The Other Paper - 1-4-24

Stannard on 2023

Sports recap

Columnist reviews the year that was

Our sports correspondent takes a look back

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the JANUARY 4, 2024

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VOLUME 48, NO. 1

District offers leaner spending increase LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The South Burlington School District presented a leaner $69.7 million budget at its December meeting.

The new proposal sees an 11.6 percent increase in spending due to staffing increases, a new elementary literacy program and increased support for multilingual and special education students.

Although school officials originally drafted a $71 million

budget, the district has since shaved off nearly $2 million to remain comfortably below the 10 percent per pupil spending cap provision outlined under Act 127.

School officials say this year’s budget prioritizes student needs and proposes an increase of 4.8 full-time equivalent positions — among them are paraeducators, a student engagement coordinator, special educators, a literary See SCHOOL on page 16

County lawmakers prep for 2024 session COREY MCDONALD AND LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITERS

From investing millions into the state’s early child care sector to introducing landmark legislation around housing and development, the Vermont Legislature had a busy session in 2023 as many new faces entered the Statehouse amid a record turnover in both chambers.

With this year’s session ramping up, Chittenden County legislators are wasting no time in setting priorities.

“We have a workforce shortage because we have a housing shortage and people are turning down jobs because they cannot find a place to live. We have high property taxes because we are increasingly putting the educational finance burden on a shrinking number of habitable homes. Our climate emissions are coming from transportation as people live further

away from where they work,” Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat, said. “As chair of the economic development and housing committee, we will be focusing on housing, workforce and climate infrastructure.”

But balancing “a much more difficult budget” will also be on legislators’ minds, said Sen. Thomas Chittenden, who is also a Democrat. Flood recovery assistance will be front and center as legislators amend the state budget and adapt to the loss of federal funds.

“I don’t want to pay more, I don’t want you to pay more, and although there are a zillion things we all wish we could accomplish, I think it’s important to be realistic about what we can afford and what smart investments we can make now in the people, infrastructure, See 2024 SESSION on page 2

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL / FILE PHOTO

Year in review A b o v e : F i v e - y e a r- o l d Kingsley Fitzgerald looks under the voting booths while her mother Caitlin Rutherford marks her ballot in South Burlington on Town Meeting Day. Right: Oct. 25 marked a historic day for the South Burlington School District: It was the first day that fifth graders at Rick Marcotte Central School utilized the new zero energy modular classrooms.

See more photos, pages 8-9.

Page 2 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

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2024 SESSION

continued from page 1 establish a baby bond program in Vermont by investing $3,200 for every Vermont child born on Medicaid. The program would “address intergenerational poverty, Housing and homelessness support rural economic developShelburne Rep. Jessica Brum- ment, and retain young people in sted, D-Chittenden 5-2, the vice Vermont,” Krasnow said.

On the other side of the coin chair of the House Committee on Human Services, said she believes is addressing the state’s housing the first order of business will be to crisis with further statewide development of affordable and “missing address the homeless population.

Vermont remains behind only middle” housing.

While the state passed the California with the second highest per capita rate of homeless- HOME Act last year, which ness in the country. According to effectively banned single-family zoning, legislaan analysis of tors like Krasthe 2023 point“Unlike some who now, Evans and in-time count Hinesburg Rep. released by the would call for Phil Pouech, U.S. Department D-Chittenden-4, austerity, I think the of Housing and among others, Urban Developonly appropriate and say access to ment in mid-Dehousing remains cember, Vermont responsible way to at the forefront. experienced the “This can largest percentage deal with this issue take the shape increase in expeof Act 250 riences of family is to strengthen changes, incenhomelessness tives for develsince the pandemsupport for our most opers to build ic began, increasmore affordable ing by 213 percent vulnerable.” options, and since 2020. working with “We need to — Rep. Brian Minier municipalities understand better to help strengththose struggling due to economic difficulties versus en their town plans or follow the those struggling from mental paths they’ve already chosen with illnesses and substance abuse currently existing town plans,” disorders and how we can address Evans said.

Other committees are focusing these challenging issues,” Brumsted said. “We plan to begin with on the modernization of land use a close look at shelters that prior- regulations, adjusting tax policy to itize the provision of wrap-around support housing revitalization and creating more incentives for small supports.”

Democratic Chittenden County and mid-size investors and builders Sen. Ginny Lyons said that one to create more housing opportunigoal is to “determine if appropri- ties in communities throughout the ate services are available for those state.

“All summer I’ve been joining with chronic illness, mental health issues, disabilities or substance use colleagues in advocating for Act disorders as people are placed in 250’s modernization. I believe that supportive housing,” noting that futurizing Act 250 is necessary to legislation surrounding the state’s help us address pressing problems,” general assistance motel voucher said Shelburne Rep. Kate Lalley, program hasn’t been updated in D-Chittenden-6. “These include a many years and will be considered shortage of income-diverse housing, especially in communities this year.

“This is an amazing program that offer active transportation that helps thousands of Vermonters and proximity to jobs and daily every year,” said South Burling- needs, and to have whole systems ton Rep. Noah Hyman, D-Chit- approaches for managing climate tenden-8, adding that although change stressors like the recent the program has been running for flooding.”

Affordability in Vermont was many years, the Legislature has learned that housing the state’s already a problem before it was most vulnerable must be done exacerbated first by the pandemic, better, smarter and in a more fiscal- then by this year’s flooding, and ly responsible way. “We must strive now by the drying up of federal to do better for all Vermonters, and dollars, said South Burlington Rep. we will be receiving studies back Brian Minier, D-Chittenden-11.

“While extra resources are when we start the next year of the going away, the problems they are biennium.”

South Burlington Rep. Emilie meant to address are not,” he said.

Krasnow (D-Chittenden-9) and “Unlike some who would call for Hinsdale, alongside Vermont austerity, I think the only approTreasurer Mike Pieciak, recently priate and responsible way to deal announced legislation that would with this issue is to strengthen and government of Vermont that will help us save money later on,” Charlotte Rep. Chea Waters Evans, D-Chittenden-5, said.

support for our most vulnerable.”

