Current News

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Personal income tax revenues in January didn't quite live up to their newly heightened expectations, but General Fund revenues, supported by the Corporate tax, finished ahead of projections. On January 18, 2018, the Emergency Board approved a new consensus revenue forecast as presented by the state and legislative economists. The recently and modestly resurgent Personal income tax was upgraded after several down years following the Great Recession. The updated consensus forecast, with new monthly and cumulative targets, will be used to evaluate the receipts versus targets for January through June 2018

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today asked legislative leaders to expedite delivery of equal pay legislation that aims to close the gap between what women and men are paid, among other provisions to increase pay equity. Scott hopes to sign legislation before the Legislature breaks for Town Meeting week. In a letter sent to the Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson and Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, Scott wrote, “as you've acknowledged, Vermont needs to restore its workforce to grow the economy and sustain – and increase – public investments we all value… Closing the wage gap could reduce Vermont's poverty rate by 57 percent and add $1 billion to our state's economy. More importantly, it would help us get one step closer to providing equality for all.”

Scott also said working to ensure equal pay for equal work is an opportunity to come together on a bipartisan basis.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Attorney General’s Office announced the launch of a new public records site on its webpage today. In support of transparent and open government, the Attorney General’s Office will now post all public record requests and responses on its webpage. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office firmly believes that a vibrant democracy depends upon citizens knowing and understanding how their government operates. Publicly available records are an integral part of an open and fair government. By posting all record requests and productions, Vermonters will now have more access to public information.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont continues to face a critical child care shortage, according to an updated report by Let’s Grow Kids on the supply of and demand for child care in Vermont. The report found that more than half (51%) of Vermont infants and toddlers likely to need care (LTNC) don’t have access to any regulated child care programs and 77% don’t have access to high-quality programs. Looking at care for infants only, the shortage is especially severe: 65% of infants likely to need care don’t have access to any regulated child care programs and 84% don’t have access to high-quality programs.

by Jill Mazza Olson, Executive Director VNAs of Vermont Vermont's not-for-profit home health agencies are deeply engaged in their local communities and they are active partners in Vermont's health care reform efforts. This week was a reminder that federal policy has an enormous impact on the services our home health agencies provide and the people they serve.

Vermont Business Magazine The office beverage service that bought Vermont Pure Natural Spring Water in 2000 has itself just been acquired in a public stock buy. Cott Corporation (NYSE:COT; TSX:BCB), based in Toronto, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Cott will acquire Crystal Rock Holdings, Inc (NYSE:CRVP) for $0.97 per share in cash.

Vermont Business Magazine The White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and Dartmouth Hitchcock based in Lebanon, NH, have partnered together to electronically share Veteran health information securely through the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Health Program. Veterans who receive care from VA and providers at Dartmouth Hitchcock locations in Vermont and New Hampshire can now take advantage of VLER, which enhances quality of care by enabling non-VA health care providers to gain access VA medical data such as a list of health problems, allergies, medications, vital signs, immunizations and some laboratory test results.

by John McClaughry From Revolutionary days into modern times, Vermonters have championed the liberty extolled in our 1777 Constitution. Article I declared that “all men have certain natural, inherent , and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying of and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

That pro-liberty tradition persisted, even through the great economic, social and political changes of the twentieth century that brought ever-greater government interference in our lives. We are now, however, well into an era where that once-vital tradition has lost much of its meaning, or receded beyond mention altogether.

A noteworthy – to some, notorious - landmark of this malign progression is a 1994 decision rendered by Vermont Supreme Court Justice John Dooley. His opinion rested on a wholly invented legal principle: “your life belongs to the State”.

Vermont Business Magazine Leaders and staff from The Bank of Bennington and Southwestern Vermont Health Care gathered in the hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Services family waiting area to dedicate it as Kids Korner. The project was made possible through a $25,000 donation The Bank of Bennington made to Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC). The funds were given in celebration of the bank’s centennial year for the creation of interactive, child-friendly waiting areas within the health system.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced he appointed 13 Vermonters to State boards and commissions in the month of January. Boards and commissions serve an important role in state government, giving Vermonters numerous opportunities to serve their state and communities. The Governor’s office is currently soliciting applications to fill vacancies and upcoming term expirations. All those interested in serving on a board or commission should visit the Governor’s website to apply.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont's congressional delegation, as well as most of their Democratic colleagues, were disappointed with President Trump's infrastructure plan presented to Congress today. The president's plan leans heavily on privatizing infrastructure, as well as leveraging local and state funds, in order to repair and upgrade large projects. Among those projects earmarked for selling off are the two airports serving Washington, DC: Dulles and Reagan National.

Vermont Business Magazine Most Vermonters will see a tax increase from the new federal law that was supposed to cut taxes. So, Governor Phil Scott today released details on his tax reform plan, the Working Family Taxpayer Protection Act, to ensure Vermonters don’t see a surprise $30 million tax increase due to changes in federal law. The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changed many components of the federal personal income tax structure that will impact Vermont’s tax system. Most significantly, the TCJA nearly doubles the standard deduction and eliminates personal exemptions, while lowering overall federal tax rates. The net result is most Vermonters will pay less in federal taxes.