Rep. Kimberly Jessup (D-Middlesex)
As of this week the legislature still aims to finish their work by May 22 although it remains to be seen how the negotiations between Governor Phil Scott and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate will play out. Secretary of Administration Susanne Young sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee this week outlining the governor’s position on the Senate version of H.439. The memo indicates the governor cannot support the bill unless significant reallocations of American Recuse Plan Act (ARPA) funds are made.
The governor’s position is that ARPA funding was used in the Senate version of the budget for programmatic and ongoing appropriations that in his opinion should be funded with General Fund dollars. The letter from Secretary Young outlines the specific changes the governor is requesting relating to economic recovery, climate change, clean water funding, housing, broadband deployment and other sections of the budget.