Governor-elect Shumlin sent the following letter to Vermont school board members today regarding the tax rate recommended by the acting Tax Commissioner, Ellen Tofferi. The letter suggests that the current tax rate will continue for 2012 and that the one-time, $19 million federal contribution could be used to bridge the expected shortfall in funding over the next two years.
The Shumlin and Tofferi letters follow:
December 1, 2010
Dear School Board Member,
Thank you for your hard work to maintain the quality of our public schools and contain costs. I am deeply grateful for your commitment to Vermont’s children. It is due, in large part, to your hard work that our students have access to one of the best education systems in the country. As we both understand well, our state’s economic success and future relies on this quality. In addition, your work to keep FY2011 spending at a level rate is critical and greatly appreciated by all Vermonters.
Given the uncertainty around achieving budget reduction targets and allowing for the Legislature to be involved with the determination of how to best allocate the additional $19 million in one-time funds, it seems prudent to work on the expectation of maintaining the current tax rates for 2012 that the acting tax commissioner has recently recommended.
I know that this year the task before you is even more daunting as you have been asked to meet Act 146’s directive of reducing education spending by $23.2 million in FY2012. I appreciate your understanding of the need to meet this goal and also understand that it may take a little longer to make the kinds of changes necessary to achieve the savings targets. I remain supportive of using the $19 million in additional one-time federal funds as bridge financing over one or two years to accomplish the necessary cost savings. I look forward to working with the legislature to develop a specific plan in this regard. I do not support using the one-time federal funds for anything other than supporting our schools or lowering property taxes.
Thank you again for your hard work and dedication to our state.
Sincerely,
Governor-elect Peter Shumlin