By VTDigger staff Vermont is sending 12 dump trucks and 40 National Guardsmen to help Massachusetts dig out from record-setting snowfalls. Vermont governor Peter Shumlin on Wednesday authorized 40 Vermont National Guard troops to spend up to 15 days helping […]
Tag: VTDigger.org
Vermont Tax Department suspends refunds amid concerns of fraud
By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org The Vermont Department of Taxes temporarily suspended the issuance of personal income tax refunds last week. The state suspended refunds on Wednesday in response to reports that other states across the country are seeing an increase […]
Speaker’s plea for education reform ideas nets 87 responses
By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Speaker of the House Shap Smith’s public request for ideas on education governance and finance reform drew 87 proposals, which are now available online. Smith asked Vermonters to submit ideas on the public education debate […]
House takes up bill on “revenge porn”
By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org A new bill in the House takes aim at so-called “revenge porn.” Introduced to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 3, H.105 would make illegal the disclosure of sexually explicit images of a person without […]
Rent-to-own industry exploiting poor in Vermont
By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org Advocates say low-income people are enticed by low weekly and monthly lease rates offered by two national chain rent-to-own stores doing business in Vermont, Rent-A-Center and Aaron’s. Advocates charge the national retailers with circumventing current regulations […]
Senate committee takes up paid leave this week
By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org A bill aimed at giving workers in Vermont paid time off for illness or other emergencies is back before the Senate. S.15, which would grant workers seven earned leave days off a year, or a […]
Report: Vermont second-healthiest state in the U.S.
By Morgan True, VTDigger.org For the second consecutive year, Vermont ranks as the second-healthiest state in the U.S., according to America’s Health Rankings 2014 report. The report was is based on an evaluation of four categories of health determinants including […]
Permit sought for Canada-to-Ludlow transmission line
By John Herrick, VTDigger.org A company seeking to build a high-voltage power line beneath Lake Champlain applied for a state permit Tuesday. TDI New England is asking the Public Service Board for a certificate of public good to build a […]
Report recommends fundamental changes to education spending
By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org A report released on Friday proposes three changes to Vermont’s property tax system. The changes include: a “renovation” plan that would lead to reductions in school spending; a “variable income tax” proposal that would replace a […]
Statewide property tax increase pegged at 2 cents
By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org The Shumlin administration has recommended a 2 cent increase in the statewide property tax rates for residential and commercial property for fiscal year 2016. Last year, property tax rates increased by 4.5 cents for homestead and […]