Embedded Files
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 the ability to provide basic needs to their families. Tax increases from Montpelier have become the first response to solving problems. Vermonters are suffering the consequences.
Education Property taxes are disastrously up 40% across the state over the last five years. Using surplus General Funds have temporarily and artificially “slowed” the taxpayer pain. We must incentivize reduced spending and engage a common sense, equitable foundation formula. Changes must be permanent and swift to the Education Funding system. “It could have been worse” is not an acceptable definition of success.
The Global Warming Solutions Act, the Affordable Heat Act, the Clean Heat Standard /Carbon Tax and the Renewable Energy Standard were all passed by supermajority veto override over Governor Scott’s common sense concerns These laws have unachievable mandates, a huge expense burden on our utilities costs, and little to no effect on lowering carbon emissions. They must repealed and replaced with responsible legislation toward a shift to renewable energy and a beautiful Vermont.
Vermonters currently pay the 10th highest electric rate of the 50 states, despite our electricity source being almost entirely Carbon Free and/or Renewable. We add less than 0.1% to USA’s carbon emissions. There exists a reasonable argument that Vermont is actually “carbon neutral”.
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 49 lowest of all states
The Vermont State Budget is now $9.3B ($1B more than NH which has twice the population of VT). New Hampshire is not perfect but with no income tax, no sales tax, and as of this year a lower property tax rate, they are doing something right. There is a lesson to be learned from our neighbor and yes, our competitor.
We can no longer abide payroll taxes, increased DMV fees, cloud taxes, and proposed increased property taxes on private second properties owned by Vermonters. Enough is enough.
Act 181, also passed by veto override of the Governor, takes away property rights of rural Vermonters and does nothing to incentivize new homes in Tier 3 areas. The 800 foot road stipulation limits many who care to develop their property. In Tier 2 areas, it causes increased confusion with Act 250 requirements. It must be decisively changed, not just delayed.
This is much the same story with Act 64, which haphazardly targets neighborhoods with unreasonably and expensive stormwater mitigation requirements. All unfunded by the state legislature. It too must be decisively changed.
Struggling Vermont households are trying to afford the daily basics for their families. The financial pressure being forced on them by unreasonable laws driven by irresponsible spending is driving away the taxpayer base. Recent demographics by the Vermont Joint Legislative Fiscal Office support this conclusion
Fiscal Responsibility and Awareness of the real issues facing average Vermonters ARE my CALLs TO IMMEDIATE 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 rmajority imbalance in the General Assembly is short circuiting reasonable conversation on important bills. The Governor’s ideas and plans are 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 ability to implement his ideas and plans MUST be solidified and that is only accomplished by electing more conservatives and moderates 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 majority 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 is the best government” advocate . Education finance reform should center around a simplified foundation formula and an administrative structure that incentivizes responsible spending. Establishing a way of ensuring local residential taxes stay local and district voters are connected directly to local spending decisions. Let’s promote district budget decisions reflecting directly to local tax rates with local homestead property as the base. I know of a couple of legislators from other districts going down the same thought path. Under the current education finance system, towns in school districts like CVUSD, MMUUSD, SBSD 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 Vermont has a constitutional obligation to provide public education. I would propose an outline of educational finance changes that maintains state basic responsibility for education while allowing local approved spending budgets to directly correspond to tax rate adjustments.
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.
- Create a new foundation 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. Two for 2nd homes (differentiate between Vermonter owned and out of state owned), one for commercial/industrial, one for short term rental properties and one for long term rental properties (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
16,000 voters in 2024 believed I could go to Montpelier and make a difference. Half of that total were voters who previously did not vote for Republicans. They recognized that common sense and fiscal responsibility are critical to Vermont's future regardless of party. Lets finish the job in 2026!
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 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!
WinRed Donation link to be activated soon
Contributions can also be made to:
BRUCE ROY FOR VERMONT
P.O. Box 184, Williston, VT 05495-0184
Page updated
Report abuse