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# Public Assets Institute

A Vermont that works for all

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## Pages

- [Home](https://publicassets.org/) - Public Assets provides sound, accessible tax, budget, and economic data and analysis to advance policies that further racial, social, and economic equity.
- [Events](https://publicassets.org/about/events) - Public Assets upcoming events happening around Vermont.
- [Staff & Board](https://publicassets.org/about/staff-board) - Our staff and board work to advance racial, social, and economic justice and to develop and promote policies that state government can enact.
- [Donate](https://publicassets.org/donate) - Your support makes our work possible. Partner with us to provide smart analysis, innovative policy, and leadership toward a Vermont that works for all.
- [Campaigns](https://publicassets.org/campaigns) - Join us as we work in coalition on both ends of the income scale to make Vermont's tax system even fairer.
- [About](https://publicassets.org/about) - Seeking a Vermont where all can thrive, we focus on budget, tax, and economic policies, which are key to equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
- [Charts & Infographics](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics) - Interactive maps, infographics and charts on Vermont demographics, poverty, jobs, workers, wages, education funding, tax, budget, migration, & racial disparity.
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- [Research & Publications](https://publicassets.org/research-publications) - Sound, timely, and accessible, focused on affecting equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity through budget, tax and economic policy.

## Infographics

- [Annual average wage, by county, Vermont, 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-average-wage-by-county-vermont-2025) - Vermont’s average wage in 2025 was $67,172 annually, well below the U.S. average of $78,722. Most states’ averages fell below the national because a handful of higher-wage states drove up that number. All of Vermont counties’ average wages also came in below the national average. But two, those of Chittenden and Washington, were above the state’s average. Grand Isle and Essex had the lowest wages, below $52,000, with Grand Isle ranking among Vermont counties showing the fastest growth over the last decade and Essex among the slowest. Across the U.S., counties’ average annual wages varied from less than $34,000 in parts of Nebraska and Missouri to over $200,000 in California.
- [Number of multiple-job holders by sex, Vermont, 1994-2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-multiple-job-holders-by-sex-vermont-1994-2025) - For each of the past 30 years, more Vermont women than men have held multiple jobs at once. The total number of people working several jobs peaked in 2007, with nearly 19,000 women holding more than one job, compared with about 15,000 men. Since then, the total number of Vermont workers with multiple jobs has declined, and the difference by sex has narrowed. Despite this decline, nearly 7.5 percent of the total Vermont workforce still juggled more than one job last year. This was higher than the national rate of 5.5 percent. Only 10 states had a higher share of multi-job workers than Vermont, and none were in New England. Kansas had the highest share, with more than 9 percent of its workforce holding more than one job.
- [Median annual earnings of full-time workers, adjusted for inflation, by sex, 2014-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/median-annual-earnings-of-full-time-workers-adjusted-for-inflation-by-sex-2014-2024) - Progress toward gender wage equality is slowing Over the last decade, Vermont narrowed the gender wage gap. From 2014 through 2021, women’s median wage grew at 3.5 times the rate of men’s, closing the gap from 16 cents to just 7 cents per dollar. But between 2021 and 2024, that trend reversed. Men’s wages grew four times as quickly as women’s over that period. In 2024, women working full time earned $61,000 annually, compared with $67,000 for men.
- [Vermonters working from home by sex, 2019-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermonters-working-from-home-by-sex-2019-2024) - Before the Covid pandemic, the numbers of Vermont men and women working remotely were roughly the same. This is according to the U.S. Census, which asked how workers usually got to work the week prior to answering the survey. During the pandemic, the number of both men and women working from home tripled. But after Covid’s peak, as telework declined a gender disparity emerged. From 2021 to 2024, more men than women returned to the office—6,700 compared with 3,100. Still, many more workers continued to work from home than did so before the pandemic. Overall, about 18 percent of women and 14 percent of men in the Vermont workforce telecommuted in 2024.
- [Percent change in federal workers by state, FY2024-2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/percent-change-in-federal-workers-by-state-fy2024-2026) - Vermont’s federal workforce decreased by over 600 workers—or 11 percent—between the end of the fiscal year in September 2024 and February 2026. This count includes personnel at federal agencies but excludes the U.S. Postal Service. It is the lowest number of federal employees in at least 10 years. Vermont’s rate of decline is slightly lower than the country’s as a whole. Washington D.C. and Western states such as Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming saw losses closer to 20 percent over the period. These departures were a mix of mass layoffs, incentivized retirements, and resignations under the pressures of the second Trump administration, including record-breaking shutdowns during which many federal employees have worked without pay.
- [Median annual earnings, by sex and education level, Vermont, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/median-annual-earnings-by-sex-and-education-level-vermont-2024) - March 26th is National Women’s Equal Pay Day. Vermont’s pay gap has been consistently one of the smallest in the country, but at every education level, Vermont women earn less than men. The Economic Policy Institute has a deeper dive on the wage gap, how it’s worse for Black, Hispanic, and Native American women, how federal actions over the past year have exacerbated it, and what states can do in response. Vermont Works for Women and the Vermont Women’s Fund put out a Vermont-specific mini-report on the wage gap at the end of last year that has more detail on its impact on Vermont women over their lifetimes. Both are worth a look.
- [Federal cuts: lower taxes for the wealthy, fewer services for everyone else](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/federal-cuts-lower-taxes-for-the-wealthy-fewer-services-for-everyone-else) - While this is not a comprehensive picture of everything in the 2025 federalreconciliation bill, these are some of the biggest impacts. Vermont will pay $1billion less in federal taxes each year, with $440 million going to the top 5%.Meanwhile, Vermonters are facing cuts to critical services like food assistance,healthcare and housing.
- [Net international and domestic migration into Vermont, 2005-2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/net-international-and-domestic-migration-into-vermont-2005-2025) - Vermont’s migration trend last year continued a multi-decade pattern: international gains and domestic losses. Each year from 2005 to 2025, more people from abroad moved into the state than Vermonters left for other countries. Within the U.S., more Vermonters moved to other states than people in other states relocated to Vermont, resulting in net losses from domestic migration for 18 of the past 21 years. An outlier was 2021, during the pandemic, with a surge of nearly 5,000 people coming to Vermont through domestic migration. On average over the rest of the period, the state lost 800 people annually to other states. The international migration gains have helped offset these losses, contributing to net positive overall migration during this time.
