MONTPELIER – Act 73, the education transformation act that was signed into law by Governor
Phil Scott last July, saw some significant updates and changes this past legislative session.
Bill H.955 went back and forth from the House and Senate and finally a conference committee and was voted out by the House on May 29. I voted yes to support the bill.
All in all, middle ground was found to find cost savings but keep decision-making local and voluntary. The bill created regional CESAs, or Cooperative Educational Service Areas, to share services such as special education and transportation costs. Additionally, voluntary merger committees are formed this fall to study unified union school districts. Districts will vote on proposed mergers on Town Meeting day in 2028.
The bill sets spending thresholds of 18% above the state average and creates a path for a foundation formula in 2029. The foundation formula is a system of state funding based on how many students
are attending the school with additional weights that factor the specific needs of students and circumstances of schools.
This is in contrast to budgets voted on by individual schools that are then supplemented by the state. Towns that offer public tuition (choice) are still preserved in the new system. Ultimately, the goal is to curb spending and increase quality outcomes for students. The Rural Community School Alliance supports the bill as passed and I am hopeful the Governor will sign it into law soon.
The repeals made to Act 181 were a great success this session and I was grateful to participate as best I could. Thanks to the voice of many Vermonters, including a pivotal speech given by Ian and Caitlyn Ackermann on the Statehouse steps, the Road Rule and Tier 3 portions of Act 181 were repealed.
This means that the opportunity to build on your land will largely remain unchanged. Unless you have a major development project that triggers Act 250, you only need to go to the town zoning administrator to apply for a permit. (Septic systems still need state permitting.) Had Act 181 gone through without change, the process for building would look drastically different, requiring permitting through the Act 250 process. I was able to bring two floor amendments which passed the House that allow farms to construct facilities for social, recreational, and educational events without needing an Act 250 permit. The other modified the language in the “smart growth principles” of our regional planning commissions to include homesteading, small scale agriculture and forestry, and supporting housing in a list of types of development that the commissions shall support.
The day we repealed 181 was my favorite day at the legislature to date.
There are so many changes to law that were made during the two years that I have had the privilege to serve as representative for Cabot, Danville, and Peacham. All those that increased the rights and privileges of people in our state and reduced the burden of taxes on our people; all those that freed our economy to grow and protected our vulnerable; all those that recognized the blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to make a life here: those I supported and those I intend to make all the more.
Here’s to independence and to freedom and unity!
Gregory Burtt represents the Caledonia-Washington District in the state legislature, including the towns of Cabot, Danville and Peacham. This commentary first ran in the July edition of the Cabot Chronicle.
