Poll prep
Senate candidates talk policy, party politics ahead of primary
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South Burlington student travels to Chicago for STEM competition Page 10
the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
City breaks ground on bike, ped bridge
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Energy was high Monday afternoon as the South Burlington broke ground on a project more than five years in the making: the bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Interstate 89.
City officials, along with spokespeople for Vermont’s congressional delegation, cast the first golden shovels in the dirt, signifying the start of a construction project that hits close to home.
“It’s no coincidence that bridges are highly symbolic,” South Burlington City Council Chair Tim Barritt told the crowd. “They’re meant to convey, but more importantly, they are meant to connect.”
The project, other than being informally known as the Walk Bike Bridge, does not officially have a name yet, but it’s a longplanned project.
The bridge will play a crucial role in the city’s vision to increase access for bikers and walkers. The span over I-89 will connect pedestrian pathways between Staples Plaza and the Quarry Hill residential area on the west side of the interstate to the University Mall property on the east side. It will help move pedestrians and cyclists between Burlington and South Burlington without having
to cross interstate off-ramps and on-ramps, which are seen as problematic and often dangerous intersections.
“Currently, South Burlington’s walking and rolling infrastructure has two main problems, as I see it,” Havaleh Gagne, a member of the city’s bicycle and pedestrian committee, said. “It’s somewhat fragmented and it lacks visibility, even among the people who live here. Our new bridge will help with both of these problems.”
Phase one construction work, which the city has awarded to Engineer’s Construction Inc., includes the bridge and the shared-use paths to Williston Road and the University Mall. It does not include the shared-use path around the CVS on Dorset Street and to Quarry Hill. Those will be part of the second phase of work.
The city anticipates the first phase to be completed and open to the public in 2028.
The nexus of this project, Barritt said, was in November 2021, when the city received a $9.76 million RAISE grant from the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Transportation. In subsequent years, federal grants for the project totaled $17.9 million, in addition to the roughly $70,000
See BRIDGE on page 12
BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
The calculations are in: South Burlington will need more development in its downtown Tax Increment Financing district to stay on track in paying down the debt on public infrastructure projects. Without it, the timeline to retire the
debt may extend by several years. While the city is still bringing in more through the financing than it owes on its debt — and will for the next couple of years — during a July 20 update to the city council, Community Development Director Ilona Blanchard said, starting next year, the city would need to add an average of 61 apartment units to
family-style catering
the district per year to pay off the associated $36 million in debt by 2039.
“When we look at the known development, we are pushing out the year at which we break even to 2046,” Blanchard said, adding
See TIF DISTRICT on page 4
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
A few boats glisten in the evening light on Lake Champlain, as seen from Red Rocks Park.
Boats a oat
Fence Panel Sale!
BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
Ahead of the Aug. 11 primary election, five Democratic candidates for the Chittenden Southeast Senate district are vying for their party’s three spots on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
The Other Paper put a few questions to the field of five. The paper will similarly query the Republican candidates later, since they don’t have competition in the primary.
The Other Paper: What is your top priority for the coming session if you’re elected? What specific policy or policies would you like to see to in order to achieve that goal?
Joanna Grossman, Burlington: Vermont is our refuge, but it’s no good to our kids if they can’t afford to stay here. Priorities: attainable housing, accessible health care and economic resilience — prioritizing homes for Vermonters over out-of-state investors, building dense senior communities to free up inventory while protecting soil and fighting health care monopolies. I support health care subsidies funded by recapturing Trump tax cuts.
Elizabeth Hunt, Charlotte: Vermont is at a crossroads with health care cost and access connecting us all; I would start here with my physician expertise. After years working closely with families, schools and community systems, I’ve seen how deeply
our economy and local budgets are being strained. To make this happen, we need to increase efficiency in state government, increase workforce opportunities, decrease the cost of health care and make housing more affordable.
Thomas Chittenden, South Burlington (incumbent): My top priority is tackling housing affordability, permit reform and growing Vermont’s economy sustainably. As average household sizes shrink and localized demand grows in Chittenden County, we face a critical housing shortage. To fix this, I will advocate for modernizing land-use and zoning regulations to encourage sensible infill development, expanding municipal water/sewer infrastructure strategically, and creating targeted financial incentives to keep starter homes affordable for young families and workers.
Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, Willison (incumbent): I will focus on prevention and primary care reform that includes reducing hospital and insurance premium costs, more access to primary care, community mental health, substance use disorder treatment, a balanced budget and prevention policies critical to improved personal and public health outcomes.
As chair of Health Reform Oversight and Health and Welfare and member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, policies should enhance primary care workforce, payment systems, and access; fill needs for substance use recovery services; reduce outside unregulated investment in health care; improve youth prevention and mental health services; oversee the homeless continuum of care law; improve access to housing; ensure adequate appropriations for community-based services and reduce food insecurity; and balance the budget.
Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Shelburne (incumbent): Economic opportunity. Too many Vermonters are working hard but still struggling to get ahead. I want every student to have access to career and technical education, every family to have a fair shot at finding an affordable home and every parent to know they can count on quality child care. Universal child care has shown that when we make smart, broadbased investments, families, employers and our economy all benefit. We should build on that success with other universal affordability strategies.
Sen. Thomas Chittenden Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale
Elizabeth Hunt
Sen. Ginny Lyons
Joanna Grossman
Church aims to protect Rice Memorial High by selling school to its supporters
KEVIN O'CONNOR VTDIGGER
Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese, aiming to reorganize its depleting finances in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, wants to sell its parochial Rice Memorial High School to supporters to protect the 400-student, grade 9-12 South Burlington campus from potential liquidation.
