The state’s 28 municipalities with 5,000 or more people are set to vote on a collective $100 million in one-time-only spending proposals above and beyond their regular budgets.
“It’s like sugar season it takes a lot of work, but you get something special in the end,” Gov. Phil Scott told a crowd of thousands at the annual Presidents Day weekend competition at Vermont’s sole Olympic-size ski jump.
Brattleboro’s Harris Hill, battling this week’s thaw with a new snowmaking system, is set to enter its second century of competition Saturday and Sunday.
“We have sham hearings about issues related to the border, and we’re not doing the hard work of really passing comprehensive immigration, migration and asylum policy,” U.S. Rep. Becca Balint said Monday in a home-state meeting on the issue.
“With costs still significantly higher than they were in 2019 and demand reverting to 2019, we simply had to take some action,” said Jim Hall, CEO and president of Vermont Country Store.
Vermont’s 247 cities and towns asked for state action sooner rather than later, as those wanting to make decisions on the traditional first Tuesday in March are required to alert the public by Feb. 5.
A bill awaiting the governor’s signature will allow continued flexibility in how and when Vermont’s 247 cities and towns decide local leaders, spending and special articles.
“Insurance company reimbursements to us are so low, we can’t make any money,” said the owner of Brattleboro’s Hotel Pharmacy, whose closure this week drops the number of Vermont mom-and-pops from upward of 50 a decade ago to 16 today.
“Even as the number of shelter beds and motel rooms has increased, the need for these opportunities has grown at a faster rate,” one local human service worker said.