As has been the case for the last few years, our state is facing another budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2013.  While things could certainly be worse, and in many states it is, the budget gaps we continue to face are not getting any better (FY 2013 expected gap = $74.5 million).  We have all heard that revenues have been steady, and some even steadily increasing, but what hasn't been revealed is that the expense side of the balance sheet is problematic, to say the least.

While Vermont families and businesses continue to struggle during this economic recession, our state must prepare itself for an eventual, albeit unfamiliar, recovery.  But, this cannot be done in a casual way in which we do what we've always done and hope for the best.  Rather, it must be a focused, determined, and thoughtful approach to encouraging private sector job growth.  Most importantly, it must be our number one priority.

Campaign for Vermont (Rep. Scheuermann Proposal)

Since the passage of Act 68 six years ago, education property taxes in Vermont have increased by over 43% or 6.2% per year to $918 million - and that is merely two thirds of what Vermonters actually spend on K-12 education. Vermont now spends over $1.3 billion on education, an increase of $250 million since 2005. During this same time period, the number of students has dropped by over 7,400 or 7.4%. Vermont's spending per pupil is near the top in the United States and well above the average; and the United States average is among the highest in the world. This combination of rapidly rising costs, unbearable tax burdens and school enrollment decline underscores the lack of sustainability of the current structure and financing our public schools.

Vermont currently has some of the cleanest energy in the country, with hydro and nuclear providing about 66% of our state's electricity needs.  We must maintain that clean energy commitment, but also ensure our portfolio is reliable, affordable and safe.

Responsible stewardship of our environment has made the Vermont what it is.  That commitment is a tradition of which we should be proud and must continue.  Make no mistake, protecting our environment and ensuring our economic propserity are not mutually exclusive goals.  Rather, they can, and must, go hand in hand.

While Vermont has generally been ahead of the curve with regard to health care coverage and quality, the most recent developments are cause for a great deal of concern. Vermont's all-in bet on a single-payer heatlh care system is, simply put, dangerous.

The State of Vermont is well-known throughout the country for our relatively high tax burdens.  Our state continually ranks in the top five states for the highest tax burden, and while we can argue whether we are one or five, the fact is the taxes paid by Vermonters to support government is significant.