Current News

Vermont Business Magazine After completing its review of Vermont’s hospitals’ budget requests for fiscal year 2016, the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) has set the total fiscal year 2016 budget increase for Vermont’s hospital system at 3.5%, including 0.5% that qualifies as investments in health reform. This marks the third year in a row that Vermont’s 14 hospitals as a group have kept net patient revenue increases at or below the target set by the GMCB. Total revenue would be $2.3 billion or $77 million more than in 2015 for the 14 community hospitals. FY 2016 begins October 1.

by Bea Grause Vermont’s regulators have just about finished their annual review and approval of hospital budgets, so naturally there has been a lot of dialogue about the work hospitals are doing to create a system where everyone gets care they can afford, from the hospital and doctor of their choice. Vermont’s hospitals are doing what Vermonters have asked them to do. We’ve held spending growth to historic lows for the third consecutive year. We are improving the delivery and coordination of care within hospitals and throughout our communities. And we are ensuring access for everyone – regardless of ability to pay.

RELATED STORY: Vermont hospital budgets up 3.5 percent for FY2016

But there’s more work to do to make care, and insurance, affordable for everyone.

by Brian Dubie In 2009, when I was serving as lieutenant governor, I was invited to the Bolton Valley Ski Area resort to take part in the commissioning of a 100 kw wind turbine manufactured by Vermont workers in Barre. Its blade height was a very modest 120 feet, and the tower was on a scale to fit in with the ski resort profile. Bolton became only the second ski resort in the country to be powered in part by renewable wind electricity.

From Governor Shumlin's Office In keeping with the Presidential Proclamation, Governor Peter Shumlin has ordered flags at all state buildings and facilities be lowered to half-staff on September 11, 2015, in observance of Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Where the flags will be lowered:

The Vermont State House, all Federal and State Facilities around the state and public buildings and grounds around the state.

Which flags will be lowered:

The U.S flag, Vermont State flag, POW flags, and any other flags *

Date the flags are to be lowered: (at sunrise):

Friday, September 11, 2015

Date flags are to return to full staff: (at sunset):

Friday, September 11, 2015

Name of person being honored/Reason to Lower Flag:

Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance

by Tom Pelham Vermonters and taxpayers will be stunned by Act 46 come the fiscal 2017 school budget cycle that starts in earnest this Fall. Act 46 is a poorly constructed legislative initiative of state enforced school consolidation with debilitating effects on effectively managed school districts, both large and small, and resulting in increases in property taxes statewide. Here are just some of the burdens local school boards, parents and taxpayers will face due to Act 46 this Fall through Town Meeting Day.

Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department (BED) and Vermont Gas Systems announced today that their popular Energy Champ Challenge program, aimed at increasing energy efficiency in some of Burlington’s biggest residential rental units, has reached its goal of 50 scheduled energy audits. BED and Vermont Gas partnered to roll out the Energy Champ Challenge Efficiency Program in June with the ambitious, preliminary goal of scheduling 50 audits by year’s end, and with the ultimate goal of encouraging rental landlords to install the recommended thermal and electric efficiency measures. As of today, 84 energy audits have been scheduled involving 48 different landlords, with even more in the queue. BED and Vermont Gas now are increasing the goal to 100 scheduled energy audits by the end of the year.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has announced the distribution of $500,000 in patronage capital funds to member-owners in 2015. Patronage capital is each member’s share of remaining funds after the cooperative utility pays its operating expenses. It is the member’s equity in the co-op and one of the benefits of being a member-owner. The VEC Board of Directors determines annually whether the co-op is in a strong enough financial position to return portions of patronage capital to members, and, if so, they decide which years and what percentage from those years to refund. Including this distribution, VEC has returned $1,850,000 patronage capital dollars to active and former members.

Vermont Business Magazine The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period on the Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for the twelve Vermont segments of Lake Champlain until October 15, 2015. On August 14, 2015, EPA made the phosphorus TMDLs for the Vermont segments of Lake Champlain available for public comment. The comment period was set to expire on September 15, 2015. In response to requests for additional time, EPA is extending the comment period for 30 additional days, until October 15, 2015.

Further information and copies of the Lake Champlain TMDLs may be obtained on-line at http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/tmdl/lakechamplain.html or by requesting a copy from the contact listed below.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos September is National Voter Registration Month. A national, non-partisan campaign by non-profit and voter advocacy organizations will also celebrate September 22, 2015, as National Voter Registration Day. Voting is at the very core of our democracy! Our system of government works because “we the people” participate in its organization. This right is enshrined in both the United States and the Vermont Constitutions. Vermont led the nation long ago in extending the right to vote to all eligible citizens by removing property ownership as a prerequisite to voting eligibility. I believe that we should remove any and all unnecessary barriers to the exercise of this critically important right, and my office continues to work toward this end.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Agency of Transportation Secretary Sue Minter will step down after serving in the Administration since 2011. Shortly after the governor's announcement, Minter said on Twitter that she was running for governor. Shumlin has appointed current Deputy Secretary Chris Cole to lead VTrans following Minter’s resignation, which takes effect at the end of the day Friday. Minter has been mentioned as a possible Democratic gubernatorial candidate. A copy of her resignation letter to the governor is below.

Vermont Business Magazine Presented by Alexandra Cousteau – global water advocate and granddaughter of legendary storyteller and explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau – The Blue Legacy Newsroom aims to be the go-to source for identifying and understanding important water events. Creating greater awareness of water events and sustainable water stewardship, the Blue Legacy Newsroom, a partnership between Blue Legacy International and The Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), with support from Vermont-based Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR), has unveiled its first pilot video news stories exploring the nutrient pollution challenges and toxic blue algae on Lake Champlain, Vermont.