Senator Shumlin & Speaker Smith Announce Balanced Frameworkfor Building a 21st Century Government

Montpelier, Vt. Speaker Shap Smith and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin today announced a balanced budget framework for building a 21st Century government and asked Senate and House committees to evaluate structural changes that will enable the state to do more with less.
These are extraordinarily challenging times for Vermont families, businesses and state government, said Speaker Smith. To ensure we both weather the storm and emerge as a stronger, more vibrant state, we must pursue balanced and creative solutions to make the state more efficient, more effective and more accountable to the people.
The challenges we must confront are indeed large, but this crisis also presents incredible opportunities for Vermont, said Senator Shumlin. The American Recovery & Reinvestment Plan gives us the breathing room we need to engage with Vermonters and, together, set our state on a strategic and smart path to sustainability and prosperity.
Senator Shumlin and Speaker Smith outlined a balanced budget framework for Fiscal Year 2010 that relies on fewer tax increases than the package Governor Douglas proposed. They asked their committees to build a budget based on $153 million federal stimulus dollars, $33 million in revenue and $28 million in cuts. The Governor s proposal is built on $107 million in federal funds, $63 million in property tax increases and $28 million in cuts.
We do not believe that Vermonters can afford a $63 million property tax increase, said Senator Shumlin. This is why the Speaker and I have offered a more balanced approach that works in harmony with the intent of the federal stimulus funds.
Vermonters are talented and hardworking and I know that together we can weather this economic crisis and make difficult choices with an eye to the future, added Speaker Smith. By making lasting investments in our people and our state, we will build a more effective, efficient and sustainable Vermont.
Speaker Smith and Senator Shumlin asked House and Senate committees to look at nine structural initiatives that will put our government on a sustainable track. An outline of these initiatives is attached here.