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Getting our message out has not been easy in a climate where we get little or no help from our media.  There's a good chance that you and your neighbors are not getting the whole story.  This is what we are doing about it.  It's also a great way that you can help!

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Navigating Education Budget Challenges: Act 60, Taxpayer Trust, and Continuous Improvement

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       Vermont’s Act 60, passed in 1997, sought to make education funding more equitable across school districts through a statewide property tax system. Over 75% of school budgets now come from local property taxes. While well-intentioned, implementation of Act 60 funding formulas cultivates a temporal disconnect: towns and school boards can vote to increase spending without constituents feeling immediate tax consequences. This accountability gap has precipitated year-over-year increases in education budgets often exceeding inflation and economic growth, despite steady decreases in student populations. The unfortunate budget Vote-to-Tax gap fosters a unique dynamic: Taxpayers rarely trace rising tax burdens directly back to specific prior-year school budget decisions. This reduces voter agency and perceived value from their tax dollars. School boards experience psychological distance from tax implications their budget votes ultimately trigger . This can promote over...
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Property Tax Reform for School Funding - Should VT Go Hybrid?

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  Rethinking Vermont's School Funding Approach Vermont currently funds K-12 education through a mix of statewide and local property taxes. About two-thirds of the $1.6 billion yearly total comes from homeowners via tax rates and formulas set at the state level. This convoluted system aims to equalize spending across districts, but creates confusion on how increasing revenues tie to per-pupil funding and outcomes. Property tax bills also provide income-based credits for affordability, but these credits lag behind current year taxes owed. This mismatch leaves many families unaware of what drives changing tax burdens. As wages and budgets feel squeezed by taxes going up faster than incomes, public trust in the school funding model has eroded.  Click here for the Joint Fiscal Office Brief on Property Tax Credit There are better approaches. Several states predominantly allocate operational funding to     schools through state income or sales taxes. Others ...
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