- [Frequency of towns among top 25 in per-pupil spending, Vermont, FY2012-26](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/frequency-of-towns-among-top-25-in-per-pupil-spending-vermont-fy2012-26) - Vermont tried spending caps before. One problem with going after the high spenders is that few towns are consistently at the top of the list. For example, between fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2026, 88 different towns made the top 25 list. Fewer than half of those towns appeared on the list more than three times over those 15 years. And those towns account for fewer than 10 percent of Vermont students.
- [Education tax as a percentage of household income, 2017](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/education-tax-as-a-percentage-of-household-income-2017) - Low- and middle-income Vermonters are subsidizing higher-income taxpayers. School taxes are currently regressive: Higher-income Vermonters pay a smaller share of their income to support schools than lower-income taxpayers. High-income Vermonters pay school taxes based on property because it’s cheaper for them than paying based on income like everyone else.
- [Number of Vermonters employed, Jan 2020-Nov 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-vermonters-employed-jan-2020-nov-2025) - After years of steady growth, the number of Vermonters working fell below pre-pandemic levels in late 2025. It took more than three years for Vermont employment to return to normal in the wake of Covid. By early 2024, the number of Vermonters working exceeded the number employed before the crisis. Monthly employment reached an all-time high in January 2025, at 348,340. Then it dropped every month through November. Employment is a count of individuals who are working, including those who are self-employed. The number of people working is different from the count of jobs. For example, one individual can hold more than one job. While the number of working Vermonters dropped in 2025, employers did increase the number of jobs between December 2024 and November 2025. Still, Vermont has not recovered the jobs lost during the pandemic.
- [Change in jobs, seasonally adjusted, by state, Jan 2020-Aug 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/change-in-jobs-seasonally-adjusted-by-state-jan-2020-aug-2025) - Vermont is one of only four states where the number of jobs has not returned to pre-Covid levels. In August 2025, there were 2,400 fewer jobs in the state than in January 2020 and nearly 5,000 fewer than the record set in March 2019.
- [Annual second-lowest silver plan cost, for a 40-year-old, by state, 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-second-lowest-silver-plan-cost-for-a-40-year-old-by-state-2025) - One of the main issues at stake in the federal government shutdown is the expiration of enhanced healthcare premium tax credits, which help people buy insurance through the state marketplace. If Congress does nothing, the credits will expire at the end of 2025, and millions of Americans will see large increases in the cost of their healthcare. Among these are as many as 30,000 Vermonters. And because Vermont’s exchange has the highest premiums in the country, Vermonters will see the biggest increases. Middle-income participants are looking at an additional $10,000 a year for an individual and $32,000 for a family of four.
- [Estimated tax savings from extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, by income percentile, Vermont, 2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/estimated-tax-savings-from-extending-the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-by-income-percentile-vermont-2026) - The federal cuts to government benefits and services financed bigger tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed in July permanently extended and expanded many of the tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. These new cuts will provide over $700 million in tax savings each year to the richest 20 percent of Vermonters. The top 1 percent will save an annual average of nearly $60,000, twice the earnings of a Vermonter working full time for minimum wage.
- [Vermont state and local taxes as a share of family income, by tax, by quintile, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-state-and-local-taxes-as-a-share-of-family-income-by-tax-by-quintile-2024) - Vermont’s state and local tax system is less regressive than most states’, but middle-income Vermonters still pay a bigger share in taxes than the richest. Vermonters pay taxes in three big categories: on income, consumption, and property. The state income tax is progressive (higher-income Vermonters pay a bigger share of their income), while the sales tax is regressive—it takes a bigger bite out of lower-income people’s budgets. Property taxes are progressive up to the middle level of income and become regressive at the high end.
- [Wages at selected percentiles, adjusted for inflation, Vermont, 2014 and 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/wages-at-selected-percentiles-adjusted-for-inflation-vermont-2014-and-2024) - While real hourly wages have grown faster at the bottom over the last decade, the increase doesn’t add up to as big a gain in dollars as that at the top. Gains for the 90th percentile yielded an additional $18,000 per year, while those at the bottom brought in a third as much.
- [Median household income, adjusted for inflation, New England states, 2014 and 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/median-household-income-adjusted-for-inflation-new-england-states-2014-and-2024) - After a decade of stagnation, beginning in 2014 real median household income has grown in Vermont and the rest of New England. Adjusted for inflation, Vermont’s household income was nearly $83,000 in 2024, up from $72,000 a decade earlier. But most of the growth occurred in the first half of that period: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have lost ground since 2019, while growth in the other states has slowed. The U.S. as a whole saw faster growth over the period, but most of it came between 2014 and 2019.
- [Total nonfarm jobs, seasonally adjusted, Vermont, Jan 2019-Aug 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/total-nonfarm-jobs-seasonally-adjusted-vermont-jan-2019-aug-2025) - Vermont is one of only four states where the number of jobs has not returned to pre-Covid levels. In August 2025, there were 2,400 fewer jobs in the state than in January 2020 and nearly 5,000 fewer than the record set in March 2019.
- [Vermont labor force, employed and unemployed, seasonally adjusted, by month, Aug 2005-Aug 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-labor-force-employed-and-unemployed-seasonally-adjusted-by-month-aug-2005-aug-2025) - Vermont’s total labor force has returned to its pre-Covid baseline. Roughly the same share of Vermonters, across age groups, are participating in the workforce as in 2019. More Vermonters are unemployed than in 2019, but the joblessness rate remained low, at under 3 percent in September 2025. More recent state jobs data were delayed because of the federal government shutdown. Some workers are experiencing more job uncertainty this year: The state’s roughly 6,600 federal workers—1.9 percent of the total workforce—remain at risk of layoff.
- [Labor force participation rate, by age group, 2019 and 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/labor-force-participation-rate-by-age-group-2019-and-2024) - Vermont’s total labor force has returned to its pre-Covid baseline. Roughly the same share of Vermonters, across age groups, are participating in the workforce as in 2019. More Vermonters are unemployed than in 2019, but the joblessness rate remained low, at under 3 percent in September 2025. More recent state jobs data were delayed because of the federal government shutdown. Some workers are experiencing more job uncertainty this year: The state’s roughly 6,600 federal workers—1.9 percent of the total workforce—remain at risk of layoff.
