BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont school officials say they are cautiously optimistic that efforts by the governor and lawmakers to buy down education costs will help hold the line on rising property taxes and not result in the kind of Town Meeting Day school budget massacre seen last year.
“I am optimistic this year — we are expected to see tax rate decreases,” said Slate Valley Unified Union School District Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell.
After five rounds of budget votes last year, Olsen-Farrell is hoping the first time’s a charm on Town Meeting Day.
Accounting for the governor’s plan to pump $77 million in the Education Fund to buy down property taxes, Olsen-Farrell says things are looking up. “His recommendation combined with our careful budgeting I think should provide for a smooth budget season as our taxpayers would presumably see tax relief across the board,” she said.
But Democratic lawmakers are treading lightly. “I want to make sure that any promises we make we can keep,” said Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro.
“Just a one-time reduction in the property tax isn’t really fulfilling our full duty to the taxpayers,” said Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden County.
With the budget season in full swing, school officials are consciously planning for the forecasted 6 percent statewide increase. “Moving classrooms around, looking at streamlining curriculum, looking at streamlining many different aspects of the district and trying to be innovative, not just for the sake of making cuts,” said Essex Westford School Board Chair Robert Carpenter.
And they’re making sure to not overly rely on the state for uncertain funds. “Doing the best we can to make sure we are prioritizing high-quality education that is equitable and that is sustainable,” said Washington Central Unified Union School Board Chair Flor Diaz Smith.