Update February 2010
In this issue:
-- Income Still Migrates Toward Vermont
-- Back of the Envelope
-- The Real Education Crisis
-- All The Budget Numbers Fit to Print
Income Still Migrates Toward Vermont
The most recent data from the Internal Revenue Service show that people moving to Vermont tend to have more income than those who move away. According to the last figures, slightly more people moved out of Vermont in 2008 than moved in. However, those coming to the state had more income in total and more per exemption that those who left. That's the consistent pattern over the past 15 years.
Read our report.
Back of the Envelope
We're now scribbling our thoughts on the Back of the Envelope, Public Assets Institute's new blog. Check it out for quick news and insight on the people's money. Read about:
- a property tax reform plan that sounds a lot like an old con game
- Oregon's fearless elected officials
- the governor's plan to reinstate the workingman's tax
If you are already following us, keep the comments coming. And if you haven't discovered the blog, you can visit, subscribe by email, or sign up for an RSS feed at http://publicassets.org/blog/.
The Real Education Crisis
Vermont can be proud that, as a group, its students shine. Both "Education Week" and the American Legislative Exchange Council rate Vermont higher than most other states in student achievement. Unfortunately, there are some Vermont kids who are not doing so well, and they have one thing in common: They all live in poverty.
The advocacy group Voices for Vermont's Children's has just released a report that reveals the link between poverty and performance in Vermont schools. It also lays out a strategy to bridge the achievement gap.
Read the report: Bridging the Gap: Pathways to Success for All Vermont Students
All The Budget Numbers Fit to Print
Gov. Jim Douglas's budget proposal for fiscal 2011 is now available on Vermont Transparency, the Web site developed in cooperation with the Ethan Allen Institute. Click on the "Current Session" tab to explore the governor's budget by fund type, major government function, and individual appropriation. This section will be updated as the House and Senate arrive at their own recommendations during the legislative session.
Vermont Transparency also allows users to select, compare, and download budget data going back to fiscal 1994—functions that help strengthen statistical analyses and understanding of the current budget.
Visit vttransparency.org.
Public Assets Institute is funded by grants and donations. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support our work.
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