We are faced with significant challenges in the Legislature as we complete work on crossover bills and then get into the budget. We need to decide funding (including the tax rate) and governance for education and find the balance between necessary government services and revenues.
However, a communication from outside our district necessitates that I sidetrack for a moment.
In a letter to the editor, House minority leader Patti Komline questions the importance of a recent change to House rules that would require a fiscal note for legislation affecting property taxes. She claims that laws affecting property taxes “have been subject to an existing House rule for years” and the “new rule (H.R.30) will have no effect on education property taxes.”
The late Rep. Rick Hube, who was a driving force behind a fiscal note bill, H.293, encouraged me to hold two press conferences to bring attention to what he considered to be necessary legislation. With his tragic death I cannot know how he would have responded to H.R.30, which, in my opinion, carried forth the intention of H.293.
As Rep. Komline supported H.R.30 in the rules committee, and in a 137 to 0 vote on the House floor, I am a little surprised by her negative take at this time. Nevertheless, I continue to maintain, along with others, that H.R.30 brings significant protection to property tax payers in Vermont.
Returning to matters of importance to our district, I wish to extend my appreciation to the Dover select and school boards for their initiatives in bringing attention to the governance and funding of education. I am in full support that Commissioner Vilaseca’s meetings be open, that the statewide property tax rate should be based on actual school spending, and that the Peltz education bill, promoting local control and school choice, be the one that we in the Legislature take up for consideration.
An economic development bill (S.288) that I think is important to our district has passed the House and has been returned to the Senate for some finishing touches. It will make significant investments in our work force through the Vermont Training Program and will help businesses grow through better access to capital through VEDA interest rate buy down, through an investment in the Seed Capital Fund, and in proven microlending strategies.
The legislation calls for going the last broadband mile, from Goose City to Podunk, to all the underserved areas in our district. And it helps four-season tourism and marketing in the promotion of Vermont brands.
Dealing with the current fiscal challenge is one part of our work in Montpelier; the other part is looking to future economic opportunity and job creation.
It continues to be an honor to serve you.
Please join me for Saturday office hours once a month in each of our district towns:Wardsboro, the first Saturday; Dover, the second, Readsboro, the third; and Stamford and Searsburg on the fourth. And be in touch locally at 58 Hi-Hopes Road, Wardsboro 05533, (802) 896-9408, or in Montpelier, at the Statehouse, 115 State Street, Montpelier, 05633-5201, (800) 322-2424 (in Vermont only) or at jmoran@leg.state.vt.us.
Rep. John Moran
Wardsboro
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