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Keeping your community covered. We're committed to producing high-quality, fact-based news and information that gives you the facts in this community we call home. If our work has helped you stay informed, take action, or feel more connected to Windham County – please give now to help us reach our goal of raising $150,000 by December 31st.
On Feb. 21, the Vermont House passed “An Act Relating to the Education Property Tax Rates and Base Education Amount for Fiscal Year 2014,” which I voted against, raising the statewide homestead property tax rate 5 cents and the nonresidential rate 6 cents.
Proponents of the bill argue that they are merely supporting decisions by local school boards to increase budgets. However, rates are based on property-tax contributions to the education fund, and property owners are being overcharged in two ways.
First, programs that do not directly relate to K-12 education have been billed to the fund over the years, thus raising the burden on all property-tax payers.
Second, as about one-third of education funding comes from sources other than property taxes. Such sources include dedicated statewide revenues and general fund transfers. Any shortfalls, such as the outstanding $27 million in the general fund, are picked up by property owners.