Minier said he hopes the state will succeed in passing a robust paid family and medical leave plan, and he plans on advocating for increases to the base budgets for food assistance programs like SNAP and Meals on Wheels.

Meanwhile, Krasnow says she will be introducing a bill tasking the housing division of the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop metrics for measuring progress against the statewide needs assessment required under the HOME Act. Chittenden said that the Legislature needs to spend more time looking at the how the state assesses non-homestead properties and consumption-based sources.

“Vacation homes sitting empty in Vermont 10 months out of the year has an opportunity cost in missed economic activity, services, construction and of housing not being used — during a housing crisis,” he said. “Other consumption taxes like what Airbnbs pay are worth considering more to find equitable sources to fund education and to lighten the property tax bills Vermont residents are struggling to pay.”

Mental health, public safety In addition to dealing with housing, Lyons said that mental health and substance use supports will again be a main topic on the agenda.

“Our work will focus on improving local access to recovery services,” she said. “Improving linkage between substance use disorder and or mental health services with public safety, EMT, schools, corrections and the judicial branch is an ongoing effort in committee. This includes the distribution of opioid settlement funds for long-term investments in prevention, treatment and recovery.”

Being on the House Committee on Education, Minier says he sees these issues through the lens of children and the effects of the “mental health crisis” on schools with resources that are continually being stretched thin.

“The medium-term goal has to be properly staffing our designated community-based health agencies,” he said. “Our already overburdened schools have increasingly been put in the position of providing services for which they were never designed. However, our current statewide dearth of health care providers means that in the short-term addressing these needs may require continued school-level supports such as increased numbers See 2024 SESSION on page 13

The Other Paper • January 4, 2024 • Page 3

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Green Mountain Transit will restart charging passengers on March 6 on its Chittenden County commuter and LINK Express routes.

GMT will use a new fare system that will increase non-cash payment options, increase speed of payment onboarding, and limit the daily and monthly costs to individual riders through a capping system.

The proposed new fare structure will create a seamless travel experience with standardized fares across both local and commuter services, said general manager Clayton Clark.

“Our new fare system is pretty much ready to go, but the delayed components are key to making service affordable for cash-

based riders,” said Clark to explain why fares won’t start in January as originally planned.

Rides on all Chittenden County routes, including commuter routes, will go to $2 on March 6. GMT will no longer offer free transfers but will cap the daily cost of transit rides to $4 or $2 for discount fare riders.

Discount fares are offered to riders aged 6-17, over 60, or with a disability.

In addition to capping the daily cost of fares, GMT will also offer a monthly fare cap. If a rider reaches $50 ($25 for discount fare riders), the remaining rides in a 31-day will be free.

For questions or comments, contact Jamie Smith, director of planning and marketing, at jamie@ridegmt.com.

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Page 4 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

Food shelves continue to see increased need for services SAM JEFFERSON COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Inside Feeding Chittenden, a food shelf located in the Old North End of Burlington, colorful murals dot the walls. Baguettes and fresh veggies fill the shelves of the space, which looks like a small grocery store.

Edi Abeneto, Feeding Chittenden’s supervisor, greets up to four families at a time and welcomes them into the food shelf. He started at Feeding Chittenden as an interpreter in 2004. He speaks five languages, which has made him very valuable to have at the front desk.

And recently, these services have become even more essential.

Abeneto says Feeding Chittenden is seeing an uptick in the number of visitors using their services.

“We have a number that’s increased now,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of people coming here.”

One of their customers, Nicholas Peters, is grateful for the service.

Peters says he’s been unhoused in Burlington for the past two years.

“I’d starve if it wasn’t for them, so I mean it’s a great resource to have in the community,” he said.

But it isn’t just people experiencing homelessness who have been using the food shelf’s services.

Marie Baptiste is a nursing student and works full-time. She said the price for certain foods has gotten so high, it’s driven her to come here for things like bread and fresh produce.

“When you’re in need, you don’t want people to put you down, so this is one thing they don’t do here. Which is really nice,” Baptiste said.

A new federal report released last month finds hunger in the U.S. rose sharply last year. Many of Vermont’s charitable food providers have said 2023 hasn’t been any better.

The Upper Valley Haven, a food pantry located in Hartford, is one of the many Vermont pantries that’s seen a similar increase in demand.

“We can’t say exactly what is happening behind the scenes of what is leading to this increase, but it is dramatic, and it is present,” said Michael Redmond, the Haven’s executive director.

Morgan Bertholdt, the Haven’s registration coordinator, said many clients have cited the same reason for seeking extra help: a tighter budget.

“A lot of people have mentioned the cuts with food stamps. Some families are only getting $25 to $30 per month, and that’s barely a bag of groceries nowadays,” Bertholdt said.

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In March, a pandemic-era boost in extra government funding for food stamps, also known as 3SquaresVermont, ended.

The financial impact on Vermont families has been huge, according to John Sayles, the CEO of the Vermont Food Bank.

“When that ended across the country, the average loss for a Vermont family was $500 a month, and this was at the same time that food inflation was taking off,” Sayles said.

Cuts to food stamps isn’t the sole reason for increased food insecurity. Meredith Niles, an associate professor and food security expert at the University of Vermont, said it’s a combination of things.

“You sort of have this perfect storm of a lot of issues where a lot of additional relief programs are coming to an end, and food inflation has increased significantly in 2022, and wages have not neces-

COURTESY PHOTO

Edi Abeneto is the grocery distribution coordinator for Feeding Chittenden, and has been working there for over a decade.

sarily kept pace,” Niles said.

This story is a collaboration between Vermont Public and the Community News Service. The Community News Service is a

student-powered partnership between the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program and community newspapers across Vermont.

