inflation hits the State budget
2024-02-25
Dear friend,
Happy Sunday! How are things in your world?
Today's newsletter is three-in-one. First Town Meeting logistics, then a report from Montpelier, and I'll wrap up with a little fun from the Senate side of the Legislature.
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I am excited to see many of you in-person at all three Town Meetings in Windham-6 next Tuesday, March 5th:
Whitingham Annual Town Meeting, at the Twin Valley Middle/High School at 4299 VT Route 100 in Whitingham.
Wilmington Annual Town Meeting Town Meeting, at the Old School Community Center in Wilmington.
Halifax Annual Town Meeting, at the Halifax Elementary School at 246 Branch Rd, West Halifax.
All three start at 10 a.m., and polls are also open all day to elect town officers.
I will attend each meeting in the order listed and offer a brief report followed by Q&A. If you have specific topics you'd like to hear from me on, feel free to email or call/text 802-275-2881.
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I've heard from a lot of constituents about specific bills, which I will report on at Town Meeting. However, the greatest overall concern that most Vermonters are dealing with is the increased cost of living, including taxes.
Given that, most of my time in Montpelier so far this session has been focused on fiscal matters.
We knew that the end of federal COVID-era funding would make this a difficult budget year.
I regret to report that’s not the worst of our problems.
Everything from eggs to healthcare premiums are more expensive now, and across-the-board inflation is also hitting the State’s budget. To make matters worse, Vermonters are experiencing worse mental and physical health, which is affecting everything from schools to the workload at the Dept. of Children and Families, to the incarcerated population.
Going into the second year of the two-year Capital Bill, the Governor has asked for an additional $3 million to cover cost increases for major maintenance projects such as roofing and masonry repairs that are already underway. Meanwhile, cost estimates for projects in the planning stages seem to be going up every year.
As an example, anyone who has visited the Vermont Building in the Avenue of States at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) might have noticed that deferred maintenance on the 1929 showpiece building is showing. For example, the beautiful cupola with the cow on top is leaking and needs to be removed, restored, and replaced. We’ve initially planned to spend $4 million to renovate in time for the building’s centennial, but estimates are now pushing $8 million and up.
Vermont typically pays for capital construction through selling bonds. Our frugal track record for borrowing means that we have the highest credit rating of the New England states and the lowest borrowing costs.
Our one-year bonding capacity is $54 million. To increase that pot of money to keep up with inflation would mean increased borrowing costs, which wouldn’t be good in the long-term. How do we take care of the buildings we have, and meet our future needs? I am working hard in House Corrections and Institutions to make sure that we get ARPA money out the door, and to ensure that our major maintenance projects are targeted to our most pressing long-term needs.
We have been reducing our annual debt authorizations in order to keep our high credit rating. For the current two-year capital budget, we have a $54 million bonding capacity in each year.
Sometimes that means hard choices. In the case of a new courthouse that’s needed in Newport, for example, we declined to purchase a suitable parcel because the asking price is double the assessed value. Projects like the planned restoration of the Bennington Battle Monument or the replacement of the women’s prison (see Inside Vermont’s prison for women) might proceed more slowly than we would prefer as we set aside money for them over multiple budget cycles.
As Vermonters, we’re used to doing more with less. Asking our State agencies to improve their coordination is one way the Legislature can get better results while spending less.
Imagine leaving prison at the end of your sentence with little more than the clothes you walked in wearing. Many folks in this situation lack a valid ID, health insurance, essential prescription medications, and referrals to treatment providers and recovery coaching. It is no wonder that many are not able to find housing and jobs, and wind up back in prison.
I’ve been pushing the state agencies and the healthcare providers involved to improve their re-entry planning and coordination so that we can help offenders break free of these harmful cycles.
A typical scene in House Corrections & Institutions -- here we are discussing the fate of the National Guard Armory in Waterbury and their plans to buy land and build a new armory in Swanton.
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As both a member of the Halifax Selectboard and a State Representative, I’m acutely aware of the upward pressure on highway and school budgets across Vermont and in Windham County.
While the Legislature can come up with well-intentioned proposals, I’m a voice of caution when it comes to how these ideas can affect Selectboards, school boards, and town administrators.
For example, despite inflationary costs for town highway departments in implementing water-quality projects, the Scott Administration’s proposed FY25 budget level-funds town highway grants. I support the work of the House Transportation committee to ensure adequate base-line funding levels for our municipalities.
We also need State government to get out of the way and allow our farms and small businesses to grow their revenues. I strongly support H.128: An act relating to removing regulatory barriers for working lands businesses.
H.128 would support farms in establishing accessory on-farm businesses without going through the Act 250 permitting process. Instead of opening a Creemee stand or an event space, farmers find themselves opening a multi-year, six-figure permitting process. This is not acceptable, and I’m urging the Legislature and the Governor to agree on a streamlined process for small business development on working lands.
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That's today's report. What would you like to hear about next time?
As promised, here's a little fun. I reported last week on the visit of four Twin Valley student leaders to the State House (see "What can a legislator do?" and other middle school questions).
A favorite moment from their visit occurred when Senator Irene Wrenner wandered by. Though she lives in far-away Essex and represents the Chittenden-North District in the Senate, Sen. Wrenner was more than happy to spend a few minutes getting to know Twin Valley students from Windham County.
Sen. Irene Wrenner and Rep. Tristan Roberts discuss state issues with Twin Valley students outside the House chamber earlier this month.
While I hasten to note that this appreciation of Sen. Wrenner is not an endorsement of her positions, I fully appreciate how much effort and style she puts into communicating with voters. A lifelong puzzle maker, Sen. Wrenner reported back to constituents last year with a 2023 Legislative Review Crossword.
The incident that led me to headline this newsletter "Sing it, Senator Wrenner" occurred well before her Senate career, in 2019. Wrenner sang an Essex-themed version of Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath” at a Selectboard meeting, with the refrain “Slow this merger train down.”
Irene Wrenner performs at an Essex Selectboard meeting in 2019
Knowing how intimidating it can be to speak at a public comment meeting, I appreciate Irene's chutzpah in singing a public comment via a fully-realized (leather jacket included) parody song.
Thanks for reading! Have a great rest of your day, and see you next Tuesday at Town Meeting.
warm regards,
Rep. Tristan Roberts
Vermont House of Representatives
P.S. Here's Windham County Senator Nader Hashim visiting with the Twin Valley students as well!
Sen. Nader Hashim talks with Twin Valley students in the Cedar Creek room in the State House earlier this month.