By Guy Page

Vermont’s three major revenue funds came in just under expectations in October, according to figures released this week. Combined General, Transportation, and Education Fund receipts totaled $287.0 million — about $4.9 million, or 1.68%, below the $291.9 million target set by the Emergency Board in July.

The revenue collections are important data for state officials as they prepare the annual Property Tax prediction letter, due out December 1 and used by lawmakers to prepare spending and tax projections for the coming fiscal year. 

The General Fund collected $190.0 million, falling short of its monthly projection by $2.3 million, or 1.2%. Officials said the dip was driven by lower-than-expected Personal Income, Meals & Rooms, and Corporate Income tax receipts.

Transportation Fund revenues reached $25.9 million, or 7.3% below target, with every category underperforming except the Diesel Fuel Tax, which exceeded expectations by $0.1 million.

The Education Fund brought in $71.1 million — $0.6 million, or 0.85%, below its goal. Sales and Use Tax receipts were the lone bright spot, beating projections by $0.5 million.

“Continuing a trend held over from last year, cumulative General Fund performance remains positive despite a slowing in the month of October,” Secretary of Administration Kristin Clouser said. “The Education and Transportation Funds continue to experience pressure. Expectations for all three funds will be updated in January.”

Vermont dead last in % of religious population – The Pew Research Center finds Vermont 51st in the nation (including Washington DC) in the percentage (13%) of religious people. First in the nation? Mississippi (51%), which (causation or connection?) recently passed Vermont in student achievement scores.

Here’s how the 2023-24 Pew Research Center study of 37,000 respondents reached its findings: “To gauge the religiousness of each state, we looked at four separate survey questions. We ranked each state by the percentage of its adult residents (ages 18 and older) who say they pray daily, believe in God or a universal spirit with absolute certainty, consider religion to be very important in their lives, and attend religious services at least once or twice a month.”

Archery, muzzleloader season continues into December – Hunters will still have several days of archery and muzzleloader deer hunting to enjoy in Vermont after the regular deer season ends on November 30.

Archery deer hunting continues December 1-15, and muzzleloader deer hunting will occur December 6-14, according to a statement from Vermont Fish & Wildlife. 

An archery deer license and a hunting license are required to hunt during the archery season.  An antlerless deer, or a legal buck, if you did not take one earlier, are allowed during the archery season.

A muzzleloader deer license and a hunting license are required to hunt during the muzzleloader season.  A legal buck may be taken during this season if you did not take one earlier, and an antlerless deer may be taken in a designated Wildlife Management Unit if you have a muzzleloader antlerless deer permit and you have not already reached your annual limit.  A few of these permits may still be available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.

Vermont has an annual limit of four deer during its deer hunting seasons, including only one legal buck annually during those seasons.  A 2025 Deer Hunting Guide with regulations is available on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.