Vermont Business Magazine In response to Governor Scott’s $8.4 billion 2024 Budget Address, which he delivered today at the State House, several advocates and elected officials weighed in, some in favor, some opposed, some with mixed feelings.
Scott budget: More funds for housing, childcare, state colleges, infrastructure, and no new taxes
Lieutenant Governor Zuckerman Statement
Montpelier: On Friday, in response to Governor Phil Scott’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Address, Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman issued the following Statement:
“I am happy to see that Governor Scott is making many of the investments that our state desperately needs. This proposed budget is very much in line with ideas and proposals from the general assembly that have been brought forth in previous years but were not supported by the administration. The infusion of federal dollars has shown what we can do for everyday Vermonters if we choose to make the investment.
“While the Governor indicated that we should not ask those with less to pay for those with more, I ask: why do we not ask those who can afford to to make the investments that we clearly see will help all Vermonters in the long run, especially those who are most vulnerable? For instance, with this year's infusion of $26 million, we will have spent $426 million on temporary housing in recent years. Had we invested more in affordable housing and support for our houseless population in previous years budgets, this money would not have been necessary to use in this way and would have been available to invest in further advancements for our communities. I appreciate today’s proposals to invest in our future. However, we need to build a framework so those investments can continue beyond one-time infusions.”
Statement from Vermont Downtown Coalition
Middlebury: Governor Phil Scott today introduced an FY24 budget proposal that includes for the first-time funding for Vermont’s 24 Designated Downtowns, demonstrating support for these critical community centers and the small businesses and organizations that inhabit them.
The Vermont Downtown Coalition, an alliance of the statutorily created Vermont Downtown Program organizations, knows these dollars will help support Vermont downtowns–especially in our rural communities. Downtowns are the lifeblood of our state’s commerce and community development as well as critical areas for growth, historic preservation and visitors.
Governor Scott’s support demonstrates Vermont’s commitment to our communities’ economic health and vitality. Supporting the Vermont Downtown Program is a worthy investment by the State of Vermont. The Vermont Downtown Coalition thanks Governor Scott for his dedication to strengthening Vermont’s downtowns and communities.
Vermont State Colleges System
Montpelier: Governor Phillip B. Scott delivered his Fiscal Year 2024 Budget proposal to the state and the legislature today, including continued strategic investment in the Vermont State College System (VSCS). He also supported additional investments in public higher education in scholarships and workforce development initiatives that benefit Vermont students.
For VSCS, the Governor recommended a total of $78.2 million across all funds, including:
- $48 million annual appropriation (an increase of $2.5 million),
- $10 million in one-time funding to address capital transformation needs,
- $9 million in one-time bridge funding to help the system continue addressing the structural deficit as outlined in the Select Committee report, and
- $10 million in one-time funding to pilot a two-year tuition reduction at Community College of Vermont for students enrolled in specific programs relevant to Vermont business and industry needs
VSCS Chancellor Sophie Zdatny issued the following statement:
“The Governor’s recommended investment of $78.2 million in our institutions and our students is exactly what we need to continue our successful system-wide transformation. We began our work to modernize and transform the system in partnership with the state in 2020. The state’s commitment to permanent, ongoing funding, and their continued investment in our students and in our transformation work will ensure our success.
"The Governor’s proposal to increase our annual funding to $48 million is the investment we need to deliver on the promise of accessible, affordable, and high-quality public higher education for Vermonters. Additionally, his proposal includes funding to assist with our ongoing campus transformations and modernization work, and the bridge funding we need to shore up our budget during this transition year as we launch Vermont State University.
"Also, Governor Scott has proposed an innovative and significant investment in the affordability of Community College of Vermont. Addressing affordability is a shared priority of the Governor and the VSCS and this proposal will continue to address the cost of education for students, further building on the tuition freezes of the last three years. We are excited to bring this shared priority forward and we look forward to working with Governor Scott and the Legislature to secure this funding in the coming months.”
Statement from Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids
“The Governor’s budget proposal today recommended a jumpstart investment of $48 million towards the $279 million needed to fully solve Vermont’s child care crisis, as identified by independent experts from the RAND Corporation.
“This is the year we need to take the courageous step and fully fund a child care system that supports working families, enables our youngest children to thrive, pays early childhood educators adequately, and grows our economy. Partial investments do not truly solve the child care crisis we are facing as a state. We look forward to working with the governor and lawmakers on legislation to get the job done.”
Vermont Senate Republicans
Montpelier: Vermont Senate Minority Leader Randy Brock (R-Franklin) issued the following statement regarding Governor Scott's FY2024 budget address:
"Vermont Senate Republicans were pleased to hear Governor Scott's proposed budget will make crucial investments in our communities without raising taxes," said Brock. "Critically, this budget will draw-down additional federal dollars to upgrade our infrastructure, promote economic growth, and revitalize struggling rural communities. Put simply, as Governor Scott noted, for every one state dollar put up, we'll receive at least four federal dollars in return."
