will be a guest on Hot Off The Press on WDEV today.
$9.3 billion budget goes to House floor Thursday – H.951, the general fund budget, was voted out of House Appropriations Tuesday and will get first reading on the House floor Thursday. The 2027 budget allocates $9.3 billion.
Like Gov. Scott, House Republicans today declared they will not accept the 7% property tax increase reflected in the school funding Yield Bill passed this week.
House Ways & Means is coming under criticism for cutting $52 million from the governor’s proposed $100+ million ‘buy down’ of property tax relief, and instead ticketing that sum as a ‘reserve fund’ – likely to be spent in the hurley-burly final days of House-Senate budget negotiations. The House GOP caucus issued the following statement today:
VERMONT HOUSE REPUBLICANS DRAW LINE IN THE SAND ON PROPERTY TAXES
MONTPELIER, VT – In November 2024, Vermonters sent a clear message to lawmakers: we cannot afford endless property tax hikes. Yet, this legislative session, we face the harsh reality of even higher property taxes if we fail to pass an acceptable yield bill.
This isn’t just about cost–it’s also about quality. Vermont students are falling behind in English and math. The latest data from the Agency of Education shows that most Vermont students are below proficiency goals in these key subjects.
Meanwhile, major regional inequities exist: students in poorer areas with smaller tax bases and fewer opportunities are being left behind. A child’s zip code cannot and should not determine their outcomes.
Let’s be absolutely clear: the status quo is unsustainable. Another major property tax hike is unaffordable. And making Vermonters pay even more for declining outcomes, declining enrollments, and massive inequities is unacceptable.
While conversations around long-term reforms to Vermont’s education financing system continue, Vermont House Republicans are clear: the 7% property tax hike proposed by House Democrats is unacceptable, unaffordable, and we will not support it.
House Republicans will continue working with Governor Scott to push for more property tax relief.
We cannot sit by and watch the cost of living skyrocket even higher. We will do the job Vermonters elected us to do–starting by constraining property tax increases.
On March 24, Governor Scott signed into law :
- H.545, An act relating to issuing immunization recommendations
- H.649, An act relating to captive insurance companies
When signing H.545, Governor Scott issued the following statement: “We’ve seen the value in using science and data when making decisions about the health of Vermonters. H.545 establishes a process that allows us to continue this practice, by enabling the Vermont Department of Health to make vaccine and immunization recommendations based on available science and data. Getting vaccinated is the best way for us to protect ourselves and others, and this bill helps make sure vaccines remain accessible and affordable in Vermont.”