Current News

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The Personal Income tax took another hit last month and dragged down General Fund revenues for October. The PI is by far the most important GF revenue source. The disappointing GF revenues report came despite a rebound by the Corporate Income tax, which has been lagging much of the fiscal year and is still much in the red. The usually reliable Rooms & Meals tax, which largely tracks tourism activity, was slightly down as was the Sales Tax, which has been unreliable the last few years.

Vermont Business Magazine This morning an email sent from a fake account meant to mimic an official Vermont Secretary of State email address was sent to some municipal officials soliciting donations for a family “in dire need” claiming a 3-year old girl “desperately needs your help.” Anyone with a heart is likely to be moved by such a plea, especially around Thanksgiving, a time when Vermonters actively look to help their neighbors in need. But, this Thanksgiving season, Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan and Secretary of State Jim Condos are warning Vermonters about a scam targeting municipal officials that preys on the good intentions of others.

Vermont Business Magazine Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday renewed his call for a bipartisan budget deal that would allow for real investments in the American people. Leahy said: “With just 17 days until the current continuing resolution expires and the threat of sequestration looming in January, our toughest path remains ahead. We must come together to reach a bipartisan budget deal that allows for an increase in both defense AND non-defense spending to alleviate the devastating consequences of sequestration on our domestic priorities and military readiness. I look forward to working with Chairman Cochran and leadership on both sides of the aisle in accomplishing that goal.”

Vermont Business Magazine Slamming the proposal as “bumper sticker budgeting,” Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) Tuesday focused on a provision in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would provide $1.6 billion from American taxpayers for President Trump’s border wall with Mexico.

Vermont Business Magazine Longtime Municipal Manager Frank Heald has announced his plans to step down from his position after more than 15 years piloting the Town & Village of Ludlow. Heald’s plans were announced after the Select Board, Village Trustees and Water Commission meeting in November.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has the second highest incidence of children with parents who are or were incarcerated, according to the The Annie E Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Center. While the state is slightly below the national average (7 percent), most of its peer-group states had lower rates than Vermont's 6 percent, including New Hampshire (5 percent), Massachusetts (5 percent) and New York (4 percent). Close to 6 million kids in America have experienced losing a parent to prison or jail at some point in their lives — and this number is growing.

Nationwide, this population has increased by 636,000 children since 2011–2012.

At the state level: 30 states and the District of Columbia reported an uptick in the number of kids with a parent incarcerated between 2011–2012 and 2015–2016.

Vermont Business MagazineGreen Mountain Power announced this week that its energy transformation work with customers in 2017 have reduced carbon consumption by over 116,000 metric tons — the equivalent of taking almost 1,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road.

Vermont Business Magazine Attorney General TJDonovan announced today that his office has reached asettlementwith Dean Corren in a campaign finance enforcement action arising out of Corren’s 2014 campaign for lieutenant governor. The parties filed a stipulation of dismissal with the Superior Court today. By the terms of the settlement, Corren will pay $255 to a Vermont charitable organization. Trial had been set for December 7, 2017, in Vermont Superior Court in Washington County.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with the Agencies of Education and Natural Resources, is launching a pilot project designed to encourage schools to test drinking water for lead at each tap used for drinking or cooking, and take actions to lower lead levels. Sixteen schools that get their drinking water from municipal water systems were invited to take part in this voluntary effort, and all agreed to participate. Over the next few months, Health Department and Department of Environmental Conservation staff will visit each school and work with its facility team to inventory and test taps used for drinking and cooking. Water samples will be sent to the Health Department Laboratory for testing, at no cost to the school.

Vermont Business Magazine The Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) is proud to announce the recipient of the 2017 CDFA Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s recipient is Jo Bradley, Chief Executive Officer at the Vermont Economic Development Authority. She was presented the award during a special ceremony at the 2017 National Development Finance Summit in Atlanta, GA, on November 16.

Vermont Business Magazine On Thursday, November 16th, representatives from NewEngland Federal Credit Union (NEFCU) presented a symbolic “big check”for $20,000 to Burlington’s Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS). Onhand at COTS to make the surprise presentation were NEFCU’s SeniorVice President and CFO Susan Leonard, Senior Marketing Executive CindyMorgan, Mortgage ManagerGreg Hahr, Sales Manager Pat Weaver, andSecondary Market Analyst Abbie Jefferis.

COTS Executive Director Rita Markley, who accepted the donation, said,“New England Federal Credit Union’s support makes it possible for COTSto provide families and individuals facing the crisis of homelessnessthis winter with shelter, services, housing, and homelessnessprevention. We are extremely grateful for NEFCU’s longtime, ongoingcommitment.”

Vermont Business Magazine Compassion & Choices is praising the Vermont Medical Society for dropping its 14-year opposition to doctors writing prescriptions for terminally ill adults who requestmedication to end unbearable suffering and die peacefully. The society posted a resolution recognizing medical aid in dying as a legal option that could be made within the doctor-patient relationship at its annual meeting earlier this month, 4-1/2 years after the state authorized medical aid in dying inMay 2013by passing thePatient Choice at End of Life Act (Act 39).