The state’s largest religious denomination has asked a judge for permission to sign a contract with a new nonprofit entity, RMHS Inc., which has offered to purchase Rice’s two-story, 42-classroom building and surrounding 27 acres of athletic fields, parking areas and wetlands for $4.3 million.
“Both the diocese and the purchaser are ready, willing and able to move forward with the proposed sale of the purchased assets as soon as possible,” church lawyers have written in a motion seeking court approval. They say the move would “ensure the continuity of the charitable, educational and religious purposes of RMHS in advance of the 20262027 academic year.”
Judge Heather Cooper is scheduled to consider the sale and its potential impact on creditors at a hearing in Burlington on Aug. 28 — four days before the start of classes.
The diocese filed for Chap-
ter 11 protection in the fall of 2024, arguing that a past series of priest misconduct settlements had reduced its highest-level bankand-building holdings by half, to about $35 million. As part of the process, the church preemptively has sold a few of its properties, including its South Burlington headquarters for $3.13 million and Rutland’s former Loretto Home senior living facility for $1 million.
Behind the scenes, the diocese has spent the past year discussing a potential Rice sale with its school board and a group of supporters interested in purchasing the property, according to court records.
“The proposal is intended to preserve Rice’s Catholic identity while providing a strong foundation for future generations,”
Christina DeGraff-Murphy, chair of the Rice School Board, said Monday in a statement to VTDigger. “Students and families should expect no material changes to their Rice experience. Rice’s mission, educational programs, traditions, faculty and staff and commitment to Catholic education will remain intact.”
The school has been working with unnamed “dedicated donors who are helping make this opportunity possible,” DeGraff-Murphy said.
“Because this matter remains subject to ongoing legal proceed-
ings, we are limited in our ability to comment further at this time,” DeGraff-Murphy added before concluding: “Simply stated: Rice will remain Rice.”
The school’s market value is estimated at between $4 million and $6 million, according to White + Burke Real Estate Advisors of Burlington. The firm based the figure on the property’s proximity to a residential community.
“This location lends itself well to the school use but might be problematic for other commercial uses such as an office building campus or high density residential because of the limited access and neighborhood concerns,” White + Burke wrote in a report included in the court filing. “Absent Rice, the property would likely be repurposed into housing development.”
Supporters initially offered $2 million for the school before increasing the figure to $4.3 million after negotiations with the diocese, according to court records.
Church lawyers couldn’t cite any recent sales of Vermont high schools, but listed such campus purchases in the past decade as Marlboro College for $1.7 million, College of St. Joseph in Rutland for $2 million, Goddard College in Plainfield for $3.4 million, Green
See SCHOOL on page 7
Affordable Prices. Priceless Impact.
Total incidents: 411
Arrests/citations: 12
South Burlington Police Blotter: July 20-26
Drugs: 1
Eluding: 2
Parking: 2
911 hang up: 8
Accident: 29
Alarm: 11
Field contact: 15
Foot patrol: 19
Found property: 5
Restraining order violation: 1
Retail theft:13
Sex crime: 1
Animal problem: 2
Simple assault: 2
Agency assist: 10
K9 assist: 1
Public assist: 18
Community contact: 38
Counterfeiting: 1
Directed patrol: 37
Disturbance: 3
Domestic: 5
Fraud: 6
Intoxication: 1
Juvenile: 1
Larceny: 11
Mental health issue: 2
Motor vehicle complaint: 8
Operations: 5
Ordinance violation: 2
Paperwork service: 2
TIF DISTRICT
continued from page 1
that those additional 61 units per year needed to break even earlier is considerably more than the estimate from last year.
In addition to a slowdown of developments in the works, the change is also due in part to a drop in the non-homestead education tax rate.
South Burlington is one of nine municipalities in the state with an active TIF district. The funding structure allows towns and cities to map out a specific district where it will make public infrastructure improvements and encourage housing and commercial development. South Burlington’s district contains about 300 acres between
Dorset Street and Hinesburg Road. Municipalities, over 20 years, are allowed to retain 70% of the property taxes created by the district — no taxes from pre-existing properties are used — to help pay for the debt on improvements such as new roads, sidewalks, sewer expansions and, in South Burlington, a new library and city hall. The other 30% goes to the state Education Fund.
Suicidal person: 1
Suspicious event: 17
Threats: 6
Traffic hazard: 1
Traffic stop: 88
Trespass: 8
Unlawful mischief: 1
VIN verification: 1
Weapons offense: 1
Welfare check: 19
pal taxes created are used to continue paying on the debt. The implied incentive is to maximize building and debt payment during the two decades in which the municipality can utilize education taxes.
“Development is still considered to be very expensive for many, many developers.”
— Ilona Blanchard
After 20 years, 75% of munici-
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South Burlington is nearly halfway through this 20-year period. The city took out its first loan in 2017 for the redevelopment of Market Street. Since then, all the city’s TIF-associated projects have either been completed or are entering construction. This includes, along with the city hall, the recently opened City Center park, a bike and pedestrian bridge over I-89 that just broke ground this week (see story, page 1), and ongoing projects connecting Garden Street to Williston Road and improvements to the Williston Road streetscape — all projects aimed at turning South Burlington’s car-centered streets into a walkable downtown.
Private development has already brought more than 650 homes and over 8,000 feet of commercial space to the area. According to Blanchard’s calculations, this has grown the district’s grand list (the total value of the city’s taxable property values) by more than $110 million in the last ten years.
The most recent model the city has been using estimated a 2% annual rise in non-homestead property taxes. Instead, this year, the city’s non-homestead tax rate went down 1.6% — about 3 cents less per every $100 of assessed value.
