New report spotlights Vermont’s poor showing when it comes to military retirees

A new report on which states are best and worst for military members to consider for retirement ranks Vermont among the worst states.

The report, titled “Best and Worst States for Military Retirees”, places the Green Mountain State at 49th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Compiled by the personal finance site WalletHub, the report shows Vermont is weak on several key factors impacting military retirees. Regarding economic environment, taxes, and how far retirement dollars go, the state was ranked 49.

Lou Varricchio/TNR

Former U.S. Army intelligence officer Don Chioffi: “With high taxes and restrictions it’s hard for any retiree with modest means to live here.”

Even Vermont’s quality of life, often heralded by state cheerleaders as a positive, ranked 36 for ex-military thinking of relocating. Health care resources came in at a lackluster 40th place in the report.

Interestingly, the reports shows that so-called red states are friendlier to military retirees than blue states. Vermont is a blue state run by Democrats.

Reaction to the WalletHub report confirms what some officials of Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s administration already admit.

“This  information is consistent with other reports. Kiplinger’s 2018 report had Vermont as the 11th least-tax friendly state for military retirees,” Robert E. Burke, director of the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs in Montpelier, told TNR.

Burke is a U.S. Navy veteran and former military professor at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

“We have supported legislation for the last five years that would partially, or totally, exempt military retirement pay from income taxes,” he said. “In the governor’s budget address this year he proposed a two-year phase-in plan … (but) it never made it out of committee. We have always pitched it as an economic multiplier, to not only attract retired military to the state, but to help us retain those that are currently living here.”

While no Vermont town happens to be on the retirement list of retired U.S Army Lt. Col. Michael C. Wise, nearby Watertown located across Lake Champlain in New York made the grade.

WalletHub image

NOT FRIENDLY: Vermont is ranked among those Democratic “blue states” less friendly to military retirees than Republican “red states.”

Wise, assistant director of Military and Veteran Services at Eastern Michigan University, was one of the retired military experts consulted by WalletHub for its report.

“There are several opinions out there on the best … (places) for military members to separate or retire in the U.S.,” according to Wise. “I believe that when deciding where to retire, one should consider many things: for example, the location of VA Healthcare services. [Or] does the state offer tax incentives for veterans, do public and private healthcare facilities exist that cater to TRICARE Select (retiree health care insurance program for spouse and dependents)? Cities and states that have large military bases in their communities are often recommended to be the best places to retire as the entire community supports the military. For example, San Antonio, Texas (Ft. Sam Houston); Killeen, Texas (Ft. Hood); Leavenworth, KS (Ft. Leavenworth); and Watertown (Fort Drum). Great military states are Georgia, Texas, Kansas and Kentucky.”

Regarding Watertown, the upstate New York town is home to Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division. Many Vermonters have served, and continue to serve, in the division. Watertown is “home away from home” for many Vermont veterans. In 2003, the Vermont Ski Museum named over 200 Vermonters who served in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in its Skiers Hall of Fame.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dan Smith, director of Veteran Affairs at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, another ex-military expert consulted by WalletHub for its Best and Worst States study, has looked at all the pluses and minuses of Middle Atlantic and New England states as possible places for former U.S. military members to consider for retirement.

“Our retirement pay is taxed federally, but many states do not tax our retirement pay. There are states that do tax our retirement pay. Many military retirees determine where they are going to settle based off the tax situation,” Smith said. “In fact, when I was preparing to transition, my family looked at Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Montana to settle in. We ultimately chose to settle in Pennsylvania, with the fact that Pennsylvania does not tax military retirement being one of the primary reasons. I do not like the fact that my retirement pay is subject to federal taxes because it impacts my quality of life… If I could make one tax change, it would be that retirees from the enlisted ranks not be subject to federal taxes.”

Former Democratic Vermont Rep. Don Chioffi of Rutland Town served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer during the Vietnam War.

While he gives high praise to the health care and staff of the Veterans Administration Hospital in White River Junction, he doesn’t find the state’s current economic status to be attractive to retirees, be they ex-military or otherwise.

“My family connections are here and that’s why I haven’t moved. … (But) with high taxes and restrictions it’s hard for any retiree with modest means to live here. People are leaving the state. Plus, there are no veteran preferences on anything like that here in Vermont, which you see in other states such as Florida with military tax breaks and other things,” Chioffi told TNR.

“The people running this state don’t have a ‘connect’ with military retirees,” Chioffi added. “The politicians give lip service to us veterans, but when push comes to shove, it remains just that, lip service.

“U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is touted as a friend to veterans; I will give him credit for helping veterans with the Outreach Van Program which started here in Rutland County. But why did he do it? I guess it must have soothed his soul for his anti-American, draft dodging, past history. I guess doing this was salve for the soul. Remember, he ran off to avoid military service. And did Bernie vote for the veterans pay increase in Congress? I don’t know the answer for sure, but most Democrats voted no on this.”

Retired U.S. Army officer Terry Williams, a former organic farmer now living in Poultney, told TNR that Vermont’s high taxes are a big turnoff to military veterans considering places to retire.