- [Estimated Medicaid and CHIP enrollment as a percentage of county population, 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/estimated-medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-as-a-percentage-of-county-population-2025) - In addition to the pending loss of the enhanced tax credits, states are facing significant cuts to Medicaid under the reconciliation bill Congress passed in July, amounting to the loss of hundreds of millions of federal dollars to Vermont’s budget each year. More than 170,000 Vermonters across the state are covered through Medicaid, and estimates suggest 10 percent could lose healthcare.
- [Cumulative growth in median home sale price and median household income, Vermont, 2019-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/cumulative-growth-in-median-home-sale-price-and-median-household-income-vermont-2019-2024) - Household income has grown just 15 percent since 2019, failing to keep up with rising home prices. In 2019 Vermonters at the median income level could afford about half of homes in the state; by 2024 that share had dropped to a third. In other words, most Vermonters cannot afford most homes in the state. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines unaffordable housing as costing more than 30 percent of household income.
- [Annual energy cost for an example Vermont household, 2019-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-energy-cost-for-an-example-vermont-household-2019-2024) - While energy costs have come down from their 2022 peak, they’re higher than in 2021. A Vermont household with two vehicles and using fuel oil to heat their home spent over $1,200 more in 2024 than in 2021. The volatility in energy prices, particularly for fossil fuels, makes it hard for Vermonters to predict their bills from month to month and year to year. Changing federal policies, such as weakening efficiency standards and the ending of tax credits for electric vehicles, as well as the elimination of many grants for climate infrastructure, make it harder to invest in sustainable and more durably affordable energy.
- [Share of Vermont housing units by primary heating source, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-vermont-housing-units-by-primary-heating-source-2023) - While energy costs have come down from their 2022 peak, they’re higher than in 2021. A Vermont household with two vehicles and using fuel oil to heat their home spent over $1,200 more in 2024 than in 2021. The volatility in energy prices, particularly for fossil fuels, makes it hard for Vermonters to predict their bills from month to month and year to year. Changing federal policies, such as weakening efficiency standards and the ending of tax credits for electric vehicles, as well as the elimination of many grants for climate infrastructure, make it harder to invest in sustainable and more durably affordable energy.
- [Number of rental units by monthly rent, Vermont, 2019 and 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-rental-units-by-monthly-rent-vermont-2019-and-2024) - Two workers earning minimum wage will not be able to afford a standard two-bedroom apartment in the biggest metro areas in any New England state in 2026. In Vermont, the difference between their income and rent in 2026 will be more than $25,000 annually, or $6 more income hourly per earner. That’s both because the Vermont minimum wage has fallen behind the other states (except New Hampshire, where the wage is tied to the federal minimum wage) and because rents have risen. In the last five years the median rent has increased by 35 percent, more than $300 per month. More than 40 percent of units cost over $1,500 per month in 2024, compared with 15 percent in 2019.
- [Annual income for two full-time minimum-wage workers and income needed for a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in metropolitan areas, New England states, 2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-income-for-two-full-time-minimum-wage-workers-and-income-needed-for-a-two-bedroom-apartment-at-fair-market-rent-in-metropolitan-areas-new-england-states-2026) - Two workers earning minimum wage will not be able to afford a standard two-bedroom apartment in the biggest metro areas in any New England state in 2026. In Vermont, the difference between their income and rent in 2026 will be more than $25,000 annually, or $6 more income hourly per earner. That’s both because the Vermont minimum wage has fallen behind the other states (except New Hampshire, where the wage is tied to the federal minimum wage) and because rents have risen. In the last five years the median rent has increased by 35 percent, more than $300 per month. More than 40 percent of units cost over $1,500 per month in 2024, compared with 15 percent in 2019.
- [Number of owner-occupied units by value, Vermont, 2019 and 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-owner-occupied-units-by-value-vermont-2019-and-2024) - The median value of primary homes in Vermont, as reported by the U.S. Census, jumped by over $119,000 between 2019 and 2024, from $233,200 to $352,800. That’s much larger growth than in the prior five years, when the increase was $18,000. The share of homes worth more than $300,000 in the state went from one-third in 2019 to nearly 60 percent in 2024. Primary homes for sale have followed suit. The median sale price increased by 55 percent over the period.
- [Homeless Vermonters with and without shelter, Jan 2019-Jan 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/homeless-vermonters-with-and-without-shelter-jan-2019-jan-2025) - Since 2020, homelessess has risen sharply. A one-day point-in-time count last January found nearly 3,500 people in Vermont without permanent housing, more than triple the number in 2019, and one of the highest rates of homelessness of any state. And January is when the state makes the most shelter beds available; in warmer weather many more homeless Vermonters are unsheltered. Recent federal actions are exacerbating the problem, including efforts to criminalize unsheltered homelessness, potential cuts to homelessness assistance programs, and the elimination of access to housing vouchers for at least 131 Vermont households in 2025, with larger possible losses in 2026.
- [Total monthly 3SquaresVT recipients, Jan-Sep 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/total-monthly-3squaresvt-recipients-jan-sep-2025) - In any given month, over 60,000 Vermonters rely on benefits from the federal Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP—also known as 3SquaresVT. This includes more than 18,000 children. All participants suffered delays in benefits in November 2025 because of the federal government shutdown. But the budget reconciliation act passed by Congress in July imposes significant cuts to SNAP over the long term. Federal policymakers are shifting costs to the states, eliminating numerous groups of people from eligibility, and imposing stricter work requirements for participation. Estimates vary, but anywhere from 16,000 to 40,000 Vermonters—as many as two-thirds of current recipients—risk losing some or all of their 3SquaresVT food assistance.
- [Percent of total income held by top 10% and bottom 90%, Vermont, 1917-2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/percent-of-total-income-held-by-top-10-and-bottom-90-vermont-1917-2022) - In 2022, the top 10 percent of Vermonters held 45 percent of the total income in the state, leaving just 55 percent for the remaining 90 percent. The last time the top 10 percent held a comparable share was the 1930s, during the Great Depression and leading up to World War II. But for the last 50 years, the richest have accrued an increasing share of income.
