Will Stevens: Post-COVID is time to reinvest in the working lands Vermonters value reformer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reformer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Vermont’s post-European settlement identity and cultural history is inextricably linked to the working landscape. However, the relevance of working lands to the state’s future economic and social fabric is at
Fri, 05/21/2021 - 2:14pm tim
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) and Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) applaud the Vermont Legislature for making historic investments in climate action, clean water, affordable housing, broadband, and other critical programs that will benefit Vermont’s people, environment, and communities. Governor Scott said today that he expects to sign the budget bill once it reaches his desk, barring any last minute changes. The Legislature could to adjourn as early as today.
“We are in a historic moment. State lawmakers today committed to unprecedented levels of investment in a better and more equitable Vermont, as they allocated federal funds to fight climate change, build smart growth affordable housing, clean up polluted waters, and support the state’s farm and forest economy,” said Brian Shupe, Executive Director of VNRC. “These investments will make Vermont’s communities, and our environment, stronger,”
Key Budget Items (click HERE for full Summary):
Supports FY2022 total General Fund appropriations of $1.99 billion.
Supports base spending with base funding.
Fully funds state retirement and debt obligations.
Maintains all statutory reserve levels.
As part of the Governor’s ongoing pandemic response, he proposes using $210 million in one-time funding for economic recovery through investments in housing, infrastructure, broadband buildout, environmental stewardship, carbon reducing initiatives, and government modernization, among others.
As part of the one-time investments, makes a down payment on state government modernization by creating a Technology Modernization Fund to propel costly, and much needed, IT upgrades.
Economic Recovery and Downtown and Village Center Revitalization: