by Bruce Roy

It’s happening again.  Surprise surprise.

The VT Commissioner of Taxes released in December the joint office education tax rate letter describing the property tax increase resident homeowners will be faced with next year. 

The letter projects property tax bills to increase by an average of 12% next year. This DOES NOT include the future plan increases in local town spending.

With this new property tax increase, Vermonter taxpayers will have seen a phenomenal 41% property tax increase over the last 5 years.

Tax Commissioner Shouldice warns “If we allow this landscape to persist, we cannot seriously expect young and growing families to buy homes and settle in Vermont; local voters to approve budgets; or seniors on fixed incomes to retire comfortably in Vermont.”

Unbelievable, unsustainable, and painful.

Vermonters already suffer the 3rd highest tax burden of all the US states! Vermont has the highest property tax burden, finally surpassing New Hampshire. Not to mention that Vermont now ranks last in economic momentum.  We pay income taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, pay roll taxes, transfer taxes, meal taxes, cloud taxes, and even now our legislature is considering a new tax on gasoline.  

For the 2024 legislative session, Tax Commissioner Bolio rang the warning bell writing:  “For Vermonters and policymakers concerned about property taxes, housing affordability, or overall tax burden, this letter should sound a major alarm.”  

Yet, here we are, 2 years and an election cycle later. 

Our representatives in Montpelier are not getting the message. 

A decade of a Spend and Tax policies is not working and has taken Vermont to an economic cliff. 

A declining tax base is exacting a toll as prime earners leave the state and our population demographic ages. 

Fiscal responsibility at all levels and affordability for all Vermonters must be the top priorities.  

Our current legislature seems to have no problem in “raising revenue” by taxing Vermonters more each year to match spending increases.  With a $9B budget, Vermont does not have a revenue problem.  

We have a COST problem. 

We have a SPENDING Problem.

In 2024, when school budgets were rejected throughout the state, the tax payer frustration was loud and evident, but then clearly ignored despite reassurance from incumbent legislative leaders that they “got the message.”

Apparently, it is not only about voting yes or no on local budgets. A deeper, focused message is required to get a lasting, corrective response. 

We must change attitudes & approaches and demand real action & strong leadership in the Vermont legislature. 

Isn’t it time to cut up the Vermont General Assembly’s credit card and place a fiscally conservative majority in the Vermont Legislature? 

No more excuses like it’s too hard and too complicated! 

But rather: It’s too important.

Enough is enough.

Author is a 55+ year resident of Chittenden County, retiring from IBM and the VTANG. He also ran for the VT Senate in 2024 in Chittenden Southeast District.