Current News

​Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Taxes has learned of some errors in the coding of Vermont 2015 tax year personal income tax software impacting some taxpayers who itemized their deductions. The department is working with software vendors and tax preparers to ensure that affected taxpayers receive assistance in filing amended returns and paying any additional taxes. The department is also waiving interest and penalty for amended returns and payments received on or before June 30, 2016. The department’s internal analysis suggests that products from five vendors had software glitches, causing as many as 19,000 taxpayers to file erroneous 2015 returns. The additional tax due ranges greatly, but averages about $160, for a total of about $2 million.

​Vermont Business Magazine Southern Vermont College (SVC) conferred degrees to more than 125 graduates at its 89^th Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 14, on the Greystone lawn of the Everett Mansion. An Honorary Degree of Humane Letters was awarded to Michael Donoghue ’71, award-winning news/sports writer and educator, who recently retired after 47 years with the Burlington Free Press. Donoghue addressed the graduates as Commencement speaker.

Vermont Business Magazine Champlain College President Donald J Laackman conferred 562 associate and bachelor degrees to one of the largest graduating class in the College’s history on Saturday, May 14 under an enormous tent spanning the entire Edmunds School athletic field adjacent to the college. More than 4,000 people attended the 138th annual Commencement ceremony with even more watching the simulcast in the Champlain Room of the CCM Building or online. The college’s 138th Undergraduate Commencement presented honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees to Vermont musician Grace Potter of Waitsfield and noted author Katherine Paterson of Barre.

Vermont Business Magazine Burlington College announced today that it will discontinue its academic programs as of May 27, 2016, because of its ongoing financial struggles. In the statement below, the college said its lender has pulled out and acknowledged that it would likely lose its accreditation this summer. The college began as a mostly film-related institution in Burlington's Old North End before buying the former Catholic Diocese headquarters in 2010 and moving the college farther up North Avenue. However, it could never reconcile the cost of that move. Burlington College celebrated its 35th, and apparently final, commencement on Saturday, May 14. Burlington College founder Dr Steward LaCasce gave the commencement address to the class of 2016. He was also president of the college for 22 years.

Vermont Business Magazine Fast Company today announced its annual ranking of the 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2016. Green Mountain Power CEO and President Mary Powell was selected to be on the list for her transformational leadership, helping customers transition away from the traditional grid. The magazine cited GMP’s innovation work, becoming the first utility to offer customers the Tesla Powerwall battery. Powell is No. 32. The No. 1 spot on the list this year is Lin-Manuel Miranda, the composer, lyricist, and star of Broadway’s Hamilton.

Vermont Business Magazine Dr Frederick M “Skip” Burkle Jr. ’61, a dauntless and massively productive global humanitarian, scholar and scientist for many decades, never has let long odds turn him from epic challenges. Burkle, the featured speaker for Saint Michael’s College’s 109^th Commencement Sunday, May 15, in the Ross Sports Center, told the Class of 2016 how he managed to enroll at Saint Michael’s despite the twin challenges of severe dyslexia and a severely resistant father. But it only was possible with help from a few “personal humanitarians,” something we all need, he said. His were a generous principal-priest supporting his application, two kind Saint Michael’s alumni doctors he’d met as an orderly at a hospital in Connecticut, his home state, and the supportive girlfriend from 8^th grade on who became his wife.

by Mike Smith Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive presidential nominee he, and his supporters, are seeking to unify the Republican Party. But “unification” has a very different meaning to Trump than it does to many Republicans, especially those seeking election. For Trump, a unified party is one that falls in line behind him and supports his positions. After all, in his view, he is now the leader of the party and the Republican Party is there to serve him.

by Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer The unfortunate situation with the EB-5 program presents an opportunity to reflect on the State’s approach to economic development. Among other responsibilities, the State Auditor’s office examines various programs to determine whether they achieve the goals established by the legislature. That is, are we getting our money’s worth? 

To answer the question, we conduct performance audits according to Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards. To do this, we need evidence that is sufficient and appropriate (i.e., quantity and quality). In the absence of such evidence, we cannot reach meaningful conclusions or make recommendations. 

Unfortunately, some economic development programs present serious challenges. Here are some examples. 

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday April 29th, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM), in partnership with the Vermont Specialty Food Association (VSFA), Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, and the Vermont Fresh Network, hosted its 7th Vermont Food Matchmaker event in Burlington.  Featuring 54 Vermont producers and 40 buyers from 30 retail establishments, the Matchmaker event is a key component of the VAAFM’s domestic export program, which focuses on assisting Vermont food and forest businesses in making and maintaining connections with buyers, brokers and distributors in both in-state and out-of-state markets.

Table 13 consultation. VRGA photos.

by Mike Faher/The Commons, Brattleboro A sharply divided Vermont Supreme Court has opened the door for Brattleboro Retreat to face negligence claims in connection with a 2011 assault committed by a former patient. A majority of justices have ruled that the family of the assault victim, Michael J Kuligoski of St Johnsbury, can pursue claims that the Retreat and Northeast Kingdom Human Services failed to warn of the dangers posed by assailant Evan Rapoza, who had been under the care of both facilities for mental illness.

Vermont Business Magazine Berkshire Bank Foundation announced that it has awarded $22,252 in grants and pledges to 13 nonprofit organizations in Southern Vermont during their first quarter grants cycle. The funding supports a variety of organizations.

Vermont Business Magazine The House of Representatives today approved a package of bills to address the opioid epidemic spreading across the country. The legislation would help states and communities increase their capacity to treat patients in recovery and provide tools to prevent addiction and overdoses. Two bipartisan initiatives authored by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) were included in S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.