Current News

by Morgan True vtdigger.org Facing budgetary pressures totaling $188.2 million between the governor’s budget proposal and the House-approved fee bill, lawmakers will consider bringing back a cap on itemized income tax deductions that stalled in 2013. Most states tax residents based on adjusted gross income, but Vermont is among the few that tax residents based on taxable income, or the amount taxpayers report after they have claimed deductions.

The House and Senate have considered a variety of modified AGI policy changes over the past several years, based on information from the Vermont Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission research released in 2011.

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims continued a trend from the beginning of the year, as numbers fell toward 500. Claims rose in the late fall and peaked around the holidays. For the week of February 14, 2015, there were 514 new, regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance in Vermont. This is a decrease of 123 from the previous week's total, and 34 fewer than they were a year ago. In 2014, claims were consistently below 2013 levels on a week-to-week basis.

Graph shows private employment (nonfarm, nongovernment)

Altogether 7,968 new and continuing claims were filed, a decrease of 94 from a week ago and 422 fewer than a year ago. The Department processed 0 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), the same as the previous week.

US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) is recommending Burlington attorney Eric Miller to President Obama to be Vermont’s next US Attorney. Miller, 45, would be the 37th United States Attorney in Vermont’s history, managing the US Department of Justice’s US Attorney offices in Burlington and Rutland and overseeing the work of nearly 20 attorneys who represent the United States in criminal and civil investigations and litigation in Vermont.

“I have been impressed with the thoughtfulness, vision, and depth of experience that Eric Miller has demonstrated throughout his career,” Leahy said. “Eric is one of Vermont’s leading trial attorneys. He is well regarded by state and local law enforcement agencies and leaders in Vermont’s legal community. Eric is eminently qualified to be the top Federal law enforcement officer in Vermont, and I am proud to recommend him to serve as Vermont's next US Attorney.”

Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that a memorandum of understanding (see MOU below) has been reached with the property owner and other interested parties involved in the recently acquired Burlington College land to pursue a collaborative planning process intended to take public input and explore possible site designs for the property. The parties – Vermont Land Trust, Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), property owner Eric Farrell through BC Community Housing, LLC (BCCH), and the City of Burlington – recognize that the property is an iconic piece of Burlington, and the MOU offers the opportunity for a broad public discussion about the future of the land before any formal permitting process begins.

After more than 20 years as a public nonprofit, the Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI) will become a division of state government once again. Specifically, it will become a division of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) on March 30, 2015. Originally created as the Office of GIS (geographic information system) in the late 80’s, and then re-formulated as a nonprofit in the early 90’s, VCGI’s mission has never changed and it will continue to provide a one-stop free-data experience for those seeking digital map layers for Vermont.

Patricia Moulton, secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and Susan L Donegan, commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), announced today that DFR has agreed to assist ACCD in providing oversight of EB-5 projects. EB-5 is federal program that ACCD has been approved to administer in Vermont. The EB-5 program was designed to grant permanent residence visas to foreign investors and their immediate family members in exchange for the new economic development and job creation.

Governor Peter Shumlin announced today that Commissioner of Economic Development Lisa Gosselin will be leaving her post in April to take a job outside of state government. She will be replaced by Joan Goldstein who currently serves as Executive Director of the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation.

Gosselin is leaving state government to become the vice-president of Addison Press Inc, the Middlebury-based publisher of regional newspapers (including the Addison Independent), magazines, web sites and digital apps.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to serve the state under Governor Shumlin,” Gosselin said, “and to work with so many of the state’s growing businesses. However there is an opportunity now to focus on our own family business’s growth.”

Vermont Business Magazine In a joint announcement dated today, FairPoint Communications, Inc (Nasdaq: FRP); System Council T-9 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL-CIO) Locals 2320, 2326, and 2327; and the Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) Local 1400 have reached tentative agreements on the terms for new collective bargaining agreements. The strike affected approximately 1,700 workers in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The village of Jeffersonville has found a major break in its main water line. There is a concern that water from the break may have damaged a section of Pleasant Valley Road near Jeff Heights. Crews are working on the leak and on Pleasant Valley road itself, so motorists are asked to avoid unnecessary travel in the area until the problem is resolved.

That break is interrupting the flow of water to the Jeffersonville reservoir - causing it to drop to critically low levels. Users of Jeffersonville water are still asked to conserve until further notice.

The deep frost is causing many lines to break. Even small leaks can become a serious problem. If you see water leaking or pooling in an unusual area, please notify the Jeffersonville village office during normal business hours. All other times contact Cambridge Emergency Management (802-644-6601).

Source: Vermont State Police 2.19.2015

Today Keurig Green Mountain, Inc (NASDAQ: GMCR), a leader in specialty coffee, coffee makers, teas, and other beverages, launched its tenth annual Sustainability Report. The report focuses on Keurig's efforts to strengthen its global corporate citizenship and sustainability leadership, highlighting recent sustainability initiatives, progress against the Company's 2020 sustainability targets, and a new water stewardship target. The report underscores accomplishments and opportunities within Keurig's sustainability practice areas, with a particular focus on water stewardship, supply chain resiliency, and sustainable products - especially K-Cup recyclability.

After closing its car parts plant in Bennington almost a year ago, Plasan North America has announced that it is closing its military equipment plant on Bowan Road in Bennington. According to Vermont Business Magazine, Plasan employs 120 and manufactures plating for armored vehicles. Plasan Carbon Composites had employed 143 when it announced last February that it would close, which it did last spring. The Bennington Banner reports today that it will move operations to Walker, MI, by July. In the Banner story, Keith Rayborn, president of Plasan North America, cited declining military budgets in driving this decision. Plasan also consolidated the car parts operation in Michigan.

See Bennignton Banner story

Vermont Health Connect announced today that some Vermonters who missed this year’s Open Enrollment still have an opportunity to apply for 2015 health coverage. Specifically, Vermonters who don’t have health insurance and learn about the new Shared Responsibility Payment when they file their 2014 taxes now have a chance to avoid paying the full federal fee next year.

“Our goal is to help as many Vermonters find quality health coverage as possible,” said Lawrence Miller, Chief of Health Care Reform. “When our federal partners expressed an openness to providing this enrollment flexibility, we jumped at the opportunity. Our insurance issuers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Care, were also supportive – and we thank them for that.”