Positions
BRUCE ROY FOR VERMONT - FOCUS ON VERMONT and CHITTENDEN COUNTY
Unaffordable Cost Of Living & Unchecked Taxation on Vermonters
Common Sense & Balance in the Legislature
Vermonters are pushed to the limits on providing basic needs to their families. Government spending is out of control and Vermonters are suffering the consequences.
Education Property taxes are up 15% across the state. 8 of the 11 Chittenden County Southeast towns are higher than the state average.
The Renewable Energy Standard passed by supermajority veto override is estimated to cost upwards to $1B and electricity rate increases of 8-10%
The legislative veto override of The Affordable Heat Act / Carbon Tax is now estimated to cost $10B generating a $3/gal price adder to heating fuels
Vermonters currently pay the 10th highest electric rate of the 50 states, despite our electricity source being almost entirely Carbon Free and/or Renewable
Vermonters' Tax Burden is the 3rd highest in the USA, only behind New York and Hawaii (and before the education property tax increase!)
Vermont’s Economic Outlook rating is 49th lowest of all states
Vermont State Budget is $8.6B ($800M more than NH which has twice the population of VT.)
And in the midst of this madness, our current supermajority legislature:
Passed the GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT and subsequent CARBON TAX by overriding Governor Scott's vetoes, ultimately raising heating fuel prices for low & middle income households already struggling to pay bills and forcing out local fuel distributors
Passed these laws despite Governor Scott's vetoes, overwhelming Vermont citizens' objections, and Vermont having the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of all 50 US States! While inviting anyone to sue Vermont as unachievable mandates are not met.
Overrode Governor Scott's vetoes to establish a NEW $100M payroll tax, 20% increase in DMV fees, and approve a double digit property tax increase for the vast majority of Vermont homeowners.
This makes zero sense when struggling Vermont households are trying to afford the basics for their families. Fiscal Responsibility and Awareness of the real issues facing average Vermonters ARE my CALLs TO ACTION.
Government easily “forgets” whose money it is actually spending.
To that point, I had a conversation with an incumbent legislator. This lawmaker told me one of the things he/she learned early and was told clearly: NEVER VOTE AGAINST THE BUDGET!!! That sort of thinking has got to go! As representatives of the People, it is incumbent on legislators to spend taxpayer dollars wisely, prudently and effectively. Unchecked spending doesn't solve problems, it creates more. Vermont does not have a revenue problem, IT HAS A SPENDING PROBLEM!
Legislative Imbalance
Today’s supermajority imbalance in the General Assembly always allows for a reversal of the Governor’s check and balance mechanism to veto laws. The Governor’s veto power is critical to the responsible operation of our legislative functions in responding to slanted or troubling legislation, especially given his strong approval and trust rating. We need common sense to set priorities and assure the focus on the true needs of Vermonters, not whatever the hot political topic of the day is. Governor Scott's veto power MUST be restored and that is only accomplished by electing more conservatives to the General Assembly to support him.
Open discussion and contrary opinions are key to good solutions.
Whether it’s reforming Act 250 to enable economic growth and affordable housing, providing public safety at schools and on our streets, supporting our first responders and Veterans, controlling health care cost, advocating for responsible environmental actions, or fighting the mental health and addiction crises in Vermont, Vermont has always found a way to common sense answers – until now! The current legislative imbalance is driving supermajority agendas with little to no responsiveness to contrary and logical voices – this situation is NOT sustainable for the best interest for VERMONT! Balance in the General Assembly must be established!
Education Finance Reform and Property Taxes
I am a less government, more local control advocate. I believe that education finance reform should center around more local control of our homestead property taxes. Establishing a way of making sure local residential taxes stay local and district voters are connected to local spending decisions more directly. Let budget decisions tie more closely to tax rates with local homestead property as the base. I know of a couple of other candidates in other districts going down the same thought path. Under the current education finance system, towns in school districts like CVUSD, MMUUSD, SBSD would suffer tax rate increases even with the impossible task of passing flat school spending budgets. Clearly, local control of education tax rates is marginal at best.
I agree the State has a constitutional obligation to provide public education. I would propose an outline of educational finance changes that maintains state basic responsibility for education but delegates more local connection of spending to funding.
Continue to collect non-residential/non-homestead and non-property tax revenues (lottery, cloud, meals, etc) into the state education fund to be administered by the state.
- Adapt the formula that takes into account and satisfies the Brigham ruling. It would designate a weighted, proportional payment from that “state” fund to all districts based on their education needs and their ability (or lack of ability) to provide supplemental funding via town residential property taxes. I expect the formula would continue to take into account criteria being used now like k-12 distribution, rural coverage, ESL needs, special Ed requirements, taxing capability, etc.
The weighted payments distributed from above plus any federal grants would establish the base funding for each district, the starting point! This amount would be estimated or hopefully known before local school budget approvals.
Each town in the district would then be tasked to assess local property tax rates based on homestead property value to make up any difference to the district’s spending budget. The towns should be able to evaluate what the local property tax rate would be to complete the funding of the district’s proposed budget. Both proposed taxes & education spending would be presented to the district voters.
If that tax rate is unacceptable to the voters after presentation and justification of the budget, the budget would have to be adjusted. The voters could also advocate for any increased spending for new programs, more teachers or staff, etc. and see the immediate effect on tax rate. Now, there exists a direct correlation of local education spending to local taxes.
In addition, I believe we could create some different categories of non-homestead property rates. One for 2nd homes, one for commercial/industrial, one for long term rental properties (maybe we could effect lowering rental rates and help with part of the affordable housing problem).
Just like our municipal property taxes, our education homestead property taxes must be under more local control.
Why Vote for Bruce Roy
I have a unique combination of experiences, organizationally, fiscally, and culturally. I am used to making critical, complex decisions with significant impact. I believe in study, preparation AND FACTS!
I am not afraid to voice my opinions. I will not be hesitant to vote against the herd whether it’s the majority or my party if I don’t think the policy or legislation are in the best interest of my constituents. Vermonters' priorities must be Montpelier's Priorities!
National Perspective
I don’t endorse or support any presidential candidate. I am focused on bringing balance and common sense back to Vermont now. I am well up to speed about the failure of Vermont’s educational finance system, our faltering health care system, and the unreasonable actions our Vermont legislators have taken by regressive taxation and unchecked spending. I’ve had to dedicate almost all my energy to learning about this tangled mess.
Let me be clear on what I do support:
Governor Scott in his struggle to do what’s right for Vermonters.
less Vermont government spending in line with our population
responsible use of Vermont taxpayers hard earned dollars.
less tax burden on Vermonters.
a measured, reasonable approach to the care of our environment
Vermont voters having representation that listens & prioritizes their needs and concerns, not agendas.
I could just stay retired, but the future of Vermont is just too important to stay on the sidelines.
Good old Vermont common sense & a practical sharing of views will be my strategy to resolve Vermont’s most pressing issues!
VERMONT LIFE IS ABOUT BALANCE AND COMMON SENSE!
Contributions can also be made to:
BRUCE ROY FOR VERMONT
P.O. Box 184, Williston, VT 05495-0184