South Burlington Police Blotter: Dec. 18-31 Total incidents: 434 Agency / public assists: 40 Directed patrol: 19 Traffic stop: 26 Accident: property damage: 24 Alarm: 22 Foot patrol: 27 Suspicious event: 21 Retail theft: 20 Motor vehicle complaint: 9 Welfare check: 24 911 hang-up: 5 Trespass: 17 Domestic: 10 Disturbance: 26 Found/lost property: 6 Juvenile problem: 8 Stolen vehicle: 8 Accident: insurance purposes: 8 Unlawful mischief: 9 Fraud: 7 Larceny from a vehicle: 14 Mental health: 10 Arrests: Oct. 12 at 11:01 a.m., an 18-yearold juvenile was arrested for uttering a forged instrument and false pretenses on Grandview Drive.

Nov. 19 at 2:41 p.m., Patricia F. Bolger, 72, of Shoreham, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 17 at 2:09 p.m., Shana M. Casava, 54, no address provided, was arrested for felony retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 18 at 12:16 p.m., Marissa M. Wheeler, 32, of Burlington, was arrested for felony retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 18 at 6:17 p.m., Leanne Eve Dubois, 44, of South Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 20 at 7:46 a.m., an 18-yearold juvenile was arrested for

giving false information to a police officer and uttering a false instrument.

Dec. 20 at 3:04 p.m., Sarah J. Ellwood, 29, no addressed provided, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 20 at 10:48 p.m., Mariah K. Lavallee, 22, of Colchester, was arrested for aggravated assault on Farrell Street.

Dec. 20 at 10:48 p.m., Jill M. Blouin, 35, of Colchester, was arrested for simple assault on Farrell Street.

Dec. 21 at 4:18 p.m., Lacey L. Partlow, 31, of Swanton, was arrested on an in-state warrant and unlawful trespass on Dorset Street.

Dec. 22 at 6:37 a.m., John E. Spear, 44, of Essex Town, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

Dec. 23 at 2:18 a.m., Cole A. Venner, 25, of South Burlington, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, at Williston Road and White Street.

Dec 23 at 3:04 p.m., Justin E. Sweeney, 43, of Ferrisburgh, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 23 at 7:34 p.m., Amber-Lee M. Clark, 28, of St. Albans City, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

Dec. 25 at 3:28 p.m., Olivia A. Hines, 30, of South Burlington, was arrested for felony assault on a police officer, firefighter, EMS or health care worker and unlawful trespass on Williston Road.

Dec. 27 at 3 p.m., Penny L. Powers, 39, of Milton, was arrested for felony possession

of stolen property, possession of a firearm when prohibited from possessing a firearm, and operation without the owner’s consent on Tilley Drive.

Dec. 27 at 5:20 p.m., Dwight D. Bundy, 40, no address provided, was arrested for first-degree aggravated assault at Swift and Farrell streets.

Dec. 28 at 2:59 a.m., Callie-Lyn Dalley, 22, of Arvada, Colo., was arrested on an in-state warrant on Williston Road.

Dec. 28 at 9:48 p.m., Asha D. Beaulieu, 35, of South Burlington, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license and driving with ignition interlock restricted license on Dorset Street.

Dec. 29 at 9:19 a.m., Cody P. Blackmer, 33, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 29 at 4:37 p.m., Lacey Jean Norton, 28, of Burlington, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 29 at 4:37 p.m., Nicolelus J. Sanborn, 29, of Burlington, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

Dec. 30 at 4:23 p.m., Lucas J. Hauman, 34, of South Burlington, was arrested for reckless endangerment on Barrett Street.

Dec. 31 at 9:58 p.m., Derek G. Stone, 29, of Georgia, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road.

Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

The Other Paper • January 4, 2024 • Page 5

OPINION Reps set the record straight on independent schools Guest Perspective A recent commentary by Vermont House representatives Rebecca Holcombe of Norwich, Erin Brady of Williston and Monique Priestley of Bradford, while making a few fair points about the rising cost of education, unfortunately ended with inflammatory rhetoric about independent schools and the Vermont style of school choice that has provided amazing opportunities for generations of students in rural Vermont. (“Gov. Scott needs to get serious on affordability,” Dec. 21, 2023) The thrust of this argument is that students from rural parts of Vermont are driving up taxes because they attend independent schools. These three representatives then assert that students are served by an “uncontrolled, poorly regulated” voucher system. We are compelled to set the record straight.

First, Vermont does not have an education voucher system. A voucher system, like we see in some other states, is one where a school district operates a public school, while also providing an option for families to withdraw their children and take a voucher to another school. This voucher has the effect of draining resources from the local public school.

But, under Vermont law, families have no entitlement to tuition payments from their school district if the district operates a public school. In rural parts of Vermont, some school districts do not operate public schools for some or all grades. In these rural areas without public schools, school districts can pay tuition for students to attend independent schools, such as Burr & Burton Academy, St. Johnsbury Academy and others.

Often, public schools located in operating towns are only peripherally available — if at all — to these rural areas. They are not a viable alternative. Independent schools fill the gaps.

Second, this is not an “uncontrolled, poorly regulated” system that is driving up taxes for the rest of Vermont. As a benchmark, Hanover High School, the out-of-state public school serving students from Norwich, has the highest tuition rate of any high school paid by Vermont taxpayers at $23,598. By comparison, the Taconic & Green School District, which serves parts of Bennington, Windham and Windsor counties and is served by independent high schools, pays a tuition rate of $19,987 to Vermont independent schools — a savings of $3,600 per student that benefits all Vermont taxpayers.

Unlike public schools, Vermont’s independent schools require approval and re-approval by the State Board of Education at least once every five years, and they must demonstrate compliance with

strict regulations laid out in statute and in rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. This includes compliance with anti-discrimination rules that protect vulnerable students and staff, including the LGBTQ community.

In addition to complying with stringent regulations, Vermont’s independent schools are held accountable to the highest standards of all — the need for the support of families and local school districts. Independent schools survive only when they deliver high-quality education, for the simple fact that families can exercise a choice of where to send their children.

If the availability and quality of independent school options is not meeting the needs of the community, the local voters always have the power to end tuition payments by building and maintaining their own public school.

Of course, the construction of several new public schools across rural parts of Vermont, for which the authors appear to advocate, would not be without considerable expense to Vermont taxpayers. Where would that money come from?

