by Guy Page
If you asked Gov. Phil Scott to do something about the high cost of living in Vermont, what would he suggest?
A Lamoille County resident decided to find out. She wrote a letter telling the governor what we are experiencing: the price of everything is going up, up, up. And she asked, what’s the State of Vermont going to do about it?
Here’s a copy of the answer she received from Gov. Scott’s Constituent Services office:
Dear [Name withheld]:
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns about increasing gas and fuel costs and the general affordability of Vermont.
We understand the concerns and how challenging these added costs are for people and families, especially when considering Vermont’s existing affordability challenges.
It’s important to note, these increases are not due to any state policy and they are being seen nationwide. We understand, however, that this reality does not ease the burden you are facing. To help, here are some resources and potential options to mitigate these high costs:
First, there are some alternative transportation options to help with the burden of commuting, such as buses and ridesharing. Information can be found here: https://www.connectingcommuters.org/.
Additionally, to help with home heating costs, there may be some state funding available through the Department for Children and Families Economic Services Division. They can be reached at 1-800-775-0516 or you can visit your local district office, which can be found here: https://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/contact-us/districts.
While repealing the gas tax is not an option at this time, Governor Scott did work to provide relief to Vermonters this legislative session, including a reduction in property tax rates and tax relief for parents, seniors, low-income families and more. While the Legislature only supported some of these measures, Vermonters will get some relief this coming year and the Governor will continue to pursue policies that make Vermont more affordable and help Vermonters keep more of what they earn.
Again, thank you for reaching out.
Sincerely,
Constituent Services Office
Office of Governor Philip B. Scott