“The Legislature did elect to use a significant amount of one-time money to lower property tax rates,” Chloe Wexler, an analyst for the Vermont Department of Taxes, wrote in an email to
OPINION
Letters to the Editor
Setting the record straight on candidate’s advocacy
To the Editor:
My Jewish education taught me that “never again” applies to everyone — including Palestinians in Gaza. That belief is why I raised Joanna Grossman’s political record at the July 9 Senate candidate forum. I summarized her conduct, not her identity.
The facts I relied for my statement and my question came from Grossman’s own social media posts. She deleted them, but screenshots of those posts saved by members of Jewish Voice for Peace survive.
Grossman organized and led a pressure campaign against Congresswoman Becca Balint for voting “no” on a bill providing aid to Israel’s military. Balint explained that “no” vote clearly: She would not “condone the utter destruction of Gaza” or send more offensive weapons to fuel a regional war.
Grossman also promoted opposition to a ceasefire resolution in Hartford, and she rallied supporters behind a new federal definition of antisemitism that would chill free speech and penalize universities if they allow protests sharply critical of the Israeli government, such as by pointing to its discriminatory basic law or the lack of equal rights under law.
I published this record on July 14. The article, on cancelF35.substack.com, has since drawn more than 2,400 views. Neither Grossman nor her allies have disputed a single fact or screenshot in it. Instead, they’ve called me antisemitic — a charge that misrepresents what I actually said and sidesteps her record entirely.
Vermont’s Senate has real levers here: a say over state purchasing and investment decisions that can be used to push back on federal policy many Vermonters oppose, including continued U.S. military support for Israel’s ongoing lethal assault on Gaza.
Voters deserve to weigh this record for themselves: Should a candidate who deleted posts documenting her organizing efforts for continued U.S. military aid — advocacy that came as Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s civilians and their homes, schools, universities, hospitals, farms, water and sanitation was at its height, along with a siege that cut off entry of food and medicine — now attack the person who brought that record to light? I just don’t think Vermont should send her to the State House without disclosure and consideration of her record.
James Marc Leas South Burlington
Vote for McLaren for fresh perspective
To the Editor:
Our state is at a critical crossroads,
and it is clear the status quo is no longer working. We face rising challenges with housing, health care, education and workforce development and we need bold leadership to fix it. That is why Ryan McLaren is the leader we need for lieutenant governor.
Ryan has experience working at the local, state and federal level that he can bring to his role as lieutenant governor. Ryan served on his local school boards in Essex Junction and Burlington, contributed to policy making in former Gov. Peter Shumlin’s administration, and coordinated efforts to address issues Vermonters were facing in the state as a member of U.S. Senator Peter Welch’s senior staff. Due to this experience, Ryan brings fresh ideas and a much-needed solution-oriented approach.
For example, Ryan came up with the “Yes in My Backyard,” otherwise known as YIMBY, tax credit to encourage local communities to build more housing. He is also a firm supporter of building a universal primary health care model which give Vermonters access to primary care physicians. He also believes there should be a coordinated approach across the state to build a bottoms-up state economic development plan which identifies what areas need more people to help grow our economy. This in turn will help school districts determine what formalized educational programs are needed in different areas of the state to help our small and large businesses increase their employment with local talent.
The ideas Ryan has will directly benefit families in our state. Ryan is not beholden to special interest groups — only to the people.
It is time for a change. I urge my neighbors to look at the facts, review the platforms and vote for progress by voting for Ryan McLaren as our next lieutenant governor.
Christopher Loso South Burlington
Hunt has a vision and experience
To the Editor:
Please join me in voting for Elizabeth Hunt for state Senate. She will bring a fresh, energetic and bold voice to Montpelier. I recently had several conversations with Dr. Hunt and was impressed with her intelligence and deep knowledge of the issues facing the Chittenden Southeast district and Vermont more broadly. Elizabeth Hunt is a seasoned, practicing pediatrician who also has years of business experience in her capacity as part-owner of a medical practice. We would be fortunate to have a state senator with her determination and work ethic, as
well as the real-world knowledge of what it takes to run a small business. Even as she campaigns, knocking on doors and deep diving into the issues, she continues to care for her patients in the clinic.
Despite the busy life of a full-time physician and mother of three, Dr. Hunt has devoted herself to public service through extensive, values-driven volunteer work. In Vermont, she has volunteered across the spectrum, from soccer coach to spelling coach to member of numerous committees related to improving the state’s health care system. In her early career, she served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and volunteered in different medical roles in South Africa, Panama and Haiti, experiences which undoubtedly endowed her with a unique perspective on poverty and strife. She is fluent in Spanish and volunteered as a translator for asylum seekers in U.S. federal prisons.
It is noteworthy that, if elected, Dr. Hunt would be the only physician serving in the entire Vermont state Legislature. Given the outsized complexity and financial weight of our state’s health care dilemma — which is intensifying due to changes at the federal level — I believe we would benefit from the voice of an actual physician in our Senate.
Health care is hardly Dr. Hunt’s only issue. She cares about so much more, and I believe she understands that Vermont’s various challenges are interwoven — be they related to mental health, natural resources and climate change, housing, the demographic crisis and so on. I hope you’ll visit Dr. Hunt’s website (huntforvermont.com) to learn more about her platform and read the thoughtful endorsements from other members of the community.
If you want a compassionate and sensible vision for the future of our district and state in Montpelier, please cast your vote for
Elizabeth Hunt for state Senate.