This takes us to a powerful truth often ignored by those attacking the extraordinary opportunities independent schools provide for rural students. Independent schools are not eligible for state construction aid and, therefore, fund their capital construction and improvement programs on their own, resulting in huge savings to Vermont taxpayers. These avoided costs result in increased state bonding capacity available to meet the overwhelming capital improvement needs currently faced by so many public schools. It cannot possibly make sense to require the construction of new schools in areas that are already so well served by the current system.

Finally, contrary to erroneous claims made by our colleagues, Vermont’s four historic academies were never public schools. These academies were incorporated as non-public, nonprofit entities and have operated as such since their founding in the 19th century. In fact, some of them pre-date the arrival of public education.

While several other historic academies voluntarily converted from non-public, nonprofit entities to public schools — Leland & Gray Seminary, for example — the remaining four historic academies made the decision to forego this transition and have remained independent throughout their history.

While the authors advocate for a ubiquitous, one size fits all system, we suspect most people recognize that just because something is different doesn’t make it something we need to kill. Over the course of the last 200 years, rural parts of See INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS on page 12

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Page 6 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

A look back: Year marked by gun violence, Trump indictments Guest Perspective Bob Stannard For some, this past year has flown right by. For others it felt like it would never end. Let’s look at some of the events that helped shape the year and may have consequences for the future.

January: We kicked off the year in the dumps with the former disgraced president announcing in November 2022 that he’d be running for president again. Most people could see that he had to run again as it’s his only chance to stay out of prison. If you’re thinking of running away to Canada, fuhgeddaboudit. Canada just voted for a two-year ban on foreigners buying property.

February: America saw five gun shootings. Courts shot down a New Jersey law that would allow victims to sue the gun industry. The U.S. military shoots down a Chinese spy balloon and more classified documents were found at former vice president Mike Pence’s house.

March: NATO increases its membership as Finland joins. The indicted former president would have America pull out of this important global alliance. Romania becomes the first country to have an artificial intelligence) advisor. Prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife and son.

About 171 trillion pieces of plastic now litter the world’s oceans, an increase from 16 trillion in 2005. Oil company Saudi Aramco posts earnings of $161 billion for 2022, the highest ever recorded annual profit by a publicly listed company. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the world has less than a decade to stop catastrophic warming and must reduce greenhouse gasses by half by 2030.

April: U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk suspends the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, leading to a U.S. government legal appeal to stop nationwide ban.

Fox News settles its lawsuit with Domin-

ion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, moments before trial, with Fox admitting it had defamed Dominion during 2020 election by broadcasting conspiracy theories.

A Guinness world record for the largest afro is set at 5 feet, five inches for the third time by Aevin Dugas of Reserve, La. May: Geoffrey Hinton, “The Godfather of AI,” resigns from Google to speak out about the dangers of artificial intelligence.

The 40-year-old weight loss company Jenny Craig announces it will close due to the weight of crushing debt. The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 over as a global health emergency, but says the virus remains a significant threat, with seven million known deaths. The real total is likely 20 million.

The Canadian province of Alberta declares a state of emergency over unprecedented wildfires, more than 100, that have forced the evacuation of 25,000 people.

Vermonters fear tourists might not see fall foliage.

June: Trump is found guilty of sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll and fined $5 million. George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” becomes first Beatles song to register a billion streams on Spotify. Mike Pence and Chris Christie announce they’re running for president. New York’s air quality sinks to the lowest in the world thanks to Canadian fires. Trump pleads not guilty to stealing top secret documents found in his house. Claims Mr. Nobody brought them to Mar-a-Lago.

July: Israel launches its biggest military operation against militants in the Jenin refugee camp, West Bank, in 20 years, killing eight people. The hottest global temperature ever is recorded as the average global temperature tops 17.18 degrees Celsius. NASA beams Ringo Starr’s voice wishing “Peace and Love” across the universe via the Deep Space Network in honor of his 83rd birthday. Elton John completes his final tour.

A finger was removed from the dike of the Dutch government. It collapsed.

“Barbie.” SAG-AFTRA strike. The show will not go on.

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The 2023 wildfire season in British Columbia is now most destructive on record. City of Phoenix, Ariz., breaks five-decade heat record of 19 consecutive days of temperature at or above 110°F. August: Trump is indicted by special prosecutor Jack Smith for election conspiracy. Trump and 18 others are indicted by Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis in Georgia. July is declared the warmest month in 172 years. A 5,300-year-old mummified Anatolian farmer is discovered.

Evangelicals who believe the Earth is only 6,000 years old scramble to determine how long he’d been farming. Trump is arrested and has his mugshot taken in Georgia.

September: Aerosmith begins a final tour. Former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio is sentenced to 22 years in prison — the longest so far — for seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The heaviest rainfall in 140 years recorded in Hong Kong causes intense flooding, while the U.S. sets a record for the number of 23 weather disasters in one year costing more than $1 billion, in less than nine months. Aerosmith postpones the tour after Steven Tyler blows out his voice.

October: The Colombian Army apologizes for the murder of 6,402 civilians and falsely passing them off as left-wing guerrillas to boost its kill rate 15 years after an armed conflict with Farc. Yeah, gotta keep those kill rate numbers up.

New research confirms fossil footprints found at White Sands National Park in New Mexico are 23,000-21,000 years old, probably the oldest evidence of humans in the Americas. This throws a monkey wrench into the Earth only being 6,000 years old. Hamas attacks Israel. RFK Jr. launches an independent bid for president.

Taylor Swift begins her Eras Tour. Not to be outdone, Madonna goes on tour. Kevin McCarthy is ousted as U.S. House Speaker, breaking the record for the shortest term ever.

November: One-hundred-twenty fires are confirmed to still be burning across Australia. Speaking of monkey wrenches, two astronauts lose a tool bag during a

spacewalk 200 miles above earth which officials say will disintegrate safely as it falls to Earth ... we hope.

