Governor Phil Scott Friday, Jan. 19 named Ed McNamara as chair of the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
McNamara most recently served as general counsel for the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), where he worked on a range of legal issues reflecting the significant regulatory diversity covered by the Agency.
Prior to his work at ANR, McNamara worked on energy issues for 20 years, first at the Public Service Department where he performed numerous roles, including as planning director, assisting with emergency response activities, and representing Vermont’s interests before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. McNamara started his legal career as a hearing officer and staff attorney for the PUC.
McNamara replaces Anthony Roisman, who was appointed by the Governor in 2017. He will begin serving in the role effective Monday, January 29.
Senate passes bill abating municipal tax abatements for flooded homes – The Senate Friday passed legislation aimed at helping individuals and towns impacted by July flooding. S.160 will authorize the Commissioner of Taxes to reimburse municipalities for property tax abatements granted due to disruption to tax collections resulting from this summer’s flooding in Vermont’s federally-declared disaster areas.
Under current law, town boards of abatements may abate local and State property taxes, but will still owe the State education tax for the abated properties. These bills provide a process to reimburse towns for those State property taxes owed. Abatements and properties must meet certain eligibility criteria before the State will reimburse the town. Towns apply to the Vermont Department of Taxes, which will determine if the properties and abatements meet the criteria to be eligible for reimbursement.
The legislation will require House approval before being considered by the governor.
No recession expected – “There’s no recession in the forecast,” state economist Tom Kavet told the governor and legislative leaders at a State House meeting yesterday, Friday’s Lake Champlain Chamber newsletter reports.
The Chamber also reports that total revenues for the three major state government revenue funds forecast closed the first half of FY24 slightly above July projections by 1.7% and $25.2M.
The General Fund was above targets by about 3%, driven by robust personal income tax despite lagging corporate tax. The Education Fund is at about 1% above, driven by robust consumer spending and better-than-expected cannabis sales, and the Transportation Fund is about 6% below expectations, attributed mostly to a slowdown of vehicle purchases and sky-high prices coming back down to earth post-pandemic.
Mount Washington to stay Mount Washington – the U.S. Board on Geographical Names has rejected a proposal to rename Mount Washington, Friday’s Journal-Opinion reports.
The Easton, NH-based activist who sought to change the name to Agiocochook has also filed a request to change the name of the Baker River to Asquamchumauke. The BGN has not yet voted on the Baker River proposal.
UVM wants to know what you think about EVs – VDC received the following note from a reader: “I saw on Front Porch Forum that UVM is doing a study of attitudes toward Electronic Vehicles. I think it would be a good thing if they heard from folks with diverse opinions, not just folks on FPF who are likely to express positive attitudes toward EVs. It takes less than 5 minutes. And if they select your survey to be a person who does an interview with them, then you will get paid $25. Here’s the link.”
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Categories: SHORTS
e. v. ///electric vultures/// u. v. m. /// please send me my 25.00 dollars///thank you//
no recession////you might want to look at some of the banking problems with bonds/// credit card debt at record highs/// automobiles being taken back for non payment///the number of mortgage foreclosures///ops i forgot, vermont is special/// we have no problems///
No recession? Interesting. I wonder if anyone (Guy maybe) will address the elephant in the room that no one dares write about.
No news outlet has covered the fact that this states tech sector had actually died over the past 5 years. Dealer.com, MyWebGrocer, Allscripts and suprisingly GE Healthcare ARE ALL GONE.
Think I’m wrong? Go to each one of these businesses website and look for jobs in VT….NOTHING. The last 7 days of communism tech jam featured a company who made artificial meat (disgusting) and a bunch of locally type startups that contribute little to the local economy (though you gotta give them credit).
You’ve still got that weird electric plane/helicopter company that has a product that few people have actually seen and Global Foundries but thats it. I’ve struggled to find anything regarding GE Healthcares dissappearance from VT and Allscripts dissappeared in 2020. Dealer.com also looks DOA also and they were huge.
VT is in a recession right now. It’s just been hidden because of globs of covid funding thats due to expire.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor stats, the only sectors adding jobs in Vermont are tax subsidized utility companies (thanks to the PUC), healthcare, education (with 18% Prop. tax increases), and (of course) government.
It won’t be long now…. bankrupcy, approaching ‘gradually, then suddenly’.
The EV survey has an age limitation of 20-65. So it is skewed as well.
I have no words for the comments by Mr. Kavet. None. Zip. Zilch Nada.Lots of DoubleSpeak.
Mr. Kavet is only parrotting Grammy Yellen and The Biden Administration. In their words, the economy is fine, all is well! What looms in reality and what people are experiencing with their wallets and expenses is the opposite for the majority.
Shame on you Mr. Kavet and shame upon all liars and deceivers. The only reason the chicken dance continues with impunity is to avoid mass bank runs and sheer panic in the populace. Ignorance is bliss here in Pervmont[sic].
federal funds coming to vermont/// bonding brings in millions of dollars /// bonding is the federal reserve for vermont/// now ,who is buying the bonds///ninety nine million bond for a new school///are these new bonds being used to pay off old bonds///investigate now/////////
Bidenomics is working! No recession expected! Yah right.
He might be technically correct though. The next “plandemic” will result in another $10-$15 Trillion USD being printed out of thin air. Real inflation will hit 25%. AI will (conservatively) replace 30% of the US workforce within 5 years and 80% within 10 years. UBI will provide for most people’s scant basic needs. Oh how nice.
And all with nary a recession in sight. All our life’s work eroded by the silent tax of inflation. Yet they got what they wanted. The fruits of all human accomplishments concentrated with a few thousand elites who continue to fly their jets to Davos, eat fresh lobster, caviar and Wagyu while scheming how we will be regulated with the next (mandatory) Human Society Service Pack.
You will own NOTHING – they got that right.
Listen to Klaus Schwab. He is telling you exactly how it’s all going to play out. The man cannot be help but say the quiet part out loud. I suppose for that we should be thankful. It is a rare treat to have your demise so clearly mapped out. Thank you Klaus, you Nazi b*stard.
We are in a recession and the emperor is still naked. FJB, FPS