Vermont Criminal Justice Council asks for language‑access funds and flags rising complaint costs

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council told the House appropriations committee on Feb. 10 that its FY27 request largely fits within the governor’s 3% recommendation but includes two non‑base asks: $30,000 for language access and a pending $300,000 curriculum review. Executive Director Christopher Propell said the council’s overall budget was corrected to about $4.33 million and that the general‑fund portion rose by $71,443, or 1.68 percent, while interdepartmental transfer (IDT) funding increased by $43,527 (11.11 percent).

Propell said the council’s budget covers training for 82 agencies, including state and local departments and constables, and funds 16 positions (two exempt and 14 classified). He described IDT funds (about $347,000) as paying for highway‑safety related training such as standard field sobriety testing and DRE training, and said level‑3 residential recruit training averages roughly $6,700 per recruit and 705 hours of classroom and scenario training.

Why this matters: the council is responsible for certifying officers and for several mandated policies, including fair and impartial policing. Propell told committee members that, because of a July 2025 statutory change, category B unprofessional conduct complaints are now actionable and public; that change has increased administrative and legal workload and left the council exposed to more hearings. “When we have to go to a hearing … we’re averaging about $5,000 a cost per hearing,” Propell said, pointing to new pressures not yet captured in base budgets.

Supporting details: Propell reported 74 complaints of unprofessional conduct received so far in 2026 and 13 stipulated agreements during the reporting period; he cautioned that not every complaint is sustained but that the new procedures make investigation and hearings more frequent and more costly. The council has implemented written entrance testing (now available online), adopted an Acadis RMS/CAD system for training records and scheduling, and is midstream on a curriculum rewrite and an identity‑based curriculum linked to fair and impartial policing.

On wellness and programs: the council contracts with O2X for recruit fitness and wellness services, a $200,000 annual contract that Propell said reduced injuries and workers’ compensation claims. A grant covered about half the current year’s cost; the council used vacancy savings to bridge part of the remaining cost but warned that sustaining the contract will be an ongoing budget issue.

Language access and curriculum: the council requested $30,000 one‑time funding to translate core policies (including use‑of‑force) and produce accessible materials; Propell said translating a single policy previously cost about $18,000 through a racial equity fund. A separate $300,000 curriculum review request was routed through the budget adjustment act and remains pending.

Committee questions focused on who signs grants and whether additional programs would require ongoing funding. Lindsey Tavirge, identified as the council’s director of administration, told the committee that grant acceptance must proceed through the governor and the Joint Fiscal Office before the council can accept funds.

The council emphasized ongoing training needs — field‑training officer certification, internal affairs and death‑investigation schools, firearms and driver training, and continuing fair and impartial policing and de‑escalation training — and recommended a mix of online and residential offerings. The council asked the committee to consider the one‑time language access request and to note that several future pressures (wellness, de‑escalation curriculum and additional legal time for complaints) will likely appear in subsequent budgets.

The committee thanked the presenters and moved on to the Defender General briefing.