Beth Zigmund South Burlington
Sarah George a principled state prosecutor
To the Editor:
I’m writing to encourage you to place your confidence again in Sarah “Fair” George for Chittenden County state’s attorney. We are today faced with the unprecedented threat in this country of a fascist state, led by a single party that has buckled to the will of an autocrat. To my mind, what happened here on March 11 harkened back to similarly somber times, but in Nazi Germany. And it was not an isolated event. We’ve seen our neighbors and colleagues abducted without due process. We’ve had to fight in the court of public opinion to cast shame on the abuse of executive power on the part of our federal government, which has sometimes backtracked and withdrawn their murderous militarized agents.
But unlike Nazi Germany, we have local heroes in our state, like Sarah George — and I would also include South Burlington’s deputy police chief Sean Briscoe, police chief William Breault, city manager Jessie Baker, and VT attorney general Charity Clark — and their counterparts elsewhere. Installed in positions of power, they are using good judgment in response to unethical, horrific, unthinkable actions and crimes.
Before cases of peaceful civil disobedience, and in order to protect the spirit of the law as it would normally be applied in a democracy built on laws, Sarah George has consciously and quite admirably chosen to err on the side of democracy and oppose the worst excesses of this administration. She’s shown great courage by responding with restraint along with legal acumen.
As I say to my friends, what might have happened had state
prosecutors not collaborated or remained silent in Nazi Germany?
We already know the answer just by looking at what’s happened here. Such principled actions
would likely have been an example of moral backbone that would have supported a nascent German resistance and perhaps precipitated the downfall of a criminal
from page 6
Principled state prosecutors are exactly what we need at this time.
Please join me in voting for and reelecting Sarah George for Chittenden County state’s attorney.
Meaghan Emery
South Burlington
Hunt is committed to Vermont youths’ health
To the Editor:
As a student involved in my local school board, I was often told that many of our greatest headaches were really issues with the state. That’s what pushed me to start following state politics more closely, and the more I did, the more it seemed that decisions were rarely made with people my age in mind. That’s a large part of why I’m writing to endorse Dr. Elizabeth Hunt for State Senate in the Chittenden-Southeast District.
Dr. Hunt has spent over two decades as a pediatrician, treating kids and getting to know their families across Chittenden County. She’s used those experiences to make a real impact for students outside of the exam room through her work on adolescent mental health initiatives, particularly her work on the phone-free school
SCHOOL
continued from page 3
Mountain College in Poultney for $4.5 million and Southern Vermont College in Bennington for $4.6 million.
The diocese is asking the judge to allow a private sale.
“Significant concern exists that a fully public sale process would severely and negatively impact student enrollment at RMHS, which the purchaser indicated would force it to reduce and potentially withdraw its offer,” church lawyers wrote in their court motion. “Additionally, the diocese will not be required to make commission payments to any brokers or agents, increasing the net proceeds available for the bankruptcy estate.”
Rice began in 1917 as Cathedral High School in downtown Burlington before moving to a new name and its current South Burlington location in 1959, according to its history.
Rice is one of three Catholic high schools in Vermont, alongside Mount St. Joseph Academy in Rutland and St. Michael School in Brattleboro. The diocese hasn’t announced any plans for the latter two institutions or its 10 schools for elementary and middle grades.
The potential sale comes as attorneys
WHY GO LOCAL?
initiative which has had a monumental impact in my school. That is to say, her commitment to serving the young community of Vermont isn’t limited to campaign season.
Having had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Hunt, I’ve learned a wealth of knowledge about leadership. The lesson that stands out most is the importance of honest conversation and open-mindedness. She is constantly seeking new viewpoints and considers the unintended consequences of her platforms with an unmatched thoroughness. She has spoken candidly about the need for the difficult conversations on school consolidation, and about fixing a healthcare system she knows firsthand is under strain. That kind of candor, paired with a record of showing up for Vermont’s kids is what I hope to see in Montpelier.
Vermont hasn’t elected a physician to the state Senate in 45 years. At a time when healthcare and affordability are dominating kitchen-table conversations across the state, having someone with two decades of hands-on experience in that system is a tremendous asset.
I hope voters will support Dr. Elizabeth Hunt in the Aug. 11 primary.
Momin Waqar South Burlington
for the church and clergy abuse claimants fight in court over who should have access to what assets.
The diocese is arguing that its holdings are limited to auxiliary buildings such as its now-sold headquarters, Loretto Home and Rice. But a creditors committee representing more than 100 abuse claimants has asked for authority to pursue an estimated $500 million of local parish property and possessions that were placed in trusts in 2006 to shelter them from court verdicts.
Under federal law, both the court and creditors must approve any Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The ongoing disagreement between the two sides has cost the diocese $2 million in legal bills and counting, according to court records.
Cooper has threatened to dismiss the case if the church doesn’t submit a larger reorganization proposal by fall. Ending the process without a solution would further endanger the diocese’s finances by reviving abuse lawsuits placed on hold by the bankruptcy filing. The church has paid $34.5 million to settle 67 clergy misconduct claims in the past two decades, according to records, only to still face 119 more dating as far back as 1950.
Shape the community ’ s character
The business next door donates nearly twice as much as big-box stores and online retailers to local non-profits, events and teams
Vermont Community Newspaper Group
SENATE
continued from page 2
Summer Blooms at Vermont’s Finest Plant
The Other Paper: Of the legislation that passed this last session, if you could pick one bill to edit, what edits would you make?
Grossman: I’d edit the anti-masking bill so protections apply to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, rather than passing symbolic laws lacking enforcement. We must protect Vermont from federal overreach. We need economic resilience: limiting credit card swipe fees would’ve kept millions in Vermont instead of feeding out-of-state corporate credit card duopolies. This protects our tax base to shore up state programs against federal cuts threatening 30% or more of our state budget.