"The priorities the Governor outlined in his budget address reflect the areas of greatest concern to Vermonters," noted Assistant Senate Minority Leader Brian Collamore (R-Rutland). "With additional investments to stabilize our health care system, build additional workforce housing, mitigate the effects of climate change, and much more, this budget will help set the course for a more resilient future."
"Notably, this budget makes a significant investment in child care, with an additional recurring appropriation of $56 million, bringing the state's total commitment to nearly $120 million annually," added Brock. "The magnitude of the Governor's proposed investment cannot be understated. But to truly maximize this additional funding, we must also look to other child care reforms to help reduce costs for Vermonters."
"Six years ago, the State of Vermont was in a much different place," concluded Collamore. "With Governor Scott's proposed FY2024 budget, we will have effectively doubled our investment in both child care and our state colleges, fully funded our pension obligations, and worked to make Vermont more affordable--all without raising broad-based taxes."
"Vermont Senate Republicans look forward to working with the Governor and our legislative colleagues to advance these shared priorities, and make the policy changes necessary to ensure their full success," concluded Brock.
Statement from Public Assets Institute
Montpelier: The most memorable part of Gov. Phil Scott’s fiscal 2024 budget address had nothing to do with the budget. He ended his speech extending a hand to immigrants: “With compassion and courage, we can do our part to welcome those bold or desperate enough to leave their lives, and all they’ve ever known, behind to travel thousands of miles just to live the American dream.” It was an important message in these polarized times.
For everyone to access that American dream, we need well-funded public services. We were encouraged by the governor’s call for expanded childcare services, but we need to see the details. A RAND Corporation report released last week estimated childcare expansion could cost between $179 million and $279 million. The governor said additional services could be provided “without asking families with less to pay for families with more.” Does that mean he’s ready to ask families with more to pay for families with less?
Finally, we liked the way the governor framed the problem of funding 911 dispatch services. What he said really applies to all the public services Vermonters decide they need: “So, we need to ask ourselves two basic questions before going much further: Should we provide a statewide system that all communities use? And if so, will we ask all communities to pay their share, or do we fund it all with state funds? That’s really the crux of the issue, the sticking point has always been about who pays and who doesn’t.”
Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition
Vermonters are asking state leaders to take bold steps to address the state’s large and growing housing crisis in 2023. Vermonters across the income spectrum are struggling to secure and maintain housing in the state, and recent estimates indicate that Vermont will need to add 40,000 units of housing by 2030 to meet demand and return to a healthy housing market. The housing crisis affects the ability of businesses, healthcare institutions, schools, and other public services to recruit and retain workers.
In order to address this crisis, we need to continue making historic public investments in housing. We appreciate the investments made in 2021 and 2022, and the Governor’s proposed funding for the Vermont Housing Improvement Program. Nonprofit housing leaders have asked for a $175 million
investment to sustain and accelerate progress in developing affordable housing. Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposed budget fails to address the scale of Vermont’s housing need.
We know that permanent, affordable housing, not motels, is the solution to homelessness. It will take years to create an adequate supply of permanent, affordable housing for all Vermonters, and we must bridge the housing gap for those who are unhoused. The proposed $26 million for GA emergency Housing falls short of the amount needed to keep unhoused Vermonters sheltered. We are concerned that without additional funding for emergency housing many more Vermonters will become unsheltered or end up in unsafe conditions.
Lawmakers across the state, especially in rural Vermont, have named bringing more housing to their communities as a top priority for the 2023 legislative session. The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition calls on Gov. Scott to work with lawmakers to accelerate progress in solving Vermont’s housing crisis.
Vermont House Republicans
Montpelier: Vermont House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) issued the following statement regarding Governor Scott’s FY2024 budget address:
“Vermont House Republicans were pleased to hear our Governor’s proposed budget strategically leverages funds without raising taxes or fees. These investments made today, without new taxes or fees, are crucial for working Vermonters tomorrow,” said McCoy.
The Governor’s budget commits $150 million of state dollars to take advantage of federal programs. “For every one dollar of these state dollars, we get at least four dollars as a federal match,” said House Assistant Minority Leader Casey Toof (R-St. Albans Town).
The priorities of most Vermonters are housing, health care, and child care. Governor Scott’s budget addresses these issues, and more (exempting military pension from income taxes, infrastructure improvements, fully funding state/teacher pensions, afterschool programs) without raising taxes or fees.
Vermont House Republicans look forward to working with Governor Scott and our legislative colleagues across the aisle, to advance these long talked about priorities that are within our reach, without raising one penny in taxes or fees.
