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State House Report: Budget week

Submitted by tim on

Through a special arrangement with VBM, Leonine Public Affairs provides a summary of legislative activity in Montpelier for week ending January 27. 2017.

Leonine Public AffairsThe 2017 session kicked into high gearon Tuesdaywhen Governor Phil Scott delivered his budget address to a joint assembly of the Vermont legislature. His proposed budget surprised many lawmakers as he laid out his vision for changing the way Vermont’s public education system is financed. Leading up to the speech many lawmakers, reporters, government staffers and lobbyists mingled in the hallways and cafeteria at the statehouse to speculate on the policy areas that would be put under the microscope. By late afternoon it was clear - education financing will take center stage in 2017.

Please see theblog postwe posted Thursday for more details on the governor’s budget proposal.

Governor Scott’s proposal increases appropriations for early education and higher education. To achieve these increases without raising taxes the proposal caps school spending at FY2017 levels and would require an increase in the amount teachers contribute to their health care plans. The proposal would also allow a limited amount of funding to be raised in individual school districts through municipal taxes on the grand list in FY2018.

While legislators generally agreed with the Governor’s desire to provide additional funding for early and higher education, many were concerned about the mechanics and timing of the proposal and the effect it would have on teachers and the K-12 system.

Political tensions in the statehouse increased as the week progressed. Legislators received briefings from the administration and the nonpartisan Joint Fiscal Office and the media dissected the proposal while interest groups and the public weighed in. By Friday, key Democratic lawmakers were calling on the administration to provide a second budget proposal. Ultimately, this week set the stage for an intense budget debate in 2017.

BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Vermont House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are seeking public input on the FY 2018 Governor’s Proposed State Budget and will hold community-based public hearings onMonday, February 13, 2017, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.at the 6 locations listed below.
  • Bellows Falls: Windham Antique Center, 5 The Square.
  • Johnson: Johnson State College, Bentley 207.
  • Rutland City: Rutland Public Schools, Longfellow School Building.
  • St. Albans City: St. Albans City Elementary School, Library.
  • St. Johnsbury: The St. Johnsbury School, Cafeteria.
  • Winooski: Community College of Vermont, Janice Couture Room (108).

An additional public hearing will be held onThursday, February 16, 2017, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.in room 11 of the State House in Montpelier

Click herefor more information on the hearings.
HEALTH CARE AND CORRECTIONS
Governor Scott’s proposed budget includes $2.8 million in savings by allowing Vermonters who do not qualify for premium subsidies to purchase individual health plans directly from insurers as opposed to going through the health exchange. Additionally, the Governor Scott proposed to reduce so-called “Disproportionate Share” payments to hospitals by $1.7 million in General Fund dollars and achieve an additional $2.1 million in savings through staff reductions in the Agency of Human Services. The governor also proposed to close the Windsor Correctional Facility, which would achieve $4 million in savings.
CONTESTED ELECTION
Under the Vermont Constitution the House of Representatives has the ultimate authority to judge the election results of its members. This rarely used authority is now being exercised in connection with the contested outcome of the 2016 election in the six-town Orange-1 House District. In this district Republican Robert Frenier narrowly beat the incumbent, Progressive Susan Hatch Davis. While a recount of the ballots shortly after the election upheld Frenier’s victory, Hatch Davis has asked the House to review and determine the results. The matter has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee, which is poised to recommend to the full House that another recount be held.

LAKE CLEANUP
At the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce Breakfast onMonday, February 23. Governor Scott stressed his view that the cost of K-12 public education needs to reflect the reduction in the number of students in recent years. He also reiterated his commitment to cleaning up Lake Champlain and reiterated that it can be accomplished without increasing taxes.

In his budget address the next day the Governor proposed to fund Lake Champlain cleanup efforts by investing $50 million over the next two years. The proposal uses existing funds from the transportation and capital programs, as well as the property tax transfer.
FROM THE LEONINE BLOG
Governor Phil Scott delivered his much-anticipated Budget Addresson Tuesday, presenting his vision for the FY2018 budget. As promised during the campaign, the Scott budget does not raise new taxes or fees and level funds state spending. It does however propose substantial changes to Vermont’s education system.

Click hereto read the whole post.