The Beatles release John Lennon’s “Now and Then,” the band’s first No. 1 single in 54 years. Ohio votes to protect abortion rights and legalizes pot. SAG-AFTRA ends its 118-day strike.

Taylor Swift is Spotify’s most-streamed global artist of the year with 26.1 billion streams. Russia’s Supreme Court outlaws LGBTQ movement, calling it an extremist organization.

December: As of the second week of December there will have been 627 mass shootings in America. That’s down 18 from last year, but don’t worry, we still have a few weeks left. The House GOP gives George Santos the boot for lying, but still supports Trump, a known pathological liar.

We kiss KISS goodbye as their tour ends.

Taylor Swift is named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.”

A big deal: Shohei Ohtani signs a North American pro-sports record 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Homelessness in the U.S. increased by 12 percent, now totals 650,000 people.

Rudy Giuliani is ordered to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers in civil defamation suit. Channeling his inner Hitler, Trump says immigrants coming to the U.S. are “poisoning the blood of our country.” Homophobic, climate denying, religious zealot Speaker Mike Johnson adjourns the U.S. House for the year after accomplishing absolutely nothing.

And so ends another year here on Planet Earth. A note to my faithful readers: Thanks to all who have offered positive comments on my 24 columns this year.

To those who offered not so positive comments, keep reading. You may find one you like. Here’s hoping for a very Happy New Year to all.

Bob Stannard has been a Vermont political commentator for over two decades.

He is an author, musician and former state legislator and lobbyist.

The Other Paper • January 4, 2024 • Page 7

Community Notes Students invited to Vermont Youth Invention Fair All K-8 students in Vermont are invited to participate in the Vermont Invention Fair on Saturday, Feb. 10, in Shelburne. To participate, students must come up with an invention that addresses a problem or need in society.

Students design, build and test their inventions and then showcase them at the fair. Top inventors in each age group will have the opportunity to compete in the U.S. National Invention Fair with inventors from all over the world.

The Vermont Invention Fair is offered as a partnership between the Young Inventors’ Program and Vermont Day School in Shelburne.

To register for the fair or for additional information, visit vtdayschool.org. The registration deadline is Jan. 15.

Secretary of State talks on elections, democracy The League of Women Voters of Vermont presents the third in its 2023-24 lecture series on elections and democracy.

The third program, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier, will feature Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and Martha Diess, global citizenship specialist with the Vermont Agency of Education, will discuss innovations in inspiring youth in democracy, state policy on civics education in schools, and the secretary’s outreach program to encourage student engagement.

More at lwvofvt.org.

Audition now for Shelburne Players’ ‘Kodachrome’ The Shelburne Players hold auditions for its spring 2024 production, “Kodachrome,” on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 8-9, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Shelburne Historic Town Hall, accessed from Pierson Library, 5376 Shelburne Road.

Callbacks, if needed, will be Thursday, Jan. 11, from 6-8:30 p.m.

Welcome to Colchester, a small town where everybody knows each other, and the pace of life allows the pursuit of love to take up as much space as it needs. Our

tour guide is Suzanne, the town photographer, who lets us peek into her neighbors’ lives to catch glimpses of romance in all its stages of development. ‘Kodachrome’ is a play about love, nostalgia, the seasons and how we learn to say goodbye.”

The spring production will be April 5-13.

For information, audition materials go to shelburneplayers.com.

Holiday Sparkle

Ambassador, mayor headline MLK remembrance events Former U.S. ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook and Talladega, Ala., mayor Ashton Hall will be the speakers at the 2024 Burlington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance event at City Hall, Contois Auditorium, on Sunday, Jan. 14, 3 p.m., sponsored by the Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center.

Twenty-two-year-old Hall said he hopes to be a voice and advocate for community members. Hall served as vice chair for the city’s planning commission and has been active in other public office positions. As the newly elected mayor of Talladega, he said he wants to create a more community-oriented atmosphere with activities for youth.

Cook, 65, is a U.S. presidential advisor, pastor, theologian, author, activist and academic who served as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom from April 2011 to October 2013.

She served as a policy advisor to President Bill Clinton and later to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros and has been a dean and professor of communications at Harvard University, a professor of theology at New York Theological Seminary, a pastor at several churches, television producer, and the author of nearly a dozen books.

She was the first female senior pastor in the 200-year history of the Mariners Temple Baptist Church in New York City and a close friend of Coretta Scott King.

The 2024 MLK recognition will be presented to the Howard Center, Rev. Dr. Arnold Thomas, Rep. Kevin “Coach” Christie and City Market. Tickets for the free public event are available at City Market, ECHO, and Fletcher Free Library.

The events will end with a civil rights panel on Monday, Jan. 15, 3 p.m., at ECHO.

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Page 8 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

The Other Paper • January 4, 2024 • Page 9

FILE PHOTOS

South Burlington

2023 Year in Review Top Left: Just 16 years old, recently promoted Cadet Capt. Miranda Gallagher, a South Burlington High School student, is hoping for a career in aviation. She is helping restore this 1940s Soviet-era Antonov II biplane.

Top Right: Louise Guyette enjoys a 104th birthday celebration this year.

Above: Lynn Vera and Chris Shaw pose with city clerk Donna Kinville as the polls close on town meeting day. Kinville is retiring after more than 20 years serving as South Burlington’s city clerk.

Right: South Burlington Fire Department personnel visit Rick Marcotte, Orchard and

Chamberlin schools to talk to kids about fire safety.

Middle Left: A student’s cap at South Burlington High School graduation.

Below Right: Champ and South Burlington Energy Committee member Keith Epstein in front of one of the city’s electric school buses at the committee’s energy fair in front of city hall.

Bottom Left: Heavy rain closed Van Sicklen Road at Muddy Brook, causing motorists to detour. South Burlington dodged most of the serious flooding that hit Vermont again in early December.

OPPOSITE PAGE Top Left: The South Burlington 10-12 Little League All-Stars huddle after learning officials called their semifinal game due to bad weather and ending their postseason run.

