Good news: There will be no

BY REPS. KATHLEEN JAMES AND SETH BONGARTZ

At his weekly press conference on May 17, Gov. Phil Scott delivered startling news: Legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2023 would cost Vermonters “roughly $1,200 per household per year.”

Wow! Good thing that’s not true.

In making his calculation, the governor tallied up four items, including a $100 million payroll tax (true), $20 million in DMV fees (true), $30 million in property tax pressure (maybe), and at least $180 million in potential clean heat mandates (false).

If you divide that total ($330 million) by the number of Vermont households (262,000), bingo: That’s $1,259.

That’s a lot of money, especially at a time when many Vermonters feel they are falling farther and farther behind. So, before we drop those imaginary invoices in the mail, we should check the math.

Payroll tax: The Legislature passed a landmark childcare bill this year, one of our top priorities. Childcare is a public good: It supports kids, families, businesses and our economy by allowing parents to work. But across Vermont, families can’t find spots or afford tuition, while childcare centers struggle to pay their staff and keep their doors open.

H.217, which passed by overwhelming multi-partisan votes in both House and Senate, offers a fiscally responsible solution. It will expand subsidies to make childcare more affordable for more families, provide financial stability for providers and boost pay for our valued early childhood educators. We’ll pay for this expansion through a payroll tax that kicks in on July 1, 2024 and will be shared by employers (0.33 percent) and employees (0.11 percent).

Here’s an example, based on statewide averages provided by our nonpartisan Joint Fiscal Office: Right now, a four-person family with an infant and toddler receiving full-time care at a center-based childcare program — and an income of $105,300 — is not eligible for subsidy. They’re spending approximately $35,204 a year out-of-pocket for childcare, approximately $677 per week. With the passage of H.217, this family would become eligible for subsidies with an estimated co-pay of $225 per week, saving more than $23,500 a year on childcare. Starting in 2024, this same family would pay an additional $115 for the year through the new payroll tax.

Property Tax: The “$30 million in property tax pressure” refers to Universal School Meals, an extremely popular program that provides every student with a nutritious breakfast and lunch — free of charge — at every public school.

Funded entirely by the federal government during the pandemic, Vermont schools strongly support continuing this program. They say it erases cafeteria stigma and is a game-changer for kids’ nutrition, health, behavior and readiness to learn.

In the upcoming year, the estimated $29 million will be cov- ered by a surplus in the Education Fund. After that, it could mean about 3 cents on the property tax rate. But the program costs are expected to drop by as much as onethird, due to changes in the way schools are partially reimbursed for meals by the feds.

We don’t assess family income or charge extra fees for textbooks, riding the bus or the extra support many students need to learn. Why would we charge anyone extra for the most basic part of any child’s day — a meal?

Taken together, families will benefit significantly from these two programs, saving money on both childcare and school meals.

DMV Fees: The Department of Motor Vehicles hasn’t raised

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MEMBER:

While July Fourth is generally a favorite holiday for people, it can be very stressful and dangerous for pets. Fireworks shows, barbecues and the heat of the day all pose risks for our companion animals.

Dogs, cats, horses and even livestock can react to fireworks in ways that could potentially cause injury and even death. During upcoming celebrations, never leave pets alone outdoors, even if tethered or in a fenced-in yard. It’s not uncommon for dogs to escape or injure themselves in a frenzied attempt to escape July Fourth noise. In fact, many animal shelters report increases in stray intakes after the holiday due to the number of pets running away to avoid noise and excitement.

If you are planning on attending a fireworks celebration, keep pets at home. A good idea is to keep small pets indoors, in an interior room without windows.

Protect pets from kids who may not realize the consequences of waving sparklers or setting off home fireworks.

People like to feed pets treats at barbecues or picnics, but grapes, chocolate, onions and garlic can be toxic to pets. Be aware that some animals may try to jump up and get food off of outdoor grills. This can lead to severe burns, so keep them away from temptation.

Finally, since it is summer, it may get too warm or humid for pets at a party. They should be kept inside when it’s extremely hot out, and they should always have access to shade and water when outdoors. Don’t leave them outside at a party unattended as they may start to show signs of heat stroke, which can be life-threatening.

