Vermont lawmakers have opted out of a new federal scholarship tax credit program, even as education costs and property taxes continue to rise. The decision raises questions about whether the state is prioritizing system control over potenti
Vermont declared a climate emergency, but its policies place the earliest and most direct costs on home heating—an essential need—while leaving discretionary emissions largely unaddressed. If this is truly an emergency, the burden should fa
Vermont’s Joint Fiscal Office has outlined a wide range of options for increasing state revenue, from raising existing tax rates to expanding the sales tax to new goods and services. The report highlights how different approaches—from taxin
Vermont ranks near the top nationally in taxes, spending, and education funding per capita, according to Fiscal Facts 2026. The state’s centralized revenue system and reliance on a statewide property tax drive these rankings, while ongoing
Vermont property taxpayers are facing sharp increases in education tax rates as spending continues to rise and efficiency declines. With per-pupil yield dropping and enrollment remaining flat, higher tax effort is generating less return, hi
A little-noticed legislative study may reopen a long-dormant question in Vermont: should counties play a larger role in how the state is governed? Created by Act 118 in 2024, the County and Regional Governance Study Committee is examining w
Vermont’s housing down-payment program is funded through tax credits sold below face value to banks and insurance companies. Those institutions can buy discounted tax relief while the state gives up the full value of the credits. The obviou
A proposal to tax investment income for households earning more than $200,000 drew debate in the Senate Finance Committee as lawmakers considered whether Vermont could raise new revenue without driving away high earners. The discussion also
Act 73 is widely seen as a school district consolidation law, but it also restructures how Vermont values property for education taxes. Lawmakers are now rewriting and delaying its Regional Assessment District provisions, tightening legisla
Two Vermont Senate bills would raise education property tax rates on nonhomestead residential properties and remove the sales tax exemption on heating fuel and electricity for second homes and many rentals. The changes shift higher operatin
Vermont’s Proposal 3 would amend the state Constitution to enshrine a right to collectively bargain, restrict future labor law changes, and permanently block right-to-work legislation. Supporters call it worker protection. Critics warn it r
Five years after legalization, Vermont’s cannabis program is generating more than enough tax revenue to cover regulatory costs and statutory allocations. But lawmakers never created a “no-subsidy” firewall. With most of the Cannabis Control
