Current News

by Laurie Mumley A possible miracle for Bill H.829 – there is an open letter from a group of high income and wealthy residents to the Legislature asking to be taxed at a higher rate in response to the critical needs we have in our state for housing (as the governor attests) and for other services. A story in Vermont Business shares a link to that letter: www.fairsharevt.org. We can connect the dots, between that letter and the proposed tax in H.829 to create a 10-year plan to address all kinds of housing needs. Our legislators need to understand that this new revenue stream can support the 10-year plan for housing, without taxing the regular guy. H.829 includes both new revenue streams as well as specific language to direct funds toward affordable and middle-income housing, housing-related services, and shelter creation.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s trout fishing season opens Saturday, April 13. Despite lingering snow cover in some areas of the state, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says anglers can still have fun and be successful early in the season if they keep a few strategies in mind. “Just like any other time of year, anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” said State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good. “Trout will become more active with warmer water temperatures.  If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you’ll have a good chance of catching a few fish, and enjoy a nice day outside.”

Vermont Business Magazine It's finally spring and Vermonters are not only getting outside to appreciate the warmer weather, they’re also making plans for next winter's firewood supply. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has a few tips on how to properly dry or season firewood to reduce costs, smoke, and fuel use. “Wet wood does not burn well and creates a lot of smoke that can harm your family, neighbors, and the environment,” said DEC Commissioner Jason Batchelder. “Seasoned wood burns hotter and cleaner than wet wood does, saving you money and energy.”

Vermont Business Magazine Today, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) voted unanimously to establish data-driven hospital budget guidance for fiscal year 2025 (FY25) that promotes affordability and access to care for Vermonters. The FY25 hospital budget guidance builds on GMCB’s work to expand its data-driven budget review process and was developed over a monthslong process with significant input from the public, the Office of the Health Care Advocate, hospital leaders, and industry representatives. Through the hospital budget guidance, GMCB directs hospitals to limit their FY25 budget net patient revenue growth to 3.5% and to restrain commercial insurance price increases to 3.4%.

Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the Vermont Progressive Party issued the following statement opposing the appointment of Zoie Saunders as Secretary of Education: "The Vermont Progressive Party opposes the recent appointment of Zoie Saunders as Secretary of the Agency of Education by Governor Phil Scott. Saunders' background in for-profit charter schools and her 3-month tenure in Broward County Public Schools in Florida raise serious doubts about her suitability for the role. Not only does she lack the requisite experience in public education, but her track record demonstrates a propensity for policies that undermine rather than strengthen public schools."

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Wednesday called on Novo Nordisk to lower the list price of Ozempic and issued the following statement after the release of a new study, which found that the diabetes and weight-loss drug could be profitably produced for less than $5 a month. Today, a new Yale study found that Ozempic costs less than $5 a month to manufacture. And yet, Novo Nordisk charges Americans nearly $1,000 a month for this drug, while the same exact product can be purchased for just $155 a month in Canada and just $59 in Germany.

Vermont Business Magazine At his weekly press conference today, Governor Phil Scott addressed the affordability challenges so many Vermonters are facing. Between rising costs, higher taxes, fees and penalties, too many Vermonters and small businesses are struggling to get by. He was joined by Amanda Shangraw, the owner of a small business in Williamstown, who recently wrote to lawmakers about the difficulty of doing business in our state, and how the decisions in Montpelier have a real impact on people trying to make it in Vermont. The governor also encouraged legislators and Vermonters to read an interview that appeared today in Vermont Public, titled “The challenges of living on a fixed income in a state where the taxes keep going up.” 

Vermont Business Magazine State Treasurer Mike Pieciak released a report estimating the economic impact of the April 8 total solar eclipse could range between $12.9 million and $51.8 million. The actual economic impact rests on the total number of visitors who travel to Vermont for the eclipse, which highly depends on the April 8 weather forecast. The economic impact is based on the estimated number of visitors who will travel to Vermont and the estimated amount each visitor will spend while in Vermont. The Great American Eclipse provides an estimated range of the number of visitors who will travel to Vermont with a low estimate of 52,000 visitors and a high estimate of 208,000 visitors.

Vermont Business Magazine Employment rose 1.9 percent in Vermont’s largest county, Chittenden, from September 2022 to September 2023, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2022.) Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley noted Chittenden County’s 1.9-percent employment increase ranked 102nd among the 360 large U.S. counties. Vermont overall had an average weekly wage of $1,141 and Chittenden County had the highest at $1,281. The overall US average weekly wage was $1,334. Vermont ranked 32nd in weekly wage and 33rd in wage growth (-0.2%). DC had the highest wage ($2,159), Washington was highest among states ($1,682) and Arkansas had the lowest wage ($1,036). Wyoming had the fastest growing wage (2.4%), while Minnesota was the slowest (-1.3%).

The Vermont State Police has made three arrests in connection with a stabbing that left a St. Johnsbury man with serious injuries.  The victim is identified as Alan Tanguay, 32, of St. Johnsbury. He remains hospitalized Wednesday morning at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where his condition is reported to be stable. The three suspects are identified as: Michael John, 29, who has no fixed address but resides mostly in northeastern Vermont, on charges of aggravated assault, and assault and robbery; Brandi Whittemore, 31, of St. Johnsbury, on two counts of aiding in the commission of a felony; Gary Audas, 51, of Lyndonville, on a charge of accessory after the fact.

Vermont Business Magazine Darcy Carter, district director of the US Small Business Administration’s Vermont district office announced Kerry Boyle of Integrative Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as the 2024 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year. Dr. Kerry Boyle is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Acupuncture in Montpelier. Kerry became interested in natural healthcare while working at health food stores in the 90s. She then pursued education at Bastyr University in Seattle Washington graduating with a Masters in Acupuncture in 2003. She spent 4 years traveling internationally, implementing, and launching acupuncture on board cruise ships.

by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health reported last week that COVID-19 cases fell steeply from 75 to 58, their lowest level since last summer. In addition, hospitalizations continue to decline, and fatalities have eased back. There were no fatalities in this report. The pandemic death total now stands at 1,138 as of March 16, 2024 (the most recent data available). Total reported deaths in January were 28, which is the highest monthly total in nearly a year, but only 15 so far for February and still only 6 so far reported in March. The VDH reported last week that COVID-19 hospitalizations were at a statewide total of 10, which is among the lowest they've been since last summer. COVID-19 activity remains in the "Low" range, according to the VDH.