Senate passes H.850 to correct school finance incentives, adds $500,000 for election costs
February 21, 2024 | SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The Senate on voice votes passed H.850, a bill the sponsor said is intended to fix a misinterpretation of Act 127 and ease immediate pressures on school districts facing large budget increases.
"This bill is trying to solve confusion as to what was happening out there with property taxes and with school spending," said the Senator from Washington, explaining that earlier changes created winners and losers among districts and that the House version accelerated benefits to some districts. The senator said the bill phases adjustments and includes a short-term tax credit mechanism tied to student losses.
The Appropriations Committee reported an appropriation of $500,000 to the Secretary of State "for the purpose of offsetting the election costs" if school districts must rewarn or move votes, the Senator from Caledonia said. The senator noted the committee vote in the transcript as "700." The sponsor also described the committee vote as "601" in committee report remarks in the transcript.
Opponents pointed to the broader fiscal context. "We're spending $2,200,000,000 in the state, $25,000 per student," said the Senator Famese, who announced she would vote no and urged a longer-term plan. She and others warned that a 5% cap when spending pressures are much higher could be untenable for some towns.
Supporters called H.850 an initial, urgent step before more comprehensive reform. Senators across the floor said they expect further work on cost containment and a broader review of the state's education funding system, including looking back to the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission's recommendations.
On passage, the Senate ordered H.850 through all remaining stages and approved motions to message the house and deliver the bill to the governor forthwith.
Next steps: H.850 was delivered to the governor for consideration. Lawmakers said additional reviews of education finance and potential policy changes will continue in coming weeks.
(Reporting in this article attributes direct quotes and procedural actions to speakers as named in the transcript.)
"This bill is trying to solve confusion as to what was happening out there with property taxes and with school spending," said the Senator from Washington, explaining that earlier changes created winners and losers among districts and that the House version accelerated benefits to some districts. The senator said the bill phases adjustments and includes a short-term tax credit mechanism tied to student losses.
The Appropriations Committee reported an appropriation of $500,000 to the Secretary of State "for the purpose of offsetting the election costs" if school districts must rewarn or move votes, the Senator from Caledonia said. The senator noted the committee vote in the transcript as "700." The sponsor also described the committee vote as "601" in committee report remarks in the transcript.
Opponents pointed to the broader fiscal context. "We're spending $2,200,000,000 in the state, $25,000 per student," said the Senator Famese, who announced she would vote no and urged a longer-term plan. She and others warned that a 5% cap when spending pressures are much higher could be untenable for some towns.
Supporters called H.850 an initial, urgent step before more comprehensive reform. Senators across the floor said they expect further work on cost containment and a broader review of the state's education funding system, including looking back to the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission's recommendations.
On passage, the Senate ordered H.850 through all remaining stages and approved motions to message the house and deliver the bill to the governor forthwith.
Next steps: H.850 was delivered to the governor for consideration. Lawmakers said additional reviews of education finance and potential policy changes will continue in coming weeks.
(Reporting in this article attributes direct quotes and procedural actions to speakers as named in the transcript.)
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