Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the Senate passed an $8 billion dollar budget to support the priorities of Vermont’s working families. The Senate’s budget proposal prioritizes investments in housing, mental health and disability services, workforce and economic development, and higher education. It invests over $160 million in climate action and close to $100 million in broadband connectivity. The Senate is also committed to putting over $30 million back in the pockets of Vermonters through a balanced package of tax relief.
“The Senate looked across the Governor’s proposal and the House’s proposal and started by building in funding for our key priorities,” said Senator Jane Kitchel, Chair of the Senate Appropriations committee. “We addressed the Housing crisis by investing in both permanently affordable housing and housing for the middle class. We gave a desperately needed increase to the Designated Agencies that provide mental health and disability support services in our communities, moving from the Governor’s proposed 3% to an 8% increase. And we followed through on our commitment to stabilize our Vermont State Colleges, which are critical to Vermont students critical to our workforce challenges.”
“I want Vermonters to know that this is a budget that keeps our fiscal house in order,” said Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint. “This is a budget that maintains essential services, because at a time when we’re still not out of the woods of the pandemic, so many families are still reeling, and in need of the services government provides. This budget makes good on a promise we made to Vermonters to spend surplus revenue and recovery funds on the things that matter to them most - housing, workforce and economic development, climate, and broadband - so that we come out of this emergency stronger. This budget is a reflection of our values.”
Highlights of the Senate budget proposal include:
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$70 million in housing investments for the development of affordable and middle income Housing.
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8% rate increase for community mental health providers under tremendous stress.
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Almost $15 million to support the transformation and stabilization of the Vermont State College system, on top of $10million base increases to both the State Colleges and UVM.
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More than $100 million in workforce and economic development funds to support hard-hit sectors of the economy.
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Increased investments in:
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Treatment facilities and peer-support recovery centers for those experiencing substance use disorder around the state
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courthouse security
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Child care providers, Children’s Integrated Services, and parent child centers that to provide wraparound services and key prevention for families at risk
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Legal aid services related to health care and poverty law
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Key investments across House and Senate:
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More than $200 million to address climate change, including $80 million for weatherization in low and middle income house holds.
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$95 million in broadband connectivity.
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Historic investments to hold up the legislature’s end of the bargain in protecting our public employee pensions.
Source: 4.20.2022. Montpelier, VT - Senate President Pro Tem