Current News

by Mike Smith The liberal advocacy group Rights and Democracy is calling on the Vermont Senate not to confirm Tom Pelham, GovernorPhil Scott’s recent appointment to the Green Mountain Care Board. The reasoning: He’s too fiscally conservative. The group describes Pelham as “a voice for more health care austerity” and lacking “an everyday patient’s perspective.” His sin: He was critical of former GovernorPeter Shumlin’s single-payer health care plan.

But Pelham was right to be critical. To fund single payer would have required massive tax increases. And the promised decreases in health insurance premiums to offset those costs didn’t exist. It simply was too high a price tag for Vermonters to pay.

Vermont Business Magazine Improved health, reduced growth in Medicare spending and more health-savvy older adults: these are the findings of the latest federally funded, third-party evaluation of older adults living in Vermont affordable housing communities and enrolled in SASH (Support and Services at Home), a statewide, collaborative program of care and support that helps people stay healthy and remain at home.

Montpelier SASH participant Eudora has experienced the benefits of the SASH program first-hand. Just shy of her seventieth birthday, Eudora lives alone as she has for many years, with no family in Vermont. In April of 2015, Downstreet SASH coordinator Jennifer was making her daily rounds, checking in with SASH participants. When Eudora answered her door and said she wasn’t feeling well, Jennifer noticed Eudora’s slurred speech and that her face was droopy on one side; it was clear that Eudora was in need of medical attention.

Vermont Business Magazine The foundation has been laid for a model home in South Burlington for a market-rate development between two of South Burlington's busiest thoroughfares. O’Brien Brothers officially cut the ribbon on a new residential community today on Hillside at O’Brien Farm, which over the next four years or so will become home to more than 100 families, featuring residences of architectural variety, a neighborhood recreational park, and sweeping views of the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains between Kennedy Drive and Hinesburg Road. Single-family and town homes will start in the $300,000 to $400,000 range.

O’Brien Brothers, center, with family and staff. Courtesy photos and renderings.

Vermont Business MagazineWeekly unemployment claims subsided somewhat last week after a big spike. Volatility is typicalof theholiday employment scene. However, claims are still significantly lower than at the same time last year.Claims have been lower than they were the same time last year for most weeks in 2017.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine Saint Michael's College has narrowed its search for a new president to three, according to Trustees Chair Mary-Kate McKenna. McKenna sent a letter to the St Mike's community Thursday saying the Colchester college has three current presidents as finalists for the position. Saint Michael's College President John JNeuhauser announced last May his plans to leave the college in June of 2018. The names of the three candidates were not revealed either in the letter or at the request of VBM.

Vermont Business MagazineCommunity Bank NApresents the 2017 Special Olympics Vermont Holiday Games December 10at StMichael’s College and Spare Times Lanes in Colchester. Nearly 500 athletes and Unified partners will compete in swimming, floorball, and bowling.“We are very excited to be the presenting sponsor of the first ever Special Olympics Vermont Holiday Games” says Anita Bourgeois, Community Bank N.A. New England Regional Manager. “We are thrilled to grow our partnership with Special Olympics Vermont and support people with intellectual disabilities and their families across the state.”

Special Olympics Vermont has reorganized its sports seasons to provide more high-quality sports training and competition opportunities to more athletes. The thirteen Olympic-type sports offered are now organized into four distinct sports seasons: Winter, Summer, Fall, and Holiday Games. This Sunday will be the first annual Holiday Games.

Senator Bernie Sanders I thank Leader Schumer for putting me on the so-called 'tax reform' conference committee. Let me be very clear: Both versions of the Senate and the House tax bills are morally grotesque and terrible economic policy. Both bills would provide massive tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, increase taxes on millions of middle class Americans, raise the deficit by more than $1 trillion, and lead to savage cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Vermont Business MagazinePersonal income tax revenues, the most important General Revenue source, rebounded in November to push them up over 24 percent for the month (+$10.08 million) and ahead for the year. November marks the fifth month of fiscal year 2018. General Fund revenues collected for the month of November totaled $104.58 million, $8.30 million above the consensus cash flow expectation for the month. The November monthly consensus cash flow target reflects where General Fund receipts overall should be through the month, given the consensus revenue forecast for fiscal year 2018, adopted by the Emergency Board on July 21, 2017, according to Secretary of Administration Susanne Young.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Chris Sununu announced today that New Hampshire will opt out of the FirstNet plan presented by AT&T, and will instead pursue a contract with Rivada Networks, LLC for the provision of an alternative plan for the build out of a high speed wireless broadband network for New Hampshire's first responders. Vermont Governor Phil Scott announced last week that Vermont would opt-in to the FirstNet/AT&T plan. New Hampshire is the first state to opt-out of what is intended to be a nationwide safety plan.

Scott followed the recommendation of the Public Safety Broadband Network Commission issued November 20.

Public Assets Institute This is the 11th year in a row that Montpelier has projected spending obligations will exceed state revenue projections going into the start of the legislative session. Maybe it’s time to acknowledge that the state’s revenue system isn’t keeping up with even modest budget growth. Projected General Fund revenue for next year is $1,591 million. That’s about $34 million more than Vermont had available to pay for base appropriations for this year ($1,557 million). If this revenue growth were distributed evenly, there would be enough for an increase of just over 2 percent across state government.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJDonovan raised concerns over the FCC for allowing “fake comments” to be posted on its public comment pages related to proposed rules that would roll-back net neutrality rules. “Net neutrality should be protected and preserved. Fake comments undermine the integrity of the entire process.” said Donovan. In July, the Vermont AG submitted comments to the FCC supporting an open internet.

Vermont Business MagazineVail Resorts, Inc(NYSE: MTN) today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 endedOctober 31, 2017, and provided season pass sales results and certain early ski season indicators. Vail has seen immediate positive impact from its recent acquistions of Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont and Canada'sWhistler Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America.Whileearly season results have been mixed across the Vail network,Whistler Blackcomb andStowehave had a strong start to the season with early snow and cold temperatures conducive to snowmaking.ColoradoandUtahhave been challenged with limited early season terrain.