Hunt: Act 173 (primary care reform) passed with many areas: planning for strengthening of primary care through state programs, data gathering and specific tasks for different groups. Knowing how critical access and high costs of health insurance has become, I would simplify this bill and include health insurance/payment innovation, such as a low premium, catastrophic-like coverage and/ or bringing more Vermonters back onto Medicaid while the core processes of Act 173 move forward. In addition, I would clarify who is monitoring the action of this bill, accounting for results and communicating those actions with the public and the health care community.
ant reforms that Vermonters can’t afford to wait another two years for.
The Other Paper: What resolution would you suggest for the way Vermont has continued to use general funds to buy down the education tax rate? Do you think the education funding bill passed this year will help resolve this?
Grossman: Our taxes should be fair and consistent. General Fund buy-downs are erratic and irresponsible, making longterm district planning impossible. I fiercely oppose the Foundation Formula’s $60M cut from Chittenden County schools — which incumbents supported — forcing our districts into an impossible choice between crushing tax penalties or educator layoffs. Instead of overriding voter-passed budgets, we should permanently move vital social services off school budgets back to the General Fund and enact a second-homeowner tax conforming to Department of Taxes models.
Chittenden: I would refine Act 170 to ensure owner-occupied parcels with accessory dwelling units are explicitly excluded from the now being designated vacation/ second-home property tax category. ADUs housed on a primary homeowner’s property are vital long-term housing options for aging family members or local renters and essential to make ends meet in the current Vermont housing market. Applying higher secondary-residence tax rates to them disincentivizes sensible density. There is still time before implementation to correct this and protect local homeowners with ADUs.
Lyons: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare passed a bill to eliminate red dye and other toxic chemicals from foods served in school. Two large school food services in Chittenden County school districts testified that the administration of eliminating foods with the chemicals was overly burdensome. As a result, we did not ask the full Senate to vote on the bill. Improving the bill to limit the toxic chemicals from products sold more generally than those served at schools might improve the bill.
Ram Hinsdale: The bills I most wish I could edit are the ones the governor vetoed. I was especially disappointed by the veto of our health care affordability bill, under Sen. Ginny Lyons’ leadership, to bring systemic health care costs down, and our data center bill to ensure any massive new energy users pay their fair share. What was missing wasn’t compromise — it was a clear roadmap from the governor about what it would take to earn his support. Those vetoes delayed import-
Hunt: Paying down bad policy year after year with taxpayer dollars is an urgent and significant problem. Set a goal for pre-pandemic education spending targets and continue to build a pool of funds for education with property tax for homesteads and non-homesteads but with a higher rate of consumption tax funds. The education funding legislation will start to increase administrative efficiency through Cooperative Educational Service Areas but likely won’t lead to lower costs to property owners for this coming school year.
Chittenden: Using General Fund dollars to buy down property tax rates is financially unsustainable and masks underlying structural drivers. While recent legislation provides temporary relief, true fiscal stability requires structural spending restraint. Lowering the excess spending threshold in the Yield Bill is a step toward applying centralized, clear budgetary guidance to local school districts to help constrict high-growth spending decisions. Paired with state-level cost accountability, this threshold helps align local school budgets with what taxpayers can afford.
Lyons: The governor vetoed bipartisan legislation reducing education health care costs and education property taxes. The veto eliminated reduced premium costs for individuals and small businesses insured on Vermont Health Connect. A minimum of $40 million could have been eliminated from the buy down in 2027 and $800 million over five years. There is also work by Cooperative Educational Service Areas to identify cost savings and efficiencies in school districts. Cooperative purchasing, educational opportunities, improved access to career and technical education and other programs result from this work. Property tax payment reform will help.
Ram Hinsdale: I think the education funding bill gives us a real chance to bend the cost curve, but we’ll have to
Sidewalk Burlington Vermont Sale
DAYS OF UNBEATABLE DEALS
Wednesday, August 5 - Sunday, August 9
All the deals...
4T2D: Score 50–90% off everything under the tent.
Bertha Church Intimates: Save 20–50% on select sale styles.
Bickford USA: Save up to 40% on Made in USA favorites, shop exclusive samples & seconds, plus 10% off the entire store.
Catamount Store: Save 50% to 70% on select apparel styles, as well as 10% off all regularly priced apparel items.
ECCO Clothes: Save up to 70% on select styles.
Fear and Cloathing: 20% off entire order.
Gaku Ramen: Free mochi with the purchase of meal.
Golden Hour Gift Co.: Follow @goldenhourgiftco for daily specials revealed on Insta Stories.
Harbour Thread: Up to 80% off.
Homeport: Save 10% on purchases up to $25, 15% on $25–$99.99, and 20% on $100+. Plus, shop sidewalk specials at 40% off or more.
Kiss The Cook: 20% off storewide (exc. electronics & already discounted items) plus up to 60% off under the tent.
Lake Champlain Chocolates: Sweet deals on truffles, Five Star Bars, Spring Coin Bag, and more.
Little Istanbul: 20% off storewide.
MK Clothing: Save 50% or more on select finds.
Outdoor Gear Exchange: Consignment Yard Sale is back 8/7–8/9! Come score amazing deals on gently used outdoor gear, then browse the clearance selection to gear up for your next adventure.
Phoenix Books: Visit the tent for amazing deals on books, gifts, and more.
Public Vintage: 50% off select vintage jewelry, clothing (adults and kids) + homewares.
Saratoga Olive Oil: Enjoy a free tasting and mention "Sidewalk Sale" for 10% off your purchase.
The Optical Center: 15% off.
The Prik: Spin the prize wheel for your chance to win.
The Vermont Flannel Company: Barn Sale 20% off select styles.
Tradewinds Imports: Free gift with purchase, while supplies last.
Whim : Deals up to 75% off.
Zinnia: Everything under our tent is just $5.
