by Maggie Lenz and Nick Charyk on behalf of Atlas Government Affairs
Once upon a time in Vermont, the quality of a child’s education depended on their ZIP code. Wealthier towns could afford well-resourced schools, while poorer communities struggled to provide the basics. The divide was glaring. That system was changed with the Brigham decision in 1997, when the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that relying on local property taxes to fund schools violated the constitutional right to equal educational opportunities.
In response, the state created a statewide education fund and eventually introduced pupil weighting, a system that accounts for certain student needs, such as poverty, English language learning, and rural school challenges. This system aimed to ensure that every community, regardless of wealth, could provide adequate resources for its students.
Now lawmakers are considering another big change: replacing the current funding system with what is known as a foundation formula. While the details remain murky (or perhaps just don’t exist yet) and while foundation formulas can look different from one to another, this system would likely establish a base amount of funding for every student, adjusted for factors like cost of living, school size, and additional needs. Supporters say it could simplify the process, but critics worry it could undo recent progress made in balancing the ever-coveted and hard to reconcile Vermont values of equity and local control.
At the same time, the emotionally charged and controversial 'C word', consolidation, is coming up more frequently as the legislature debates ways to make the education system sustainable. Simmering beneath the surface of these discussions is the not-so-distant and painful memory of the Act 46 school-merger wars, which seemed to have scarred many Vermont communities and lawmakers who lived through them. While the tensions have not yet reignited, it seems like it’s only a matter of time.
Another controversial topic was the subject of many conversations around the State House this week - the Clean Heat Standard, a policy designed to reduce carbon emissions but dogged by questions of cost, feasibility, and fairness.
This week, the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) released its long-awaited proposed rules for the Clean Heat Standard, and with them, a stark recommendation: the state should not move forward with the program. Ed McNamara, chair of the PUC, pointed to significant implementation challenges. The proposed rules estimated that fuel oil prices might rise by less than 10 cents per gallon in 2026, increasing to a potential 45 cents by 2035, a far cry from the dramatic $4-per-gallon spike often cited by Governor Phil Scott.
Even so, the road ahead remains fraught. The Clean Heat Standard still needs approval from both chambers, a tall order given the shifting political dynamics. While Democrats in the Legislature once overrode Governor Scott’s veto of the policy, they no longer hold the votes to do so again.
For many Vermonters, the Clean Heat Standard has become more than a policy: it’s a symbol of the state’s struggle to hold at once affordability and environmental stewardship. Debates surrounding it have dominated recent elections, sparked fierce disagreements, and highlighted deep divides within the state. And now, with the PUC’s findings on the table, those divides have been laid bare. The question remains: Can Vermont carve a path forward on emissions reduction that balances its ideals with the realities of implementation?
Coming Soon
The Scott administration says they are working on sweeping omnibus bills addressing education, housing, and affordability. As of Friday evening, the details of these initiatives remain unknown (to us, anyways) but the governor is expected to provide a clearer vision during his budget address on January 28, setting the stage for another round of debates about Vermont’s core priorities and values.
Curiosities: a weekly peek at the odd and intriguing happenings under the Golden Dome
Vermont’s State House has welcomed a unique addition, courtesy of freshly elected Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers. Proudly displayed in his new office is an impressive 11.4-pound lake trout he reeled in from Shadow Lake in Glover. Rest assured, this catch is of the traditional Vermont variety—not the singing kind. Regardless, we’ll do our best not to worry, be happy, and focus on the work ahead.
January 17, 2025
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