By Brent Addleman | The Center Square
Vermont’s hotly contested budget is now law.
The Senate joined the House, where majorities are Democrats, late Tuesday in overriding Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of the $8.45 billion fiscal year 2024 budget. Votes were 25-5 in the Senate and 105-42 in the House of Representatives.
The governor initially vetoed House Bill 494 on May 27. The fiscal document calls for a $202.8 million spending increase over last year’s budget while showing an overall decrease of $193.3 million. One-time general funds within the document are set at $231.1 million.
The Senate passed S.103, the Prohibitions Against Discrimination Bill. (17/?)
— Vermont Senate Democrats (@VTSenateDem) June 20, 2023
Scott previously said the budget was not sustainable moving forward.
The adopted budget calls for a $100 million payroll tax that will be used to provide child care, $20 million in increased fees within the Department of Motor Vehicles, and $30 million in property tax increases. Additionally, the budget contains an additional $180 million in potential clean heat mandates for state residents.
The Senate joined the House in overriding Gov. Scott’s veto on House Bill 217 in a 23-7 vote. The bill calls for a payroll tax on all Vermont residents to cull funding that will be used to pay for child care for residents.
Hate to see news like this. We left VT for SC last year and never looked back. We took with us pensions, savings, and investments. Take one guess where we spend that money now? Your right, it’s not in VT. They will continue to bleed residents just like us. Unfortunately, VT will never change….it’s a progressive hippy haven. My advice is get out while you can. Just don’t bring your politics with you if you’re a progressive or liberal.
Will the citizens simply submit? Is the characteristic co-operative spirit of Vermonters being underminded…is it beginning to disintegrate? Will we begin to see a more underground life of avoidance…evasion among the citizenry? Doesn’t an oppressive government demanding submission foment resentments? This kind of “ruling” of citizens has consequences. Will tea end up on the harbor?
For those who remain, remember who helped themselves to your wallet next election cycle. I have packing to finish as I am Tennessee bound.
Government by dictates.
Well by the look of the two veto’s that were overridden in the last few days, we VERMONTERS are really in the a payup and shut up year to come! I am not sure where all this extra money in the household budget is coming from. we have already had a bad year trying to cut out any”extra” stuff to make ends meet! I guess this will force many more out of Vermont.. and I don’t blame them. The rest of us are screwed! Thanks to the Legislature for making living in Vermont so expensive!!
We sure do appreciate the fact that more of us are on the edge and closer to Homelessness then we would ever have imagined!
But I know a lot of you don’t give a crap about what us lowly Vermonters think!!
What a disgrace, passing these boondoggles of legislation, these so-called
elected officials just don’t care about working Vermonters, just an agenda !!
What really gets me is this ” Child Care Bill ” Why should my tax dollars go
towards funding for your children, you made them, not me……………
Wake up Vermont, you elect these sniveling fools………. I can’t wait to move.
You’re right on the child care bill. And why should my tax dollars go to funding your highways? You ride on them, I don’t! And why should my tax dollars go to public education if I don’t have kids? You made the kids, you educate them! And why should my tax dollars go to law enforcement? I have a gun and can protect myself. And why should my tax dollars go to the fire department. I’m not stupid enough to light my house on fire. And why should my tax dollars go to public parks? I have my own land. I’m glad we agree, CHenry!