South Burlington student travels to Chicago for STEM competition
For the first time, a Vermont student participated in ACT-SO, the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics, at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago. The Rutland Area NAACP brought in a rising senior from South Burlington High School, Momin Waqar, who represented Vermont with his research project, “PACAP-Mediated Modulation of Inflammatory Pathway Activation in Human Astrocytes.” This project studied the effect of anti-inflammatory peptides on certain nerve cells, a press release said, with implications for diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and glioblastoma.
“This moment was about more than one competition,” branch president Mia Schultz, who traveled with Waqar to Chicago, said. “It was about opening doors, building pathways, and making sure Vermont’s talented Black and Brown youth are seen, supported and celebrated on a national stage.”
For nearly five decades, ACT-SO has given students the opportunity to present original work, connect with mentors and professionals, and join a national community that recognizes excellence in the sciences, arts, humanities, business and technology.
This was the second year that the Rutland Area NAACP sponsored awards at the Vermont STEM Fair, which takes place in March at Norwich University, recognizing youth of color for their hard work at the state level. Momin Waqar was one of those recognized at the Vermont STEM Fair, and received the highest score from a panel of NAACP members.
“I was so honored and excited to participate in the national ACT-SO competition this year,” Waqar said. “I learned so much and met many wonderful like-minded peers. I’m so excited to see more Vermonters participate in ACT-SO in the future!”
Community Notes
Age Well luncheon planned in Shelburne
Age Well and St. Catherine of Siena will host a community luncheon for adults 60 and older on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St., Shelburne. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m., with lunch served at noon. The menu includes riblet, confetti rice, mixed vegetables, whole-wheat bread, a craisin-date cookie and milk. A suggested donation is $7. Reservations are due by Aug. 6. Call 802-662-5283 or email pniarchos@ agewellvt.org for information or to register.
Gallery showcases Myers jazz prints
J. Kenneth Fine Art and Atelier Frame & Design are presenting “Swingville: Works from the Malcolm Myers Estate” throughout August at J. Kenneth Fine Art, 145 Pine Haven Shores Road, Suite 1160, Shelburne. The exhibition features prints from the celebrated American intaglio artist’s Jazz Series, created between the 1950s and 1980s. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays or by appointment.
Memoir honors mother’s resilience
Onion River Press has released “A Mother’s Prayer,” a memoir by Steve Rand exploring family, grief and resilience during his mother’s 13-year battle with cancer. The book recounts Anne Rand’s determination to raise her three children after her husband left the family and highlights the friendships that sustained her during her illness. Rand, a former director of civic engagement at Norwich University, reconstructed the story through family memories and interviews. He lives in Vermont with his wife. Information: steverand.org.
Baby gear drive supports families
Vermont Connector will hold a baby gear collection drive from 9 a.m. to noon
See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 11
COURTESY PHOTO
Momin Waqar’s research project studied the effects of anti-in ammatory peptides on certain nerve cells.
continued from page 10
at Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Road, Essex Junction, to restock its Baby Product Exchange, which provides essential items to Vermont families in need. Organizers are seeking gently used baby gear in good condition. Donations also may be dropped off in Burlington by appointment or contributed yearround through the exchange. A list of accepted items is available at vermontconnector.org.
Free doc screening examines prison system
A free screening of the HBO documentary “The Alabama Solution” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at Main Street Landing Film House, 60 Lake St., Burlington. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Academy Award-nominated
documentary examines conditions inside Alabama’s prison system and is intended to encourage community discussion about incarceration in America. The event is open to the public.
Teddy Bear birthday bash celebrates Vermont brands
Vermont Teddy Bear and Vermont Flannel will celebrate their 45th and 35th anniversaries with a birthday bash featuring free daytime activities, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and evening festivities from 5 to 9 p.m. Face painting, food vendors, inflatables, mini golf, games and a bubble show will be offered during the day. Evening activities include a drone show, an ‘80s and ‘90s costume contest and live music by DJ Fattie B.
B U F F E T
INVITATION TO BID
Williston Road Water Valve Replacements - South Burlington, VT
Sealed Bids for Williston Road Water Valve Replacements shall be received and accepted until 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, local time at City of South Burlington City Hall at 104 Landfill Rd, South Burlington, VT 05403.
Bid opening will occur immediately after the submission deadline.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The excavation of roadway materials, the replacement and installation of water system components including gate valves and valve boxes, 3-way gate valve assemblies, water line tees, curb stops, and water service lines. Work includes backfill and restoration of excavation sites to match existing conditions including curbing, concrete sidewalk, and Type II bituminous pavement repair (up to 6” thick), etc. in accordance with the City of South Burlington Public Works Standards.
All necessary water line materials including water pipe, gate valves, tees, fittings and appurtenances will be provided by the South Burlington Water Department.
BID DOCUMENTS: Electronic Plans and Bid Documents may be obtained from the City of South Burlington by contacting Brett McCreary at bmccreary@southburlingtonvt.gov. The City shall track all plan holders for addendum distribution.
CONTRACT COMPLETION DATE: The Contract shall be completed on or before November 13, 2026.
QUESTIONS: During the advertisement phase of this project all questions shall be addressed solely to Brett McCreary, Deputy Director of Water Resources, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403, (802) 658-7961 x6113, bmccreary@southburlingtonvt.gov.
FOR RENT
LAKE CHAMPLAIN
COTTAGE FOR RENT:
3 miles north of basin harbor. 5 bedroom, private, end of road. Cement dock and mooring. Air conditioning and new mattresses. No pets. $3,800 per week. Avalalbe Aug. 15 and beyond. Contact Brian. 802-373-9861. Inquires for next year accepted.
