House advances Windham County pilot for regional law‑enforcement governance

The Vermont House on April 27 moved S.2.55 forward after committee reports described a time‑limited pilot to test a regional law‑enforcement governance and funding model in Windham County.

Speaking for the Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee, the Member from Milton, Representative Morgan, said the pilot would allow participating towns to form a council with one vote per town, set service levels and budgets, and contract with the county sheriff for services. The bill would permit towns to join or leave the council and specifies open‑meeting compliance and governance duties. The committee reported S.2.55 favorably by a 9‑0‑1 vote.

The bill establishes a budget mechanism implemented as a special assessment apportioned on a per‑capita basis across participating towns; nonparticipating towns would not pay the assessment. The bill requires an interim evaluation on or before September 30, 2030 and a comprehensive evaluation on or before December 31, 2033 and sunsets the pilot in 2034.

The House’s Ways and Means Committee concluded the bill has no fiscal impact to state revenue and voted 10‑0‑1 in favor. The chamber then approved a motion by voice to propose the committees’ amendments to the Senate and ordered the bill read a third time.