The Hits Keep Coming

Property taxes will be going up.  Bad news any time but especially bad heading into a recession.  By not doing  anything, the legislature – one house of which was led by someone currently running for governor – voted to raise taxes.  In one of the most heavily taxed, and economically feeble states in the union, no less. 

Still, anyone tempted to lash out at Montpelier for ignoring the signals should get a grip and remember that the legislature worked very hard and delivered an industrial hemp bill ... among other things.

Comments

[G. Cross]

Wasn't that Art I just saw on TV saying how well Vermont is surviving the recession? Who do I believe?

[Green Mtn Punter]

The Tiger supplies the "roar" for this movement but who will lead us to victory at the ballot box, the only place that counts? I am convinced that "the troops" down in the trenches are ready to march if only someone will emerge to lead. I feel we are at an historic crossroads in Vermont in 2008, this could be the turning point if only we choose to seize the advantage which is now on our side.

[Jack Harding]

Mr. Punter,

Well said.

[Mark Shepard]

Coincidentally, I just put out a thought on education in response to the IBM post. If you read that … don’t bother reading further. If not, please consider these remarks.

Vermont should use it's small size to its advantage and take the bull by the horns and cut government. However this takes courage and honesty that is absent is most all elected state politicians. So don't waste your time looking for a solution out of Montpelier ... no matter who is elected. You and I are the solution. We cannot look to government for solutions and then complain about our high taxes and regulation. The two are connected at the hip.

Take education for example. The Democrat's and Progressive’s ideas resulted in Act 60 and the Republican's idea resulted in Act 68. They both are disasters, yet par for the course out of Montpellier.

What if instead Vermonters who feel the property tax burden is too high and/or who do not like the results coming out of our government-run school system sent their children to private schools and voted down school budgets? What if those without children helped create real and affordable education options in Vermont by supporting private education?

Could we create a system where most parents were in the driver’s seat in the education of their children? Clearly this will only when parents pay for their children’s education, but the upside is less and less left to the state and thus less justification for the high property taxes, which should lead to lower property taxes. How far could it go … as far as there are people who have more trust in themselves than those we elect.

Vermonters of all stripes have complained long enough about the education property tax. Shifting to another tax is not a viable option. The only viable option is to reduce the government’s responsibility and that will only happen when citizens put action behind their frustration and take that responsibility away from the state.

The alternative is more of the same or perhaps even worse: another Montpelier solution. A different result demands a different approach … what about a citizen approach?

[T. Shea]

Mark,

Admirable goal, but I am skeptical.

Even if there were no school taxes (with all students privately educated), the 'minds' we have in Montpelier would still find a 'need' for the current funds. Some other 'emergency' need would arise to miraculously be filled with the available dollars.

Then they would say, "Oh, and by the way, we need MORE."

[John Stewart]

I have been reading the postings on Vermont Tiger for a number of months. In addition I have been a subscriber to the Vermont Economy Newsletter for a number of years.

What is frustrating to me is that there is an enormous amount of information that is not being read by the vast majority of Vermonters. As a result Vermonters are voting based on what our politicans tell them which is often not in accord with the facts. In addition, most of the time there is no follow up on what our politicians tell us vs. what they do in Montpelier.(I could give you an example of this based on the last campaign.)

I think we should start to place advertisements in the major Vermont newspapers explaining the facts and just as importantly holding our politicians accountable for what they tell us during the campaigns vs. what they actually do in Montpelier.

This will cost money, but can we afford not to do it? The stakes are too high!

[Mark Shepard]

T. Shea,

I have neither heard nor seen any idea that would either reduce taxes or improve education quality ... most certainly out of Montpelier. I served there for two terms and I really think this is the wrong place to look for a solution. It simply will not happen ... short of a complete economic collapse perhaps.

So, either accept the increases as life or do something. We have sent our children to private schools or home schooled.

For the same reason, even though we could have been in a situation where we could have used the Dr. Dinosaur, we have not. We try out best to not contribute to the idea that government must take care of us … thus they need more money.

If citizens do nothing, then they should not complain. The fact is there is much more we as citizens can do that we give ourselves credit for and this is far more than any sane person should expect from the impotent Vermont legislature or governor for that matter. They have to be pushed by the public and pushed hard to do anything of value.

Just look at the past few years. We have Act 68 for education (a penny more sales tax and still property taxes to the hilt). We have the Catamount Health disaster. We have “choose your gender.” We have more regulation in a number of areas. And the list of nonsense goes on and on. All of this under the watch of a Republican governor, no less.

So why should we expect good solutions from Montpelier? Why get all excited about any of this if we feel nothing can be done? Why even read this blog? The fact is that something can be done, but it is the citizens that have to do the work and show the courage. Perhaps there is another idea, but I really believe only a citizen movement will accomplish anything.

Mark

P.S. While we are at it, we should demand shorter sessions, since nothing gets done anyway.

[T. Shea]

Mark,

I think we are more or less in agreement. I just don't think that the Montpelier aristocracy will give up the dollars that are currently coming in.

For the record, I have no children in schrool, but 'generally' vote for any 'capital' improvements for education. Any other school 'improvements' that require money, I generally vote against, since there is rarely a net ROI.

I would MUCH rather donate my 'education' tax directly to a school, if that were an option.

As far as the citizen movement, I concur with your objective, but don't see it as possible. There are too many who gain from the current setup.

[Mark Shepard]

Then I guess the only option left is to accept the current system, with its numerous shortcomings, including the ever-increasing property and other taxes. I prefer not raising the white flag.

I think this issue is a problem in every state. The concept of government-controlled education is a bad idea ... as bad as government controlling religion. In the end they are both fesult in government controlling ideas, which the founders were clearly, and for good reason, opposed to.