Baruth says Senate will look at school spending cost containment
By Guy Page
The Vermont House of Representatives gave final approval Wednesday, April 24 to H.887, a rapid-response bill to the unprecedented rejection of local school budgets due to unhappiness with a proposed 20% property tax increase.
The bill would raise property taxes 15% for homesteads, 18% for non-homestead properties like second homes, apartment buildings, and businesses, and would create a new ‘Cloud’ tax on internet services and a tax on short-term rental stays.
Provisions for short-term and long-term cost containment supported by Republicans were stripped out of the final bill by the Democrat-controlled House Ways and Means Committee. In its place was the creation of a 21-member panel to study school funding alternatives.
Senate Pro Tem Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) said the Senate is working on restoring some of the cost containment measures. Gov. Phil Scott said yesterday any school funding bill advocating for new taxes also should offer education spending control, or face a possible veto.
The final vote was 101-39. Not a single Republican voted for H.887. Several offered strong criticism during the floor debate.
Rep. Ashley Bartley (Fairfax) explained her vote:
“This bill is not a solution, it is only a Band-Aid that won’t even stop the bleed.”
Rep. Gina Galfetti (Barre Town)
I voted no on this bill because this body had many, many, opportunities tosave Vermonter’s money last session; instead most chose to engage in reckless spending – spending that has continued this session and resulted in this onerous and unnecessary tax hike imposed on struggling Vermonters.”
Rep. Casey Toof (St. Albans Town):
“I vote no because this is just another tax, spend, and study bill.”
Several Democrats spoke in favor:
Rep. Chip Troiano (Stannard):
“I vote yes. Raising revenues to offset school property tax increases is the right thing to do. We cannot shortchange our students with unacceptable budget cuts.”
Rep. Erin Brady (Williston):
“I voted yes because we must transform our system in Vermont into a rightsized, strong public education system that supports all students and uses ourprecious statewide resources sustainably and efficiently. Coherent change that truly supports students and schools with a common vision and much needed financial predictability will take time and extraordinarily political will by all of us. In this bill, the Commission on the Future of Public Education is an important and real incremental step toward true transformation.”
April 24 roll call on third and final reading of H.887