Vermont Lawmakers convened the 2009 legislative session on Wednesday this week. With decreasing revenues, looming budget shortfalls, the economy will be the focus of the 2009 session. The question will be how much lawmakers will cut before looking to find new revenue sources. It is likely everything will be on the table and we will have to be steadfast in our watch over this year’s budget.
Newly elected Speaker Shap Smith unveiled a stimulus plan of his own during his inaugural speech on Wednesday. The plan includes over a hundred million in bonding for infrastructure and roads, with the goal of putting people to work in the immediate, and building a strong infrastructure to better ensure long term stability for Vermont’s economy. Vermont currently enjoys the lowest bond rating of New England states. The only question there is going to be is where we find the revenue source for repayment of the bonds.
Governor Jim Douglas was inaugurated to his 4th term as Vermont’s Governor on Thursday. In his speech Governor Douglas addressed the current economical challenges as well. Amongst many things the Governor proposed was to freeze per pupil spending by schools. Per pupil spending for 2009 is expected to increase by 6%. It is projected that from 2006-2010 education fund spending will have increased by 23% or 283 million dollars, at the same time student enrolment has dropped by 4.4%.
Governor Douglas also proposed undertaking permit reform. The Governor’s aim is streamline the process, create more certainty in it, and expand the use of general permits where applicable. The Governor stated “To me a permit application really says something positive. It says, “I’m hiring”. It says, “I’m prepared to make an investment in Vermont.” It says, “I’m ready to put down roots in this community and create jobs.”
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Vermont Lawmakers convened the 2009 legislative session on Wednesday this week. With decreasing revenues, looming budget shortfalls, the economy will be the focus of the 2009 session. The question will be how much lawmakers will cut before looking to find new revenue sources. It is likely everything will be on the table and we will have to be steadfast in our watch over this year’s budget.
Newly elected Speaker Shap Smith unveiled a stimulus plan of his own during his inaugural speech on Wednesday. The plan includes over a hundred million in bonding for infrastructure and roads, with the goal of putting people to work in the immediate, and building a strong infrastructure to better ensure long term stability for Vermont’s economy. Vermont currently enjoys the lowest bond rating of New England states. The only question there is going to be is where we find the revenue source for repayment of the bonds.
Governor Jim Douglas was inaugurated to his 4th term as Vermont’s Governor on Thursday. In his speech Governor Douglas addressed the current economical challenges as well. Amongst many things the Governor proposed was to freeze per pupil spending by schools. Per pupil spending for 2009 is expected to increase by 6%. It is projected that from 2006-2010 education fund spending will have increased by 23% or 283 million dollars, at the same time student enrolment has dropped by 4.4%.
Governor Douglas also proposed undertaking permit reform. The Governor’s aim is streamline the process, create more certainty in it, and expand the use of general permits where applicable. The Governor stated “To me a permit application really says something positive. It says, “I’m hiring”. It says, “I’m prepared to make an investment in Vermont.” It says, “I’m ready to put down roots in this community and create jobs.”