Adds one more controversial bill to June 17 veto session
Guv hopes for compromise before veto session
By Guy Page
Thursday, June 6, Gov. Phil Scott returned without signature and vetoed H.887, the ‘yield’ bill. Passed May 10, the bill was a late-in-the-session effort to stem this year’s property tax revolt in which voters rejected more than 30 school budgets in the face of a 20% statewide property tax increase.
The bill does not reduce school spending and instead shifts some of the $200 million school funding increase to new taxes on short-term rentals and software, thus dropping the estimated statewide property tax to about 13.8%. It also creates a school funding study commission.
The number of school districts without approved school budgets has fallen below 10, with several more revotes scheduled for later this month.
A veto session is set for June 17. The bill passed 18-8 in the Senate and 93-44 in the House. An override requires a two-thirds majority in each chamber. Both votes achieved the 2-1 ratio, but due to absences were short 20 (Senate) and 100 (House) votes needed to override when the entire Assembly is present. While it is virtually certain that all lawmakers will be present and will be pressured to leadership to override, some legislators may be concerned about voter blowback in November.
Scott said he has suggested changes that, if accepted by the Legislature, could be a “path forward” to a compromise bill. Discussions are scheduled for next week, he said.
In her response to Scott’s veto, House Speaker Jill Krowinski hinted she would be open to collaboration. “The Governor has been unable to provide any alternative plan that would be workable for the start of the fiscal year on July 1. If we do not have a yield bill on July 1, our education system is projected to face a $93 million dollar budget deficit…. The legislature cannot do this alone, and it is imperative that we continue to work together, across all branches of government, to find solutions that balance affordability while providing a high-quality education for our children.”
Scott wrote to the Legislature that he vetoed H.887 for the same reason he vetoed H.289, the Renewable Energy Standard: it costs Vermonters too much.
“Vermonters cannot afford a double-digit property tax increase. Especially while facing a historic eight-percent property tax increase last year, a 20% increase in DMV fees, a new payroll tax taking effect July 1, increased fuel costs to heat homes and businesses from the Clean Heat Standard, and increased electric costs if my veto of the Renewable Energy Standard is not sustained. All on top of several years of inflation – the most regressive tax of all – driving up the cost of household essentials like food, clothing and services faster than paychecks are growing.”
H.687, the Act 250 reform/housing bill, the other ‘big bill’ facing a possible veto, was delivered to the governor today, June 7. The Legislature approved it May 10.
On June 4, Scott vetoed H.645, expansion of approaches to restorative justice, for the same reason: there’s no way to pay for it, he said.
While I understand the desire to help those, particularly youth, who need second, third and even fourth chances to get their lives on track, H.645 is not workable because it is not funded,” Scott wrote to the Legislature. “The bottom line is this bill expands the responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General, which will require additional resources, and yet the new work is not funded.”
This week, Scott signed into law the following bills:
- H.622, emergency medical services
- H.870, professions and occupations regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation
- H.876, miscellaneous amendments to the corrections laws
- H.877, miscellaneous agricultural subjects
- H.878, miscellaneous judiciary procedures
- H.882, capital construction and State bonding budget adjustment
- S.186, the systemic evaluation of recovery residences and recovery communities
- S.302, public health outreach programs regarding dementia risk
- S.309, miscellaneous changes to laws related to the Department of Motor Vehicles, motor vehicles, and vessels
- H.614, land improvement fraud and timber trespass
- H.661, child abuse and neglect investigation and substantiation standards and procedures
- H.704, disclosure of compensation in job advertisements
- H.867, miscellaneous amendments to the laws governing alcoholic beverages and the Board of Liquor and Lottery
- H.886, approval of amendments to the charter of the City of South Burlington
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2024 legislative session, click here.