Vermont schools can now postpone their March school budget votes

Vermont schools can now postpone their March school budget votes and rewrite their spending plans after Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill into law on Thursday aimed at addressing soaring property tax increases, largely driven by rising education spending. However, it’s not clear how many school districts will take that step less than two weeks before Town Meeting Day voting. Property taxes are projected to rise an average of $18.5%. The governor warned that the legislation, which also removes a tax cap instituted by legislation passed two years ago aimed at making education more equitable, does not solve the property tax problem. When the Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, senators acknowledged that this is just the first step.