- [Number of Vermonters below the poverty level, by age, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-vermonters-below-the-poverty-level-by-age-2024) - The official poverty rate for Vermonters overall was 9.0 percent in 2024, the third-lowest rate in the country and below the national rate of 12.1 percent. Those between 18 and 34 were more likely to live in poverty than other age groups. Nearly 12,000 Vermont seniors faced poverty, as well as 10,000 children.
- [Share of households by family type, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-households-by-family-type-2023) - A quarter of Vermont households have children at home
- [Share of families with enough income to meet basic needs, by family type and work status, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-families-with-enough-income-to-meet-basic-needs-by-family-type-and-work-status-2023) - Many Vermonters’ incomes fall below the basic needs standard established by the state. The majority of one-adult households with children have income under the threshold, as well as nearly half of single adults without kids. In households with children where only one of the adults is working, half have income below the basic needs amount. Households with two earners fare better—a quarter of them are below the threshold. Families with kids have higher expenses, and households with more kids have more costs. Some households may be accessing other sources of financial support or sharing housing or expenses to make their budgets work. Still, many families are struggling to cover growing costs. The mismatch between income and need must be addressed.
- [Cumulative growth in the cost of health insurance and other education spending, FY2019-FY2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/cumulative-growth-in-the-cost-of-health-insurance-and-other-education-spending-fy2019-fy2026) - Vermont has the highest healthcare costs in the country and that has led to a sharp rise in the cost of health insurance benefits for school employees. Like other group plans in the state, premiums for plans through the Vermont Education Health Initiative have doubled since 2019. Health insurance for employees cost the Education Fund $151 million in 2019, and is projected to jump to over $300 million this year.
- [Annual second-lowest silver plan cost, for a 40-year-old, by state, 2014 and 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-second-lowest-silver-plan-cost-for-a-40-year-old-by-state-2014-and-2025) - Because Vermont has the highest premiums in the country and some of the fastest growth in costs in recent years, Vermonters will be hit particularly hard. An individual making $63,000 would pay $15,000 a year for the benchmark plan—nearly a quarter of their income. A family of four at the same poverty level could see an increase of over $30,000 a year.
- [Healthcare exchange participants by age, Vermont, 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/healthcare-exchange-participants-by-age-vermont-2025) - In 2025, over 30,000 Vermonters on the exchange received an estimated total of $350 million to help cover the cost of care. Most of these funds come from federal tax credits, including at least $65 million from the enhanced credits. Vermont provides just under 2 percent of the assistance ($6.2 million). Participants range across income and age; a third are between 55 to 64 years old.
- [Annual premium cost of benchmark silver and gold plans, by income and family type, 2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/ppremium-silver-and-gold-by-income-and-family-type-2026) - Taxpayers using the exchange receive federal premium tax credits (PTCs), which are based on the cost of the benchmark silver plan and are often paid directly to the insurer. Recipients pay a percentage of their income toward the premium, on a sliding income scale, and the PTC covers the rest.
- [Vermonters qualifying for premium assistance, by poverty level, Jan. 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermonters-qualifying-for-premium-assistance-by-poverty-level-jan-2025) - In 2025, over 30,000 Vermonters on the exchange received an estimated total of $350 million to help cover the cost of care. Most of these funds come from federal tax credits, including at least $65 million from the enhanced credits. Vermont provides just under 2 percent of the assistance ($6.2 million). Participants range across income and age; a third are between 55 to 64 years old.
- [Maximum share of income paid for qualifying healthcare premiums after tax credits, by income and family type, Vermont, 2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/maximum-share-by-income-and-family-type-vermont-2026) - Healthcare premium assistance Everyone receiving credits will pay more for healthcare if the enhanced credits expire. Those with incomes under 400 percent of poverty would pay between .5 percent and 4.6 percent more of their income for the benchmark plan, after accounting for state assistance. Middle-income Vermonters, earning more than 400 percent of poverty, would no longer receive assistance. They would pay the full cost of their premiums if they continue to buy healthcare on the exchange. Because Vermont has the highest premiums in the country and some of the fastest growth in costs in recent years, Vermonters will be hit particularly hard. An individual making $63,000 would pay $15,000 a year for the benchmark plan—nearly a quarter of their income. A family of four at the same poverty level could see an increase of over $30,000 a year.
- [Number and percentage of federal workers in Vermont, March 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-and-percentage-of-federal-workers-in-vermont-march-2025) - The federal government shutdown began on October 1st, the start of the new federal fiscal year, after existing funding expired and Congress failed to approve new funding. Until funding is restored, many federal workers in the state are furloughed (put on temporary leave) or working without pay.
- [Federal earmarks for Vermont projects, by budget function, FY22-FY24](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/federal-earmarks-for-vermont-projects-by-budget-function-fy22-fy24) - Through earmarks, Vermont projects received over half a billion dollars in FFY 2022, 2023, and 2024 combined for housing, transportation, rural development, agriculture, and other areas.
- [Number of children meeting family income eligibility for the 2025 Vermont CTC, by age](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-children-meeting-family-income-eligibility-for-the-2025-vermont-ctc-by-age)
- [Vermont EITC for single tax filers without dependents, 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-eitc-for-single-tax-filers-without-dependents-2025)
- [Vermont median household income, adjusted for inflation, 2005-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-median-household-income-adjusted-for-inflation-2005-2024) - Newly released U.S. Census data show that Vermont’s median annual income decreased last year to $82,730 after adjusting for inflation. While this change was not statistically significant, Vermont was one of only six states nationwide where income declined. Only North Dakota and Rhode Island saw sharper drops. This marks a departure from the income growth Vermont experienced immediately after the start of the Covid pandemic: a rise of over 8 percent between 2019 and 2021, the fastest growth in the country. Most of those gains have endured. But aside from that period, income in the state has generally stagnated. From the early aughts to 2019, income hovered around $75,000. And since 2021, it has stayed flat at around $82,000.
- [Average federal tax change by income group, Vermont, 2026](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/average-federal-tax-change-by-income-group-vermont-2026) - On July 4, President Trump signed into law the tax and spending “megabill” which makes permanent the provisions of the 2017 tax law that were set to expire and makes many additional changes beyond that. This analysis examines the tax provisions in the law and provides numbers generated with the ITEP microsimulation model. Overall, the law favors the richest taxpayers and provides working-class Americans with relatively small tax cuts that will in many cases be more than offset by the import taxes, or tariffs.
