Early in the speech, Shumlin confronted the charge that he might be trying to do too much, dismissing concerns that state government couldnt carry out both an aggressive recovery program and initiatives to pull the state out of the economic doldrums.
Smith disagreed with using money from the Higher Education Trust for job-related programs. This money is set aside to help students.
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Tim Searles of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, an organization that serves low-income residents, welcomed the governors reassurances.
Flory and Assistant House Republican Leader Brian Savage of Swanton agreed with Shumlins call for school choice for all high school students, his support of a plan to shrink the number of supervisory unions, his advocacy of permit reform and his aggressive plans to rebuild roads and bridges.
When you are addressing the kind of issues we are trying to address, Klein continued, everyone is not going to like everything. I commend him for being courageous.
There was concern that unanticipated costs caused by Irene might be balanced by cuts in services to vulnerable Vermonters, Searles said. That is clearly not the case. We are thankful.
This gives us the down payment to do these projects, State College Chancellor Tim Donovan said.
Thursday, Shumlin pegged the gap at $51 million, but advised it could change next week when the states economic advisors update revenue projections.
Rep. Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, argued that this governor is a lot of bold proposals at a time when this state needs bold proposals.
Building the best education system in the country will create jobs, he said.
The state colleges would allow more high school students to enroll full-time in college during their senior year, create an applied education institute for agriculture and food production and open an academic center in Brattleboro offering programs from both Vermont Technical College and Community College ofGov. Shumlin outlines $5.1 billion budget, includes $8 million for jobs initiative Vermont.
Shumlin found the $8 million in the Higher Education Trust Fund, which last year benefited from a revenue windll.
Despite projections of a $51 million gap between expected revenues and spending trends, Shumlin assured lawmakers at the Statehouse that his spending plan wouldnt require any new broad-based taxes.
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UVM would spend its $4 million to expand a pilot program that gives seniors hands-on-job experience, establish a center of excellence in complex systems and develop a program to help scientists and engineers mostly women return to the workforce after a hiatus by giving them training that would put them back in the forefront of their professions.
Once people see more of the details, Racine predicted, I dont think you will see a lot of concern expressed like you did last year.
Shumlin devoted much of his address to education after he finished explaining his post-Irene initiatives.
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, who has announced his candidacy for governor, chided his likely election opponent for what he didnt include in his budget speech any mention of health care reform and energy policy. Brock said these initiatives would have significant financial impacts.
Standing last Friday in Burlingtons Champlain Elementary School kitchen where he has worked since...
He returned to this issue later in the speech, noting that it would be wrong to pit Vermonters against Vermonters based on whether Tropical Storm Irene affected their lives.
Gov. Shumlin outlines $5.1 billion budget, includes $8 million for jobs initiative,The University of Vermont mens basketball team gained a measure of revenge this afternoon, pulling...
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Smith said he would prefer to put the $3.1 million in a fund that could be tapped to fix future budget shortlls a true rainy day fund.
His one large initiative is an $8 million innovation in the University of Vermont and the Vermont state colleges. The budget provides no increase in states annual appropriations for higher education.
Human Services Secretary Doug Racine assured, however, that there will be no reduction in services in this budget.
Speaker Smith defended the change that lawmakers joined in last year which reduced the base used to calculate the annual transfer of non-property tax dollars to the Education Fund.
Gov. Peter Shumlin outlines $5.1 billion budget today that wraps up the states Irene recovery work while maintaining existing state functions and steering clear of big new initiatives in an era
He repeated his call for school districts to level fund their budgets.
Rising property taxes continue to be a tremendous burden for Vermonters struggling in this recovery, and a ilure by local boards to hold the line again will result in unacceptable property tax increases, he said.
We will take a look to see where the administration is reductions, House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morristown, said. While he didnt reject Shumlins plan to tap nearly $20 million in funds carried forward from past budgets, he noted, Id like to minimize the use of one-time funds to the extent possible.
The only one I really took issue with is not even a budget issue, so why is it in a budget address? Klein said. He disagreed with Shumlins proposal to require that appeals of permits to the environmental court rely on the records from district commissions rather than allow a second presentation of cases.
Gov. Peter Shumlin (left) shakes hands with Sen. Rich Westman, R-Lamoille, as Lt. Gov. Phil Scott (r left) and Sen. John Campbell, D-Windsor, after delivering his budget address at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, January 12, 2012. / GLENN RUSSELL, Free Press
Searles had yet to see any details about how the $51 million gap was closed. Administration officials acknowledged they proposed tweaks across human service programs, such as restructuring co-payments in subsidized health care that would require some residents to pay a dollar or two more for medical visits.
Rep. Oliver Olsen, R-Jamaica, bristled that Shumlin would direct blame for any tax increase at local boards. Olsen argued that Shumlin last year engineered a change in the state education funding formula. He is trying to run away from the reality that he laid the ground work for a property tax increase that will hit Vermonters this year.
UVM and state college officials, however, were enthusiastic about the funding because it would let them jumpstart initiatives they would otherwise have to put off.
Shumlin also proposed a down payment of $3.1 million into the budget stabilization fund, bringing the total to $64.8 million. He wants the state to increase the percentage that the state maintains in this fund from the current statutory level of 5 percent of the prior years General Fund appropriation to 8 percent. The $3.1 million would raise the level only to 5.25 percent.
In December, the shortll between projected revenues and spending looked like it would be $75 million. Last week, fiscal advisors to the Legislature suggested it might have shrunk to $46 million.
Shumlin listed other education initiatives, some of which werent budget related such as his advocacy of elevating the commissioner of education to a secretary who would be appointed by the governor.
Based on the current projection, the Shumlin administration proposes to close the gap by using $19.9 million that has been put aside to help with a likely shortll, save $10 million by deferring the launch of Medicaid coverage of autism therapy, tap $12 million generated from non-General Fund sources such asvermont technical school an increase in a hospital provider tax and make $8 million in tweaks to Human Services.
I say we must, Shumlin said.
Sports are not my thing, and football is particularly not my thing. However, sports are a big thing...
MONTPELIER Gov. Peter Shumlins budget message to Vermonters on Thursday was : We can do it all.
Sports are not my thing, and football is particularly not my thing. However, sports are a big thing...
Republicans said they found much to like in Shumlins budget message, but Sen. Peg Flory, R-Rutland, cautioned several times, Lets see if he can make it happen.
The first-term Democratic governor said his proposed $5.1 billion budget could cover rebuilding expenses associated with Tropical Storm Irene, continue to provide safety net services to vulnerable Vermonters and make several investments to spur job growth.
We told people last year that we were going to rebase. We told them in advance, Smith said. We have been straightforward with school boards, superintendents and teachers.