INVITATION TO BID
Kennedy Drive Pond 7 Stormwater Improvements - South Burlington, VT
Sealed bids from pre-qualified contractors shall be accepted until 2:00 P.M., prevailing time on Friday, August 28, 2026, at City of South Burlington, Public Works Building, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 for construction of the project hereinafter described. Bid opening will occur immediately after the submission deadline.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Work to be performed under this project includes: The installation of a diversion structure, upsizing existing drainage pipes and catch basins, installation of a pre-treatment device and expanding and retrofitting an existing detention basin into a gravel wetland, including installation of subsurface gravel material, underdrains and outlet control structure.
BID DOCUMENTS: Electronic Plans and Bid Documents may be obtained from the City of South Burlington by contacting Brett McCreary at bmccreary@southburlingtonvt.gov.
The City shall track all plan holders for addendum distribution.
CONTRACT COMPLETION DATE: The Contract shall be completed on or before October 15, 2027.
QUESTIONS: During the advertisement phase of this project all questions shall be addressed solely to Brett McCreary, Deputy Director of Water Resources, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403, (802) 658-7961 x6113, bmccreary@southburlingtonvt.gov
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BRIDGE
continued from page 1
in federal funds spent during the scoping period of the project. Voters also approved using Tax Increment Financing dollars for the city’s local match.
The project hasn’t been an easy haul for city leaders, particularly as construction costs have increased significantly since 2022, when the city approved the project’s final design plans. Estimated costs, for example, increased roughly $13 million since the project was first proposed — total costs now sit just over $27 million.
Spokespeople from Vermont’s congressional delegation — Rep. Becca Balint and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Peter Welch, all Democrats — also spoke in support of the project.
“This bridge will represent the great things government can do when we’re in partnerships with our community and when true community advocacy shines through,” Balint said in a written statement.
PHOTOS BY BRIANA BRADY
The city of South Burlington held a groundbreaking for construction phase one of the walk/bike bridge over I-89.
COURTESY PHOTO
THE OTHER PAPER SERVICE DIRECTORY
Property Management
tive effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost al ways fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their nor mal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.
stay disciplined. Buying down property taxes with the General Fund isn’t a longterm solution. The real answer is growing Vermont’s tax base by building more housing, welcoming more working families and making sure our funding system is fair, predictable and focused on student success. That’s where I’ve spent much of my time in the Senate, and it’s where I’ll keep pushing.
The Other Paper: In what ways do you think you are either similar to or different from other Democrats?
Grossman: The status quo isn’t cutting it for working Vermonters. I’ve organized across Chittenden County for years and knocked on more than 3,100 doors in our district this year. Our party has lost touch with Vermonters’ basic needs. House reps, city councilors, selectboard members, and school board members have been clear with me that they need a partner in the Senate to expedite progress on attainable housing, health care access, fair taxes and public education.
I will fight for our 68,000 constituents first and foremost. We need leaders looking inward, not upward — because our hard-won protections mean nothing if the next generation can’t afford to stay here.
Hunt: I come to the race as a newcomer, not a political insider. I am a physician, specifically a primary care pediatrician, which allows me to work as a team with my patients (and their families and advocates like social workers, counselors, Department for Children and Families workers, educators) to clarify and define shared goals and work towards them together. To accomplish this, I put my own needs, desires and prejudices on the back burner to focus on my patient. Caring for people requires knowing your limits, speaking the truth and learning from your mistakes.
TIF DISTRICT
continued from page 8 city officials.
continued from page 4
As a result, city manager Jessie Baker said, the TIF tax increment projection is going down 3.5%. Even though the city has added almost $30 million to the grand list in the past two years, the anticipated tax increment increase is less than $200,000.
“We do have some headwinds,” Blanchard told the council. “I think you have done a lot with the zoning to make it more straightforward for developers, but development is still considered to be very expensive for many, many developers.”
Development, Blanchard noted, is important to the district’s financial health, and the market isn’t perfect — labor and material costs are high. However, the market is also liable to change. The model the city is using focuses on the addition of apartment buildings, something developers have
Chittenden: I share my fellow Democrats’ commitment to protecting public education, strengthening climate resilience and supporting working families. What sets me apart is my empirical, data-driven approach to budgeting. Drawing on my background as a former South Burlington city councilor, local parent and my work at the University of Vermont, I consistently scrutinize state spending to ensure policies deliver measurable outcomes, demand fiscal discipline and prioritize cost-of-living affordability.
Lyons: My work as a scientist and legislator is unique. I understand environmental issues, our chaotic system of health care and other areas. I consistently use data-informed decision making. I bring a scientific approach to improving the human condition and environmental protection. My students are now physicians, social and child care workers, naturalists or educators. I have experience on school and selectboards — as do other Democrats and those with other party affiliations. The mix of differences and similarities stimulates productive discussions and outcomes for our constituents.
Ram Hinsdale: My Indian immigrant father and Jewish American mother ran an Irish pub in Los Angeles, and today, I am a mom of two toddlers, I teach environmental and economic justice, and I serve as the Senate majority leader. Those experiences taught me that people are more complicated than political labels. I believe in progressive values, but I’m also deeply pragmatic. I care about whether an idea works — whether it lowers costs, expands opportunity and improves people’s lives. I spend a lot of time bringing people together who don’t always agree, because that’s how lasting progress gets made.