- [Manufacturing jobs as a share of total private-sector jobs, Vermont and U.S., 2000-2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/manufacturing-jobs-as-a-share-of-total-private-sector-jobs-vermont-and-u-s-2000-2025) - Manufacturing jobs have been declining for decades—and that decline has been bigger in Vermont than the nation overall. In the last 25 years Vermont has lost nearly 20,000 manufacturing jobs, and manufacturing’s share of private-sector jobs has declined by nearly half. In July 2000, Vermont had 46,200 jobs in manufacturing—more than 18 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs. Last month the state’s 26,900 manufacturing positions accounted for just over 10 percent of jobs offered by private employers. Over the same period, the share of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. as a whole declined less sharply, from 15 percent to just over 9 percent.
- [Job gains and losses, by Vermont county, 2019-2024 and 2023-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/job-gains-and-losses-by-vermont-county-2019-2024-and-2023-2024) - Most Vermont counties saw an increase in jobs between 2023 and 2024, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But several were still struggling to make up the losses they suffered during the Covid pandemic. Ten of Vermont’s 14 counties added jobs last year; eight still had fewer jobs than in 2019. Rutland faced the largest gap. Even after adding 172 jobs in 2024, it had nearly 1,500 fewer jobs than before Covid. Windham County added the most jobs last year (703), followed by Washington County (484), and Caledonia County (142) was fourth after Rutland.
- [Worker productivity and median compensation, VT and U.S., 2000-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/worker-productivity-and-median-compensation-vt-and-u-s-2000-2024) - Most Vermont workers’ pay has not kept pace with the growth of their output. From 2000 to 2024, productivity—total income generated in the economy per average hour of work—grew 47 percent in Vermont. But compensation—measured by the median hourly wage and benefits for production and nonsupervisory workers—rose by just 34 percent.
- [Average monthly 3SquaresVT benefit per person, 2019-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/average-monthly-3squaresvt-benefit-per-person-2019-2024) - More than 10 percent of Vermonters accessed 3SquaresVT in 2024—about 66,000 people. That share has been consistent since before the pandemic. What has varied is the benefit amount those recipients have gotten each month. During the peak of Covid, 2021 to 2023, the per-person monthly benefit was over $200, peaking at $260 in 2022. In 2024, after federal Covid relief funds ended, it dropped back to just over $150, meaning Vermonters have nearly $650 less per year to cover food costs than they did in 2023. The cost of food has not tracked overall inflation. While inflation was highest in 2021 and 2022, food prices saw much bigger spikes in 2022 and 2023 and little change in 2024.
- [Job openings per unemployed person, Vermont, Jan 2022-Mar 2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/job-openings-per-unemployed-person-vermont-jan-2022-mar-2025) - Vermonters may be feeling the effects of a tightening job market. Job openings in the state have fallen to their lowest level since November 2020, dropping by 4,000 positions between February and March. These openings include both full-time and part-time jobs for which employers are actively recruiting. Some of the decrease is due to employers filling positions, and some is likely due to postings getting pulled down. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed Vermonters increased over the same period, leaving fewer job openings per unemployed person. The last time Vermont had such a low number of openings per person seeking work was March 2021.
- [Vermont personal income taxes paid, per return, by age group, 2014-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-personal-income-taxes-paid-per-return-by-age-group-2014-2023) - As more Vermonters age into retirement, will the income tax base shrink and the state get less revenue? Two-thirds of Vermont’s baby boomers—people born between 1946 and 1964—were 65 or older as of 2024, meaning they were eligible for Medicare and retirement benefits from Social Security. But more Vermonters aging out of the workforce has not led to less income tax revenue for the state. Vermonters 65 and over have more taxable income on average than those under 65 and pay more taxes per return than younger filers.
- [Share of adjusted gross income for homeowners above and below $125,000 in household income, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-adjusted-gross-income-for-homeowners-above-and-below-125000-in-household-income-2023) - The Vermonters with the most income don’t pay school taxes based on income. Vermonters can pay their school taxes either based on income or on property value. For most Vermonters, paying by income is the better deal. But for higher-income Vermonters, paying by property is cheaper. While Vermonters with incomes above about $125,000 represent just 30 percent of households, they hold 60% of the total income tax base—more than $13 billion.
- [Vermont median home value, home equity, and net worth, by income percentile, 2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-median-home-value-home-equity-and-net-worth-by-income-percentile-2022) - The value of the primary residence is not a good measure of wealth. For low- and middle-income Vermonters with mortgages, the value of the primary home overstates their ability to pay because their home equity is less than the home value. And many taxpayers have other debt so may even have a negative net worth. And at the high end, the primary residence is a small share of their wealth and understates their ability to pay.
- [How school taxes are calculated on housesites now, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/how-school-taxes-are-calculated-on-housesites-now-2024) - Income sensitivity thresholds have not been updated for decades. More and more Vermonters pay a combination of income and property taxes. When their incomes or house values pass certain thresholds their tax bills can jump even when school spending doesn’t change. Updating the thresholds would ensure low- and middle-income Vermonters benefit from income sensitivity.
- [Share of Vermont workers by sex and selected occupation, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-vermont-workers-by-sex-and-selected-occupation-2023) - The news this Women’s History Month is that women and men share an equal presence in the Vermont workforce. But the workforce is highly segregated by sex. Both men and women work in occupations where one sex accounts for at least two-thirds of the workers. Many of the state’s social services, such as education and healthcare, rely on women’s labor. Women fill roughly three-quarters of Vermont’s more than 28,000 jobs in educational instruction, including tutors, librarians, teaching assistants, and teachers at all education levels. They represent a similar share of jobs in healthcare, office and administration, and social services occupations, including counseling, social work, and therapy.
- [Focus on federal revenue: Vermont state budget by major revenue and spending categories, FY2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/focus-on-federal-revenue-vermont-state-budget-by-major-revenue-and-spending-categories-fy2025)
- [Migration to and from Vermont, by age, 2021-2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/18037) - Half of all filers who moved into the state in 2022 were 26 to 44 years old, an age range closely matching the millennial generation. Using exemptions as a proxy, it appears some in that age group arrived with children, but we can’t tell how many. Notably, the state saw a net decrease in only one age bracket: filers under 26. While a couple of thousand young Vermonters left the state, about 1,800 moved in, resulting in a net drop of roughly 500 people in their early 20s—similar to moving patterns over the preceding decade. In all other age brackets—from young professionals to seniors—Vermont saw population growth from migration. But millennial filers accounted for the largest share of overall growth.