Bottom Right: Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington emphasized the importance of summer reading by devoting a full day of school to activities related to the nonfiction book “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand, which students read over the summer. Here they applied messages from the book to a friendly game of tug-of-war between classes.

Top Right: Mike Dean of South Burlington captured this scene of a sailboat framed by a Lake Champlain sunset.

Page 10 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

SPORTS

Year in Review LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

As the calendar turns to 2024 and South Burlington athletes turn their attention to another year of competition on the hardwood, ice rink and more, the Wolves can look back on some highlights from 2023.

South Burlington competed in some of the most exciting games of the year and raised two new state championship banners to the rafters. Here are some of the most memorable moments.

South Burlington lacrosse breaks out of title drought The boys’ lacrosse team had been looking for a breakthrough in the Division I finals for 11 years.

Since 2012, the last time the Wolves won a title, South Burlington advanced to the D-I title game three times and lost three times.

In 2023, they finally broke through in convincing fashion. The Wolves beat Middlebury 14-6 to win the state title.

It was a senior-heavy group that helped South Burlington capture the win after two semifinals losses in the previous four seasons, which helped fuel the team’s desire to capture the trophy.

In the championship game, the Wolves controlled play from the first minute to grab the program’s fourth state title.

Wolves fall in tight matches in volleyball, boys’ soccer After the South Burlington field hockey team needed overtime dramatics to capture its state title, all attention turned to two more Wolves teams ready to compete.

The D-I boys’ soccer and volleyball matchups were full of equal amounts of drama — maybe even more — but the result was not the same.

The boys’ volleyball team took on Burlington at Saint Michael’s College in its first-ever D-I final.

The Wolves took the defending champs to a decisive fifth-set tiebreaker but faltered at the finish line and fell to the top-seeded Seahorses.

The boys’ soccer team took on No. 1 Champlain Valley at UVM’s Virtue Field to win the program’s second state title in a row.

The two teams battled to a 2-2 tie after regulation, followed by 30 scoreless minutes of overtime, to send the game to penalty kicks.

The dramatics ramped up in the shootout as the South Burlington goalkeeper appeared to make a save on a shot

FILE PHOTOS

Above: The South Burlington Boys hockey team celebrates its claim on the CSB Cup, a trophy awarded during an annual contest between the Wolves and neighboring rivals, the CVU Redhawks.

Right: The 2022-23 South Burlington girls’ snowboarding team.

Below Right: South Burlington’s Rachel Kelley and Rice’s Becky Penney battle for the ball during a win over the Green Knights in September at Rice Memorial High School.

that just trickled over the line and the Wolves fell, 5-4, to the Redhawks.

It was an ultimate drama-filled ending to a drama-laden weekend for the Wolves.

Field hockey wins it in overtime In 2023, the South Burlington field hockey team looked to rebound from an overtime loss in the 2022 championship game by winning the state title.

The last place they wanted to end up was in extra time — again — against Rice in the finals.

But they did and this year the result was very different. South Burlington scored on a breakaway in the extra session to win the program’s 11th state title and second in three years.

It was a comeback win of sorts for the Wolves, who scored in the second half to tie the game 1-1 and force it into overtime.

There Sawyer Bailey took over for South Burlington, taking a pass on the wing and streaking down the field to score on a breakaway and give the Wolves the title.

The Other Paper • January 4, 2024 • Page 11

FILE PHOTOS

Above: The South Burlington girls’ field hockey team hoist the trophy into the air after winning the Division I crown against Rice.

Right: Emily Borrazzo, Gatorade Vermont Softball Player of the Year two years running, after she notched 500 strikeouts as a player for the South Burlington softball team.

Below: Varsity cheerleaders took first place in the large varsity division and the NVAC Metro Division championship.

Below Right: Lee Armani represents South Burlington in a non-binary category and wins the 55-meter sprint during the state trackand-field championships at University of Vermont in February.

Page 12 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

FILE PHOTOS

Top: South Burlington’s Jack Lafayette pushes the ball up the floor as Montpelier’s Clayton Foster hurries to defend during a Wolves’ win over the Solons in December.

Middle: The Vermont team took the Eastern High School Nordic championship in March at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, beating teams from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and New York.

Bottom: South Burlington’s Ivy Jiang gets a dig during the Wolves’ 5-set win over the Mount Mansfield Cougars in September.

Wolves continue early season winning ways LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ hockey South Burlington 6, Rice 2: Sabrina Brunet had a hat trick to pace South Burlington to a win over Rice on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Burnet added an assist for a four-point game, while Bella Gordon, Jordan Larose and Rosa DiGiulian each had a goal the Wolves.

Taylor Tobrocke stopped 28 shots in goal.

The Wolves fell to BFA-St. Albans on Saturday, Dec. 23, 4-2.

Hadia Ahmed and Ava Hershberg each scored, while Tobrocke made 25 saves.

Boys’ ice hockey South Burlington 5, Rice 2: South Burlington scored three short-handed goals to pull away from Rice for a win on Saturday.

Lucas Van Mullen led the offense with two goals, while Christian Butler, Miles Van Mullen and Jules Butler each tallied once.

James Bradley had 29 saves.

Gymnastics The South Burlington gymnastics team beat Burlington on Thursday, Dec. 28, with Kelsey Adams leading the way for the Wolves.

Adams was first in the vault, second in the bars and the beam and tied for third in floor exercise.

Adams also came in second in the

all-around competition.

It was the second win a row for the Wolves, who beat Middlebury, 112.20 to 47.

Abby Frazier came in first in vault. Ella Maynard was first on the beam, came in second on the bars and floor, and placed third in the vault. With the top finishes, Maynard earned first place in the all-around.

Alpine skiing The South Burlington alpine ski team opened its season with a race at Mad River Glen on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

For the girls, Leila MaciasAunave came in fifth and Katie McNeill finished in seventh place.

For the boys, Jay Eagle came in third place, while Dylan Karpinski was sixth. Jackson Rothman finished in 11th and Russell Rothman was 12th.

Boys’ basketball Rice 59, South Burlington 58: Rice netted a free throw with no time remaining to beat South Burlington on Wednesday in boys’ basketball.

