MONTPELIER – Today, December 1, the Vermont Tax Department released its annual forecast on the 2026 property tax implications of Vermont’s PreK–12 education system, projecting a sharp rise in Education Property Taxes.
According to the report, the statewide average property tax increase is projected to be 11.9%. School districts are expected to increase education spending by $115 million, with per-pupil spending increasing by nearly $1,000, a 6.8% jump. These increases are more than double inflation, economic growth, wage growth and the growth of Vermont’s General and Transportation Funds, both of which are dealing with higher health insurance premiums. Even more troubling is the long-term trend: education property taxes have risen 41% over the past five years. This is not acceptable.
It’s important to emphasize that this projection is not a foregone conclusion. School districts still have the opportunity to revise and reduce their budgets. Additionally, the Legislature could allocate General Fund dollars to help offset property tax increases. However, those same dollars are also needed to support critical services Vermonters depend on, including public safety, food insecurity, healthcare, housing and homeless assistance, and other necessary social programs.
Republicans are deeply concerned that despite nearly the highest per-pupil education spending in the nation, Vermonters are seeing diminishing returns: declining reading and math scores, deteriorating school infrastructure, low post-secondary enrollment, a rising dropout rate and the highest staffing ratio in the country, 3.4:1.
Senate and House Republicans are committed to controlling education costs and reforming Vermont’s education system into one that delivers real value and outcomes we can be proud of. The Foundation Formula in Act 73 was a step in the right direction. We are ready to work with the Administration and Democrats who recognize the serious nature of the challenge and are committed to meaningful reform.
What we cannot support are proposals that ask for even more taxes from already overburdened taxpayers. Vermont doesn’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem.
Sen. Scott Beck is the Vermont Senate Republican Leader and Rep. Pattie McCoy is the Vermont House Republican Leader.
Sen. Scott Beck
Sen. Scott Beck is the Senate Minority Leader and represents Caledonia County