- [Net migration to Vermont, by income, 2019-2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/net-migration-to-vermont-by-income-2019-2022) - Between 2019 and 2022, Vermont saw an influx of 3,000 households—about 7,000 people—most of them with six-figure incomes. These recent net gains followed a period starting in 2005, when Vermont was losing population through migration most years. But these net changes are still a small share of the total population: Since 1993, Vermont has seen a total net gain of about 3,000 people through migration.
- [Number of out-migrants and in-migrants, by state of destination and origin, 2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-out-migrants-and-in-migrants-by-state-of-destination-and-origin-2022) - Nearly half of all people who moved out of Vermont in 2022 headed elsewhere in the northeastern United States, with more than a third relocating across the border to a neighboring state. This was also true for people moving into Vermont—more than a third moved from New York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Nine states made the Top 10 lists of both where Vermonters were moving to and where they were coming from. These patterns are not new. Many of the same states have been on Vermont’s top in- and out-migration lists since the data were first collected, and there’s been significant overlap between the two lists every year. Because of this overlap, the net migration between states is usually low. For example, while over 1,000 people moved between California and Vermont in 2022, Vermont’s population dropped by only 10.
- [Number of people who left, arrived, and remained in Vermont, 2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/number-of-people-who-left-arrived-and-remained-in-vermont-2022) - For all of the focus on migration, an important fact is often overlooked: The vast majority of Vermonters stay put. Only about 3 percent of people moved out in 2022, which has been the pattern for 30 years.
- [Migration to and from Vermont, by income, 2021-2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/migration-to-and-from-vermont-by-income-2021-2022) - The IRS data on income undercut an often repeated claim that the wealthy are fleeing the state. In fact, wealthy Vermonters move away every year. But wealthy residents from other states also move in every year. From 2012 to 2022, Vermont had a net gain in filers with income of $200,000 or more in all but one year. In 2022, for every three filers in that income bracket who left the state, five moved in. Based on the most recent data, Vermont saw net gains among filers with income of $50,000 or more and net losses among filers earning less than $50,000. Just over half of the filers who moved out of the state earned under $50,000. This pattern was more pronounced with millennial filers: Most of the growth from migration in this age range came from households that earned $100,000 or more.
- [Annual migration of people to and from Vermont, 1993-2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-migration-of-people-to-and-from-vermont-1993-2022) - Recently released IRS data from tax filings in 2022 provide new information about people moving in and out of Vermont. For the third year in a row, the state continued to see more filers enter than leave. Two of these years of growth occurred during the COVID pandemic—2021 and 2022.
- [Minimum wage and livable wage, 2014-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/minimum-wage-and-livable-wage-2014-2024) - A recent report by the Joint Fiscal Office shows that Vermont’s 2024 livable wage was nearly $19 an hour—exceeding the state minimum wage by almost $5. Vermont defines livable wage as the hourly earnings necessary for a single person working full time and living in shared housing to meet their basic needs. The gap was the largest in a decade, making it harder for workers to make ends meet. While the state’s minimum wage increased from 2022 to 2024, it did not keep up with rising costs or wages in neighboring states. The minimum wage increased again at the start of 2025, but not enough to close the gap. At the new rate of $14.01 per hour, a full-time minimum wage earner is still nearly $10,000 in the hole each year. And the minimum wage does not even cover all workers. The tipped minimum wage is set at half the standard minimum wage, and agricultural workers can earn even less.
- [Vermont Child Tax Credit, per child under 6, by family income, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-child-tax-credit-per-child-under-6-by-family-income-2024) - The Child Tax Credit (CTC) provides cash to families with children under six, reducing poverty and providing flexibility to meet their differing needs. In 2022, the Vermont Legislature enacted a Child Tax Credit for families with young children. In its second year, the CTC provided $24 million to 20,000 Vermont families.
- [Maximum EITC for Vermonters, by family type, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/maximum-eitc-for-vermonters-by-family-type-2024) - The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides cash to families, reducing poverty and providing flexibility to meet their differing needs. The state EITC is 38 percent of the federal credit. In 2024, 32,500 households claimed $26 million from the state EITC.
- [Health insurance, by type of coverage, U.S. and Vermont, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/health-insurance-by-type-of-coverage-u-s-and-vermont-2023) - More than 95 percent of Vermonters have healthcare coverage. Public programs provided coverage to 42 percent of Vermonters in 2023, compared with 37 percent of the U.S. as a whole. Much of that difference was driven by Vermont’s older population: A larger share of Vermonters are eligible for Medicare. Meanwhile, 46 percent—just under 300,000 Vermonters—had private coverage through their employers, with an additional 17,000 purchasing coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. Many low-income Vermonters with Medicare also had Medicaid coverage, but they are counted only under Medicare in this chart. And many older Vermonters purchased supplemental private plans, but they are not included in the private insurance count. Vermont ranked fifth for coverage among the states, although at least 90 percent of residents have coverage in all but 14 states.
- [Inflation - Medical care and all items, Oct 2021-Oct 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/inflation-medical-care-and-all-items-oct-2021-oct-2024) - The consumer price index (CPI) is probably the best-known inflation indicator. It tracks changes in the cost of what is called a “market basket” of goods and services, which include food, energy, shelter, clothing, medical care, and transportation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issues the index, as well as price changes for individual components, nationally and by region monthly. After growing more slowly than overall inflation from 2021 to 2023, the cost of medical care grew by more than 6 percent from 2023 to 2024. Insurers for small group and individual plans offered on the ACA exchange will impose increases of 11 percent to 23 percent in 2025.
- [Healthcare costs for employer-based healthcare, by family type, 2004, 2014, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/healthcare-costs-for-employer-based-healthcare-by-family-type-2004-2014-2024) - While almost all Vermonters have healthcare coverage, the quality of that coverage varies, and the out-of-pocket costs can still be high. While Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur provide expansive care with limited out-of-pocket costs for low-income adults and children, seniors on Medicare often purchase a supplemental private plan to pay for care that Medicare does not cover. And Vermonters who get private care through their employers have seen increases in premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs in recent years. After growing more slowly than overall inflation from 2021 to 2023, the cost of medical care grew by more than 6 percent from 2023 to 2024. Insurers for small group and individual plans offered on the ACA exchange will impose increases of 11 percent to 23 percent in 2025.