“My family is all here and plan to stay for now anyway … (but) most military retirees wouldn’t want to come to Vermont because the state taxes their pension and their social security,” he said. “Property taxes and the cost of living are much higher than other states so retirees lose a lot of their fixed income. Many service men and women retire in states with a military base or Department of Defense contractor located nearby because they are too young to retire and they know that they can land a good paying job with these contractors.  Contractors hire them because of their military training, personal discipline and ability to get a security clearance.  Military retirees are a good deal for defense and local contractors.”

On why red states treat veterans better than blue states as shown by the WalletHub report, Williams said it comes down to simply setting out a welcome mat or not.

“Red states want military retirees because they really want these folks in their state,” he told TNR. “I don’t know the statistics, but the vast majorities of veterans spend their pensions in that state, and usually get a second source of income to spend there. The spouses of these retirees also contribute to the economy of the state. Typically, (military) retirees are good citizens and the states where they reside do not have to pay for their drug use, rehabilitation or incarceration.  Most retirees who go into the red state private workforce or local government contribute their years of planning and execution experience to local government operations or volunteer work.”

Lou Varricchio is a freelance reporter for True North Reports. Send him news tips at lvinvt@gmx.com.

Images courtesy of Lou Varricchio/TNR and WalletHub image

12 thoughts on “New report spotlights Vermont’s poor showing when it comes to military retirees

  1. I’m with Edward L. We did a thoughtful calculation and noted that we can save over $1K per month by leaving the state tax coffers and moving closer to our kids in NH. If they pass a Carbon Tax…we’ll save even more. Sad to see that we are becoming relics of common sense and forethought.

  2. Everything that Don Chioffi and Terry Williams have said is sadly very true, and has been for decades. Increasingly, the elected progressive/ liberals display a mindset that gives considerable truth to the old joke that the state legislature never saw a tax they didn’t like, nor a fee that couldn’t be raised. I, too, am a retired Veteran of the US Army, and have also compared the cost of living in a state that does not tax Veterans’ retirements, and actually cherishes those who have served in the military, (and there are many), with the shabby treatment doled out to Veterans in Vermont. Alas, Vermont is expensive to live in, and not a Veteran friendly state. But like my friends Don and Terry, my family is here, so I’m here.
    And don’t be fooled by the current spate of Letters to the Editor by some of our erstwhile state representatives, and by our congressional representative and senators, grandly toting the signing of a resolution urging the federal government to “…thoroughly investigate…” health issues attributed to “Burn Pits” in close proximity to our forces who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. That’s nothing more than political woof-woof, just hollow words, attempting to give the citizens of Vermont the impression that they actually care about the Vermont Veterans. But they don’t. If they really did care, we would not be having this conversation.

  3. Sad note. One of the Enola Gay crew that nuked Japan, a veteran went to talk to the school students.

    Some mindless idiot introduced him as a veteran of World War Eleven. WW11?

    No wonder our yutes have no idea where the Proud and Prosperous American tradition came from
    – or went.

  4. The only thing that Vermont comes ranked highly on is out of control taxes. Want a better life, with less government? Sadly it’s not going to happen up by the 45 parallel. You’re going to have to continue to take it on the chin or move.The Pogressive movement can’t be stopped in VT. It’s like taking candy from a baby.

  5. Just think if our ” Vets ” got the same health care that is handed out to every Tom, Dick
    and Harry that is on ” Welfare System ” !!

    Try going to the Emergency room at UVM Medical Center on a weekend, what a joke.
    You’ll stand in line while every form of Trashed humans gets service first ………Disgusting.

    Our Vets need to take notes from the freeloaders, whenever they need medical service
    just do like they do ” Go to the Emergency Room ”

    Oh, wait that won’t work because Vets have Self-esteem !!

    • As a self employed career, I had to pay BOTH parts of Social Security, 14% of my lifetime earnings.

      Now I get short of $1400 a month, and that is taxable. Not just GI’s, everybody gets screwed.

      3 year Army veteran with benefits I do not use. I never went over, never to shot at.

  6. As a veteran and as a vermonter I’m absolutely ashamed that our legislature cares more about illegal immigrants and refugees than it does for our veterans who served this country and provided the Democracy that we enjoy.

  7. I can’t help but think that a lot of vets would wonder what in the world they had been doing in the military if Vermont represents what they were fighting for. I’m sure WWII vets see the very same threat of Socialism and Communism they fought and died to stop, now happily embraced in our fair state.

  8. The VA health clinic in Bennington is Great, people are very helpful and get you in right away. The VA hospital in WRJ is also a great place! The other reasons are very true, Tax all pensions, no break on property taxes, SS is fully taxed, really bad but Quality of life is the Best! Love it here!! This is real America except for the crazy people running it, less our Republican Governor

  9. Vermont has taxes and fees that drive everyone with a brain out the state. I’m convinced the liberals/socialists do it intentionally because they don’t want citizens here who think and question what these people are doing.

    I know I’m trying to leave. I did a study of my disposable retirement income in vermont and in Georgia. the difference is a $1000 a month, and I can have the same green mountains and rational people in government.

Comments are closed.