If you have concerns about your animals during July Fourth celebrations, talk with your veterinarian about the best ways to keep your pets safe.

Erin Forbes Mountain View Animal Hospital Essex Junction

I’m writing to acknowledge our Williston Representatives, Erin Brady and Angela Arsenault, for their support for the permanent Universal School Meals bill that is now on its way to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk — and especially Rep. Brady

for her leadership over the past three years to make sure that no student in Williston, or anywhere in Vermont, will ever again learn what hunger feels like at school.

Their efforts have placed Vermont among the few states that have implemented universal school meals. This accomplishment speaks volumes about the dedication of our elected officials to prioritize the well-being of our children and families.

Many hardworking families are struggling to get by but are just over the federal poverty line, making them ineligible for many lifeline programs like free school meals. In Vermont, there are at least 25,000 school-age children in this very situation.

These students live in households that are not eligible for free or reduced-price school meals because their income is above 185 percent of the federal poverty level, but below Vermont’s Joint Fiscal Office’s basic needs budget estimates for most family sizes. This means that their families are struggling to make ends meet but are not eligible for the same level of support as those below the poverty line.

I urge Gov. Scott to enact the Universal School Meals Bill into law. This is a critical piece of legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of so many Vermonters. I hope that the governor will see the value in this bill and take action to make it a reality, as Vermont’s citizen legislature has already done.

Anore Horton Executive director Hunger Free Vermont Williston

Saving for retirement should be easy, but tens of thousands of Vermont workers lack access to a workplace retirement plan.

Many of these workers are not saving a penny for retirement, and this is a major threat to Vermont’s economic future. That’s why I am so excited S.135 (VT Saves) has been signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott after unanimously passing the Legislature.

VT Saves establishes a retirement savings plan for Vermonters who are not currently offered a retirement plan through their employer. It’s designed to make saving for retirement easy and auto - matic, at no cost to employers and no ongoing cost to taxpayers.

The program will automatically enroll workers who do not have access to a retirement plan through their employer in a Roth IRA account. By automatically enrolling workers, we hope to promote participation in the program and make it easier for people to start saving.

Contributions to the account will be deducted automatically from workers’ paychecks, making it a hassle-free way to save and invest for retirement. Employees can set their own contribution rate — or use the program default — and can opt out of the program if they choose. Employees can also choose from a simple menu of investment options, including lowfee target date funds that automatically rebalance over time.

Saving for retirement can be daunting, especially for individuals just starting their careers and particularly when other bills are competing for your take-home pay. VT Saves will help tens of thousands of Vermonters save for retirement and achieve financial security. I encourage all eligible Vermonters to participate when the program takes effect in July 2025.

Mike Pieciak Vermont state treasurer

Notice is hereby given that the Champlain Valley School District (formerly Chittenden South Supervisory Union) including the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, St. George, Shelburne, and Williston intends to destroy the special education records of all students who exited from any special education program during the 2017-2018 school year.

A permanent record of the student’s name, address, phone number, grades, attendance record, and year completed is maintained without time limitation.

Any former student, who has reached 18 years of age, may review and/or receive these records upon request. Also, any parent of a student who is 18 years of age or older, who has retained parental rights, may obtain these records.

Please contact the Champlain Valley Union High School Special Services Office at (802) 482-7115 by July 31, 2023. If no student, parent, or guardian responds to this public notice prior to or by July 31, 2023, the school district will assume consent to destroy the entire record specific to the student.

finishing touches on their spaces in preparation for opening their doors this week.

“Before I even signed my lease I was introducing myself to the people who were here,” DeGray said. “It’s been really fun because a lot of us are in a similar stage and we’re just walking in and out of each other’s spaces. It’s shaping up to be a really nice community.”

Future phases of Cottonwood

Crossing will bring more residential and commercial space. The project is owned by Allen Brook Development of South Burlington.

“Williston is the center of Vermont,” said Jr’s owner Bogdan Andreescu, whose original restaurant operates in Winooski. “It’s a nice area for young professionals and families and it’s going to do nothing but expand, expand, expand.

“It’s a good place to do business.

I love it,” he added. “The more businesses that are here, the more people come, the more people see my place. It’s nothing but good things.”