- [New housing units and additional estimated demand, 2019-2023, and projected housing unit demand, 2025-2029](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/new-housing-units-and-additional-estimated-demand-2019-2023-and-projected-housing-unit-demand-2025-2029) - Vermont’s high housing costs are largely driven by limited supply. New residential housing construction has not kept up with demand in recent years, averaging about 2,200 new units per year since 2019. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency estimates that the state needs nearly 10,000 new units to catch up on the backlog; it will need 3,000 to 5,000 additional units per year between 2025 and 2029 to keep pace with migration to the state, replace aging housing stock, and account for shrinking household size. In addition to limited new construction, other factors are constraining supply. The 2023 floods permanently destroyed 300 units and temporarily damaged 1,300 more. The increasing number of short-term rental properties such as Airbnb or Vrbo units is also contributing to the shortage of permanent units, particularly in certain areas of the state.
- [Vermont households in unaffordable housing, by unit type, 2018 and 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-households-in-unaffordable-housing-by-unit-type-2018-and-2023) - Housing costs are a major driver of economic insecurity in Vermont. In 2023, of the 50,000 renter households with incomes under $75,000, nearly two-thirds, or 32,000, spent more than 30 percent of their income on housing—the definition of unaffordability. The same was true for more than half of lower-income homeowners, or 42,000 households.
- [Monthly housing payments for median price home, by component, Vermont, 2021-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/monthly-housing-payments-for-median-price-home-by-component-vermont-2021-2023) - Mortgage costs are way up. For a house at median price in Vermont, a monthly payment leapt 56 percent in the last two years, from about $1,600 in 2021 to over $2,500 in 2023.
- [Short-term rentals by county, Jul 2017-Aug 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/short-term-rentals-by-county-jul-2017-aug-2024) - Vermont’s high housing costs are largely driven by limited supply. New residential housing construction has not kept up with demand in recent years, averaging about 2,200 new units per year since 2019. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency estimates that the state needs nearly 10,000 new units to catch up on the backlog; it will need 3,000 to 5,000 additional units per year between 2025 and 2029 to keep pace with migration to the state, replace aging housing stock, and account for shrinking household size. In addition to limited new construction, other factors are constraining supply. The 2023 floods permanently destroyed 300 units and temporarily damaged 1,300 more. The increasing number of short-term rental properties such as Airbnb or Vrbo units is also contributing to the shortage of permanent units, particularly in certain areas of the state.
- [Homeless Vermonters with and without shelter, Jan 2019-Jan 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/homeless-vermonters-with-and-without-shelter-jan-2019-jan-2024) - Nearly 3,500 Vermonters were identified as homeless in January 2024, one of the highest per capita rates in the country and triple the number before the pandemic. During the pandemic, the state used federal relief funds to house people in motels, which had few guests at that time, and changed the eligibility rules so that more people qualified for assistance. When federal pandemic-related housing aid ended in the spring of 2023, the state returned to pre-Covid eligibility rules. Since then the state has extended shelter programs multiple times for eligible groups. But it put in place additional limits in July 2024, resulting in the eviction of over 1,500 people from shelter in the fall of 2024. A more expansive seasonal shelter program is in effect from December through March.
- [Inflation - Housing and all items, Oct 2021-Oct 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/inflation-housing-and-all-items-oct-2021-oct-2024) - The consumer price index (CPI) is probably the best-known inflation indicator. It tracks changes in the cost of what is called a “market basket” of goods and services, which include food, energy, shelter, clothing, medical care, and transportation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issues the index, as well as price changes for individual components, nationally and by region monthly.
- [Real wages by select percentile, Vermont, 2003-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/real-wages-by-select-percentile-vermont-2003-2023) - Wages have not kept up with economic growth over the last two decades. While recent wage growth has made up some ground in the last few years, particularly at the low end of the scale, the preceding years of stagnant wages mean that many Vermonters are still struggling to afford their basic needs.
- [Cumulative growth in Vermont GSP and U.S. GDP, 2003-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/cumulative-growth-in-vermont-gsp-and-u-s-gdp-2003-2023) - Wages have not kept up with economic growth over the last two decades. While recent wage growth has made up some ground in the last few years, particularly at the low end of the scale, the preceding years of stagnant wages mean that many Vermonters are still struggling to afford their basic needs.
- [Real median household income, New England states and U.S., 2019-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/real-median-household-income-new-england-states-and-u-s-2019-2023) - Vermont’s real household income grew 7.8 percent from 2019 through 2023. While that was the sharpest rise in the country, Vermont still ranked 17th in household income, up from a ranking of 26th in 2019 but still behind most of the other states in the region. For most Vermonters, household income is the sum of the wages earned by members of the household, so this increase may reflect an increase in household size rather than real gains. For wealthier Vermonters, a greater share of income is unearned, from sources such as investments.
- [Poverty rate by age, Vermont, 2019 and 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/poverty-rate-by-age-vermont-2019-and-2023) - Vermonters over 65 saw a jump in poverty, with nearly 6,000 more falling below the threshold since 2019. The poverty rate for Black Vermonters was more than double the rate for all Vermonters in 2023. Both patterns replicate those in the country as a whole. Vermont saw the biggest increase in elder poverty among the New England states.
- [Inflation - Food and all items, Oct 2021-Oct 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/inflation-food-and-all-items-oct-2021-oct-2024) - The consumer price index (CPI) is probably the best-known inflation indicator. It tracks changes in the cost of what is called a “market basket” of goods and services, which include food, energy, shelter, clothing, medical care, and transportation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issues the index, as well as price changes for individual components, nationally and by region monthly.
- [Vermont labor force participation rate by sex, 2003-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-labor-force-participation-rate-by-sex-2003-2023) - The labor force participation rate for men has been gradually falling for the last 20 years, although it has regained some ground since declining during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the rate for women held relatively steady between 2003 and 2013, before beginning to decline. Women’s participation has similarly recovered since the pandemic, but still not to pre-Great Recession levels. For both men and women, Vermont has typically maintained higher participation rates than the U.S. as a whole. And while Vermont has one of the smallest gender wage gaps in the country, women still earn less than men.