Deng Aguek had 13 points for the Wolves, including a three-pointer that put South Burlington ahead 58-55 with under a minute left in regulation. But the Green Knights tied the game, and Grant Cieplicki hit the game-winner from the free throw line.

Tyler Bergmans led the Wolves with 18 points, Andre Bouffard chipped in 12 and Paul Comba added 10 points.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS continued from page 5

Vermont have developed a rich mosaic of options for their children, often public in some grades and independent in others. That mosaic provides extraordinary opportunities for our children at the same time we have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of construction dollars. The system deserves to be celebrated, not demonized.

This commentary is from the following representatives in the Vermont House: Rep. Seth Bongartz (D-Manchester), Rep. Scott Beck (R-St. Johnsbury), Rep. Michelle Bos-Lun (D-Westminster), Rep. Bobby Felice-Rubio (D-Barnet), Rep. Robin Chestnut-Tangerman (D-Middletown Springs), and Rep. Mike Rice (D-Dorset).

The Other Paper • January 4, 2024 • Page 13

2024 SESSION

continued from page 2 of school-based counselors, inter- walking and biking facilities. Most in Vermont, Brumsted said, noting ventionists and paraeducators.” communities depend on state and that nationally, 75 percent of plasOther legislators have said the federal grants for planning and tic water bottles end up in landfills.

Not all are in favor of the veto state government needs to take on construction, and federal dollars a larger role in public safety. Hins- can have ‘strings’ that add expense and bottle bill expansion. Chittendale says the state has “increas- and delay projects,” she said. den says it represents a “regressive ing public safety needs, including “My bill could speed up the rate tax on peoples time, storage and a devastating number of opioid Vermont builds critically neces- transportation costs.”

“To the people who don’t care deaths and acute mental health sary infrastructure while making it about a couple of dollars in cans and health care access concerns,” happen more affordably.” on their Saturday and added she has mornings, they asked colleagues in “It is likely we will debate how we might hold will just put the judiciary and human cans in the blue bin services to join the the fossil fuel industry accountable for the cost to save them the economic developtime and hassle of ment committee for burden of climate change in the same way the storing, lugging, a joint hearing later driving and then this month “focused tobacco industry was required to pay for the manually stuffing on public safety in each can individuour downtowns and societal costs of smoking.” ally into the autobeyond.” mated machines.

Many down— Rep. Phil Pouech This will cost poor towns, like South people proportionBurlington’s, are experiencing upticks in retail theft.

Climate change will continue to ately more time, storage and transportation costs, which is why it is a Chittenden said he witnessed a be on the legislative agenda. “brazen unapologetic, forceful (if Pouech said the Legislature regressive tax,” he said. “A deposnot violent) shoplifting” at Kohl’s will follow up on the clean heat it/refund system expansion I would during the holiday week. standard and consider proposals support would be on batteries and “I asked a few of the employ- to update Vermont’s renewable circuit boards. We are not doing enough to keep these toxic materiees about this and they were energy standard. not surprised at all — this was “It is likely we will debate how als out of our landfills and our main commonplace behavior they were we might hold the fossil fuel indus- waste streams.”

Additionally, several environexperiencing regularly. This isn’t try accountable for the cost burden right,” Chittenden said. “There of climate change in the same way mental issues may be addressed needs to be serious consequences the tobacco industry was required this session — including actions for brazen forceful theft — or else to pay for the societal costs of this will continue to perpetuate and smoking,” he said. grow in a vicious cycle leading South Burlington Rep. Martin to tragic ends. Those who don’t LaLonde (D-Chittenden-12), respect the law are inspiring others chair of the House Committee on to not respect the law creating more Judiciary, is also proposing a bill of this violent theft.” to establish a climate superfund, Robert Charles Wilkens He said the Legislature should which will require large producRobert Charles Wilkens, 93, set stricter penalties for repeated ers of fossil fuels to pay for the died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 at his misdemeanor offenses. “We should damage caused by their greenhouse home in South Burlington, followmake knowingly receiving stolen gas emissions. ing a brief illness. property in exchange for narcotics Additionally, Brumsted and The only son of Charles and a felony,” he said. others explained that one of the Gertrude Wilkens, Bob leaves his first orders of business will be to children, Edward Wilkens and his Climate change, deal with Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of wife, Jill, James Wilkens and his environment H.158, an act relating to the bever- wife, Christine, and Mary Wilkens and her partner, Ann Sicurello; For the House Committee on age container redemption system.

H.158 would update Vermont’s grandchildren, Ira Wilkens and Transportation, Lalley said this year’s transportation bill will focus landmark environmental bottle his partner, Chauncey, Marissa on carbon reductions and climate bill by expanding the redeemable Strayer-Benton and her husband, resiliency. The bill proposes fund- container list to include PET and Jackson, Ben Wilkens and his ing for equipment for vehicular HDPE water bottles, hard cider and wife, Alex, Lindsay Zeitler and electrification, more electric vehi- kombucha containers, and glass her husband, Joe, Eva Pentenrieder and her husband, Brandon; and cle chargers in public places, and wine bottles.

“Selfishly, as our long-stand- nine great-grandchildren. funding to upgrade older chargers Bob was born Oct. 23, 1930, in to faster ones. The bill will propose ing Green-Up Coordinator, I look substantial increases in rebates for forward to overriding our gover- Jamaica, N.Y., and graduated from nor’s veto and passing an updated Bishop Loughlin Memorial High e-bikes, as well.

School in Brooklyn in 1948. Bob She also plans to introduce a our bottle bill,” Pouech said.

Vermont passed its first bottle served in the U.S. Air Force during bill to make active transportation safer for all ages and abilities and to bill in 1972 to clean up litter, Brum- the Korean Conflict and while he make it easier to build new pedes- sted said. Since then, it has become was stationed at Ethan Allen Air trian facilities within communities. a successful statewide recycling Force Base in Vermont, he met The bill includes updates to traffic program, which allows Vermont- and married Janice (Goyette), who regulation and would make federal ers to redeem certain beverage predeceased him in 2011.

