CRAFTSBURY – Revenues are back to their pre-pandemic levels and federal financial support is no longer there to boost the budget. As legislators, we won’t be able to do everything we want this year. We’re being realistic and focusing our efforts on the issues that matter most.
My legislative priorities include passing a fiscally responsible, balanced state budget that makes it easier for working families to thrive; promoting common-sense solutions to address the housing shortage without compromising the character of our rural communities and expanding our access to broadband, public transportation and the infrastructure needed to make our communities more resilient.
Other priorities include supporting business growth, reducing barriers to doing business, creating good jobs, supporting policies that make communities safer, and increasing access to mental health care, recovery programs, and emergency response services.
The House and Senate passed the budget adjustment, the mid-year true-up of the current fiscal year budget. The bill includes flood recovery funding for municipalities so towns will receive funding from the state to provide immediate recovery relief.
School budgeting and property taxes are the points of most contention right now and for good reason: initial estimates projected education spending would increase $250 million over last year and result in an average 20% increase in property taxes, which is untenable for Vermonters. Schools are facing many pressures including inflation, the end of federal pandemic aid, a 16% increase in health care costs, and payments on school construction. These have all contributed to spiraling costs and estimated tax rate increases not seen in recent history.
The Legislature is working on short-term and long-term changes to the education system to both provide a high-quality education while also controlling costs and not overburdening property tax payers.
Vermont’s landmark Act 250 law has been instrumental in balancing the preservation of a unique landscape with the economic and development needs of communities. As we face a growing housing crisis with new pressures on the working landscape and the adverse impacts of climate change, the House and Senate are working on bills to modernize Act 250 to better support compact development in downtowns and village centers while protecting forests and open lands.
Working lands entrepreneurs are the backbone of the Vermont economy and a top source for job creation. They produce food and products used every day and are an integral part of what makes Vermont a quality place to live. Yet open farm and forest land is lost each year to development.
H.128, which I sponsored, has been voted out of House Agriculture and Forestry and would modernize Act 250 for farms and forest products businesses to allow operations to grow in place at the appropriate scale for the current and next generation.
We all expect an ambulance to come when we call 911, but because current reimbursement rates do not cover the full cost of service delivery, EMS services are struggling to keep pace with the needs of our communities. House Government Operations is working on H622, a bill that I sponsored, to stabilize our EMS system by addressing issues around funding, structure, and workforce development.
All Vermonters have a right to feel safe. The two most effective crime deterrents are a high probability of being caught and certain and quick consequences for criminal activity. The probability of being caught depends on the presence and availability of law enforcement. The certainty and immediacy of consequences depends on a well-functioning, well-resourced criminal justice system made up of the courts, prosecutors, defenders, victim advocates, and restorative justice providers. The Judiciary Committee continues to work with the Appropriations Committee to ensure that all vital elements of the justice system have sufficient resources.
We have more work to do before the end of the session in May. Vermont’s rural communities, especially communities like ours, are strong and resilient. We face challenges unique to small, rural towns. My job is to represent our communities at the statehouse, to ensure that our challenges and our values are not forgotten, and to ensure that our communities can thrive for generations to come. Your perspective allows me to get things done for us.
Give me a call at (802) 673-7376, send an email to [email protected] or drop in during monthly office hours to share your needs, concerns and ideas.
Rep. Katherine Sims represents Albany, Craftsbury, Glover and Greensboro.
