January 12, 2012

Governor Peter Shumlin today presented his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget, outlining his prorities for state funding for the upcoming year. 

While the specifics will be forthcoming with regard to exact funding and where the funding will come from, there were items to note that were both positive and negative.

First, I commend the Governor for proposing an idea I have been proposing for three years - Supervisory Union consolidation.  It is clear the Governor agrees with me that we can both find savings in this reorganization and be able to offer greater choice and expanded opportunities to our children through it.

It was disappointing, however, that he summarily discarded the very real concerns about the current education financing system.  Simply put, it is overly complex, overly burdensome and unfair - not an ideal combination for tax policy, to say the least.  It is also completely unsustainable.

More importantly, I do not believe the restructuring of the delivery system will work without a funding change.  I believe it must go hand in hand in order to accomplish the kind of transformation we are looking for.

As the idea of Supervisory Union consolidation moves forward, rest assured, I will continue to fight for funding reform as well.

I was also pleased that Governor Shumlin emphasized the importance of the manufacturing industry in our state.   I am unsure of the proposal he put forward today, but as one who has long argued for greater attention to the industry and efforts to expand it in Vermont, I look forward to hearing more about it.

As part of this effort, I am hopeful the Administration will consider seriously my forthcoming bill to 1) create a Division of Manufacturing (with existing personnel) in the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and 2) restructure our corporate income tax into a single sales factor.

Once again, I look forward to analyzing the details of the FY 2013 Budget proposal to ensure it is a balanced budget that protects Vermont's most vulnerable while ensuring we invest in initiatives that will allow Vermont's private sector to grow and prosper.  I will be looking for a budget that is built on efficiencies and common sense spending, and not one built on tax and fee increases.