Vermont Finance Update
Green Mountain state legislators’ proposals reflect the ongoing pressure in the state to cut education spending and reduce property taxes. Vermont lawmakers are aiming to stop school districts from spending over the statewide average and have also pushed district consolidation as a cost-saving measure, though they have not spelled out how those savings would occur. Supporters of schools’ current governance structure point to the fact that local school budgets were overwhelmingly approved by voters during the state’s local town meeting process as evidence that the current structure works well and enjoys the support of local school constituents.