His professional life includand state grants to expand walking containers such as beer bottles and ed a variety of positions GMAC, and biking projects more cost-ef- soda cans.

The current bottle bill covers Vermont Hardware, Simmonds fective for communities.

“To reduce emissions and only 46 percent of the bever- Precision, Hazelett Strip-Casting extend healthy lifestyles to more age containers sold in the state, and IBM. Bob served the parish of St. Vermonters, it’s important that and plastic water bottles are the communities like ours can expand second-most littered piece of trash John Vianney faithfully in a

to eliminate PFAS in all commercial products and address existing contamination, Pouech said.

In the other column There are many other topics and issues on legislators’ minds.

Evans, for example, says she plans on introducing two bills.

One would add to the state ethics laws and would create financial penalties for political candidates who miss campaign finance deadlines and add mandates about disclosing information about themselves or spouses that could present a conflict of interest.

The other would provide a standard code of ethics for all municipalities in the state and would give investigation and enforcement authority to the ethics commission.

“Accountability is my jam and I’m excited to be working on these important bills,” she said.

A bill is also on the works, Evans said, that would create a path to file complaints about animal welfare, would create a director of animal welfare position, and clarify standards for animal adoption and rescue organizations.

The Legislature is also expected to explore options for a universal paid medical leave program, Pouech said. And Hinsdale says

she plans on introducing legislation on age-appropriate coding and software, and prescription drug pricing.

Krasnow says she will introduce a bill relating to public health outreach programs regarding dementia risk. By 2025, the number of Vermonters living with dementia will increase “by an astounding 30.8 percent from 2020.”

Her bill would “ensure we utilize all existing opportunities to educate providers and the public about brain health, the importance of early diagnosis, ways to reduce the risk of dementia, and the value of the care partner as part of the health care team.”

Chittenden, meanwhile, said he will push for a bill that would stop collecting tax revenue on military benefits earned by those who serve in the military.

“Sadly, Vermont is one of only a few states that tax the military benefits these selfless individuals earn with their sacrifices through their years of military service,” he said. “Sixteen of the 30 Vermont state senators co-signed a bill (S.118) to address this. It is time for Vermont to stop collecting tax revenue on military benefits earned by those who serve our country in the U.S. military.”

Obituary

Robert Charles Wilkens

number of roles, which included leading and coordinating the lectors, as a member of Mercy Associates to support the Sisters of Mercy in Burlington, serving together with his wife Jan as pre-marriage mentors in the Couple to Couple program, introducing individuals to the Roman Catholic faith through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus.

All who knew Bob were aware of his love for — and pride in — his family, his life-long joy in the game of baseball, particularly demonstrated by his fierce loyalty to the Brooklyn Dodgers even after their move to Los Angeles.

Everyone who encountered Bob — family, friends and strangers — came to know his guiding purpose in life, to help others, often before he was asked.

Bob’s family wishes to thank the staff of the Residences at Quarry Hill for their kind and cheerful attention to Bob’s preferences and needs, and each of his BAYADA nurses for their compassionate care for Bob during his last weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Knights of Columbus, St. John Vianney Council 7525, or the Vermont Respite House.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in South Burlington with burial to follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery. For those unable to attend in person, the Mass will be livestreamed at stjohnvianneyvt.org/live0109.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service in Burlington. To send online condolences to the family please visit readyfuneral.com.

Page 14 • January 4, 2024 • The Other Paper

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specialist, a math interventionist, a multilingual coordinator, and health and wellness educators — totaling nearly $859,000.

“Within the last 10 years, our special education numbers have increased by more than 150 students, and over the past three years, that number has increased by over 40,” said Kristin Romick, the school district’s executive director of education support systems, adding that currently the district is not able to provide intervention to nearly 20 percent of elementary students.

She said the proposed staff changes will support a larger number of students and ensure that “we’re creating safe, supportive and inclusive environments that meet the diverse needs of all of our students.”

Eighty percent of the budget funds employee wages and benefits. Employee expenses in fiscal year 2025 budget are $4.86 million higher than last year’s budget, representing a 9.66 percent increase and contributing 7.78 percent of the recommended jump in spending.

“We’ve received a significant amount of support from the community for these positions as well as for the literacy program,” superintendent Violent Nichols said. “This is a massive change. It is research based and it does require community support. This budget supports multilingual and special education students and includes facilities upgrades related to our safety audits.”

Tax increase The state’s new education formula is based on the concept that different categories of students in different types of school districts cost different amounts to educate. The previous formula that sought to “equalize” students is considered outdated and not based on empirical data, Tim Jarvis, the district’s senior director of operations and finance, said.

Under Act 127 students are “valued” based on a variety of factors, giving more weight to students from lower-income families, English language learners, students from low-population districts and small schools in sparsely populated districts.

Beginning this budget season, the new pupil weights will be used to distribute state education dollars based on student needs. But Act 127 was also designed to give school districts that are disadvantaged by the new weighting system a five-year period to adjust spending levels without suffering egregious impacts to their homestead property tax rates during the period.

To soften the blow to taxpayers in communities like South Burlington that would otherwise see a double-digit increase in tax rates, the law implements a 5 percent tax increase cap for the next five years.

But that doesn’t mean districts can introduce exceptionally large budgets at no cost. If a district’s spending per pupil increases by 10 percent or more from the previous year, the law triggers a review by the secretary of education, which could result in a district losing the opportunity to cap tax increases at 5 percent, making a district responsible for the actual tax rate that is equal to its spending, Jarvis said.

Given the per pupil spending threshold and tax capping mechanics of Act 127, spending for the South Burlington School District could be as low as $64.6 million and as high as $71.4 million with the exact same impact on the residential homestead tax rate.

“Because of this cap, and because at those levels, we’re still under 10 percent education spending per pupil, the tax rate (increase) will be exactly 5 percent,” Jarvis said. “So, we could spend a lot more or we could spend a lot less, and the impact of the taxes will be the same.”