WARNING Special City Meeting
August 11, 2026
The legal voters of the City of South Burlington, are hereby notified and warned to meet at their respective polling places at the Chamberlin School on White Street, the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School on Dorset Street, the Orchard School on Baldwin Avenue, and the Kevin Dorn Senior Center in City Hall on Market Street on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, between the hours of seven o’clock (7:00) in the forenoon (a.m.), at which time the polls will open, and seven o’clock (7:00) in the afternoon (p.m.), at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot upon the following Article:
ARTICLE I
Shall the City of South Burlington make capital improvements to the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility, install a clarifier at the Airport Parkway wastewater treatment facility and refurbish or replace four wastewater pump stations and issue general obligation bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed Sixteen Million Four Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($16,400,000.00), together with other general obligation bonds or notes in the amount of Thirty-Three Million Eight Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand and 00/100 ($33,833,000.00) previously approved on March 7, 2023, after application of other funds and resources available for these purposes, to finance these capital improvements and to pay expenses related to the issuance of the bonds, the total cost of which is not to exceed Fifty Million Two Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($50,233,000.00)?
The legal voters of the City of South Burlington are further notified that voter qualification, registration and absentee voting relati ve to said special meeting shall be as provided in Chapters 43, 51 and 55 of Title 17, Vermont Statutes Annotated.
The legal voters of the City of South Burlington are further notified that a public informational hearing will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026, at South Burlington City Hall, 180 Market Street in the City of South Burlington and electronically on the Zoom platform at the following link beginning at six o’clock (6:00) in the evening (p.m.), for the purpose of explaining the proposed projects and the financing thereof.
favored in the past, but that too may change. Additionally, the numbers will need a reset when South Burlington goes through another city-wide property re-assessment in the coming years.
No matter what happens, the city will pay off the debt. It is just a question of how quickly, and what percentage might be paid using education tax increment. Should the city see about 61 more apartment units in the district every year, the debt load in 2038 is expected to be less than $400,000 dollars. Without any more development, that debt would be over $6 million, and the city will have to wait longer to see the full municipal taxes from the new buildings added to the city’s overall budget.
“We’re going to be working on building relationships, but also seeing how we can remove barriers to development where the community has decided that we want to grow,” Blanchard said.
Zoom Link for Public Informational Hearing: https:// zoom.us/j/94211229957
Phone: 929 205 6099 Webinar ID: 942 1122 9957
POLLING PLACES FOR VOTING ON THESE ARTICLES ARE THE CHAMBERLIN SCHOOL ON WHITE STREET, THE FREDERICK H. TUTTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL ON DORSET STREET, THE ORCHARD SCHOOL ON BALDWIN AVENUE, AND THE KEVIN DORN SENIOR CENTER IN CITY HALL ON MARKET STREET. VOTERS ARE TO GO TO THE POLLING PLACE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.
Adopted and approved at a meeting of the City Council of the City of South Burlington duly called, noticed, and held June 1, 2026.
For more information, visit www.southburlingtonvt.gov
BARTLETT BAY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY UPGRADE PROJECT
HISTORY
The Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility is located o Route 7 in South Burlington. It has operated continuously for more than 55 years, including 25 years since the last refurbishment. In 2023, voters approved funding for reconstruction. Since that successful bond vote, a combination of factors, including rapidly increasing construction costs and unanticipated conditions found at the existing facility, means additional funding is needed to complete the reconstruction.
On August 11, 2026, South Burlington voters will be asked to consider the additional $16.4M in funding needed to begin construction and take advantage of a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) low-interest (2%) loan currently committed to the project. If the bond is not approved, the facility remains at risk from age-related deterioration and wet weather events overwhelming the plant, and could cost rate payers more in the long term. However, if the facility is reconstructed as proposed, it will serve our community for decades to come and be a regional model of a modern wastewater treatment facility.
AGE-RELATED NEEDS
The current facility is operating through extraordinary sta e ort, but it is not sustainable. Several critical components are at or beyond the end of their service lives, and new parts are no longer available. Repairs often can’t restore full functionality, reducing their e ectiveness and increasing operating costs and the risk of failure.
(1) wear on interior of secondary clarifier, (2) leaking ceiling in pump building, (3) sludge storage blowers installed in 1987, (4) hole above ladder in sludge storage tank
WHY NOW?
Several factors make immediate action both financially and operationally important.
• A CWSRF low-interest (2%) loan is currently committed to the project as it is designed. If the project doesn’t move forward soon, these CWSRF funds will be reallocated to other projects across the State.
• An approved and permitted design is complete, and a qualified contractor is holding its current bid to complete the work.
• Attempts to redesign the project to fit within the original bond amount would not meet the reconstruction needs of the current facility. Components removed now would still be needed in the future, and at a higher cost.
WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE 2023
The original bond approved by voters was based on estimates contained in the 2023 Preliminary Engineering Report. Since that time, a variety of changes occurred that have increased the cost of the project, including:
• Inflation: rapid construction cost escalation
• Tari s: increase in material costs
• Buy America Build America (BABA) Act: increase in equipment costs
• Fuel costs: increase in construction operation costs
• Design changes: build in climate resiliency and address unanticipated conditions at the site
PAYING FOR THE PROJECT
EPA Grant: South Burlington was awarded a $700,000 EPA grant in 2025 toward energy eciency improvements at the facility.
Wastewater Fees: The rest will be paid by South Burlington wastewater rate payers. South Burlington has long had one of the lowest wastewater utility rates in Vermont. While fees will go up, South Burlington’s rates will still compare well to other municipalities.
$1,400
$1,200
$1,000
$800
MORE INFORMATION
Learn more at www.southburlingtonvt.gov/ BartlettBayProject or attend the public informational hearing on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 6 pm at South Burlington City Hall, 180 Market Street and via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/94211229957, Phone: 929 205 6099, Webinar ID: 942 1122 9957
The Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility in April of 2026
The Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility removes pathogens and nutrients and reduces the incoming phosphorus levels by more than 99% before sending the treated water to the lake