- [Average prices and wages as a percentage of U.S. averages, New England states, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/average-prices-and-wages-as-a-percentage-of-u-s-averages-new-england-states-2023) - Vermont’s average wages have trailed the nation’s for decades, while prices are average. That wage lag is driven by two factors: Wages for many jobs in Vermont are lower than for the same jobs in other states; and very highly paid workers in just a handful of states pull up the national figure. In fact, most states’ wages are lower than the average. But Vermont has one of the biggest gaps between wages and prices. In many states, wages correspond more closely to prices.
- [Vermont job openings and unemployed, Jan 2019-Aug 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-job-openings-and-unemployed-jan-2019-aug-2024) - For over three years—from July 2021 to July 2024—Vermont had more than two job openings for every person looking for work. Over the same period, the state’s unemployment rate remained under 3.5 percent, among the lowest in the country. At the state level there are no details about the types of jobs available or the levels of pay, information that might help explain why more Vermonters have not rejoined the workforce since the pandemic.
- [Poverty rate by race, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/poverty-rate-by-race-2023) - Vermonters over 65 saw a jump in poverty, with nearly 6,000 more falling below the threshold since 2019. The poverty rate for Black Vermonters was more than double the rate for all Vermonters in 2023. Both patterns replicate those in the country as a whole. Vermont saw the biggest increase in elder poverty among the New England states.
- [Vermont population by age, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-population-by-age-2023) - Over 64 percent of Vermont’s baby boomers—people born between 1946 and 1964—were 65 or older as of 2023, the age at which they become eligible for Medicare. They become eligible for full Social Security benefits at age 66 or 67, depending on their birth year. Labor force participation has been increasing for older Vermonters. At 26 percent in 2023, it was the highest in the country. But that’s much lower than the participation rate for workers under 65.
- [Components of Vermont’s population change, 2020-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/components-of-vermonts-population-change-2020-2023) - Vermont’s population has increased by 4,387 since the start of the decade. Deaths outnumbered births, but net positive migration (in-migration minus out-migration), both international and domestic, drove the overall increase. All counties except Rutland and Bennington have added population since 2020, with Grand Isle seeing the biggest percentage increase.
- [Childhood poverty, three-year average, 2021-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/childhood-poverty-three-year-average-2021-2023) - When government aid is accounted for, childhood poverty drops. The Supplemental Poverty Measure accounts for noncash aid; the Official Poverty Rate does not. That decline holds true across the New England states and the U.S. as a whole. In Vermont, childhood poverty was a third lower from 2021 through 2023 when government benefits were counted. State-level refundable tax credits, particularly the Child Tax Credit enacted in 2022, helped lift 3,000 Vermont kids out of poverty during this period.
- [Vermont EITC by income, select filing status, and number of children, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-eitc-by-income-select-filing-status-and-number-of-children-2024) - The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) provide cash to families, reducing poverty and providing flexibility to meet their differing needs. The state EITC is 38 percent of the federal credit. In 2021 Covid relief increased the federal EITC for filers without children and expanded eligibility, leading to an increase in uptake at the state level too. In 2022, the Vermont Legislature enacted a Child Tax Credit for families with young children. In its second year, the CTC provided $24 million to 20,000 Vermont families, while 32,500 households claimed $26 million from the state EITC.
- [Minimum wage, New England states and U.S., 2014-2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/minimum-wage-new-england-states-and-u-s-2014-2024) - Vermont is one of 20 states where the minimum wage is indexed to inflation and increases automatically each year. The minimum wage in Vermont was $13.67 in 2024 and increased to $14.01 on January 1, 2025; the tipped minimum wage is half the standard minimum wage. Vermont began indexing in 2007, earlier than many states, and has also raised the wage by more than inflation multiple times since then. However, Vermont still has the lowest minimum wage of any of the New England states except New Hampshire, which matches the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Vermont’s tipped minimum is higher than all other states’ in the region except Maine.
- [Maximum CCFAP payment as percent of full-time licensed centers market rate costs , 2019 and 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/maximum-ccfap-payment-as-percent-of-full-time-licensed-centers-market-rate-costs-2019-and-2024) - In 2023, Vermont committed over $100 million annually to expand access to childcare and improve the system for providers and families. The investment increased the subsidies as well as the number of families eligible for them. One challenge has been matching supply to demand. After an abrupt decline during the pandemic, enrollment has been growing again but was not back to 2019 levels by the end of 2023. Total licensed capacity for centers has increased in the state, but providers are struggling to staff programs or meet demand in some areas of the state.
- [Cost of basic needs and housing, and maximum monthly Reach Up grant, family of four, 2004-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/cost-of-basic-needs-and-housing-and-maximum-monthly-reach-up-grant-family-of-four-2004-2023) - Reach Up provides cash assistance to low-income Vermonters with children based on an estimate of the cost of basic needs and housing. It’s a different—and much lower—standard than the Basic Needs Budget amount in the state’s livable wage report, more a bare minimum than a self-sufficiency standard. For the last 20 years, the state has aimed to provide a maximum benefit that covers half that minimum basic needs amount. But for 15 years, from 2004 to 2019, the state did not update the benefit amount for inflation, continuing to use the 2004 basic needs standard. To address the increasing gap between what families needed and what the program provided, the state began basing grants on the 2008 basic needs amount in 2019, and in 2021 started using the 2019 standard, where it remains. The current maximum benefit for a family of four is $976, which covered 40 percent of basic needs in 2023. The housing allowance is still based on 2001 housing costs, which have risen by 66 percent since then.
- [Vermont state budget, by subcategory, FY2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-state-budget-by-subcategory-fy2025) - The state budget reflects our priorities. Healthcare and pre-K-through-12 public education each account for about a third of the total state budget. But the other policies and programs that help make Vermont affordable—like cash assistance, food programs, childcare subsidies, and housing support—together account for only 10 percent. That means reasonable, targeted investments in these areas can make a big, immediate difference to Vermonters struggling to afford their basic needs.
- [Average annual adjusted gross income by quintile and basic needs budget, 2022](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/average-annual-adjusted-gross-income-by-quintile-and-basic-needs-budget-2022) - More than half of single adults in Vermont, with kids or without, cannot afford to meet their basic needs. Even many two-earner households fall short. Meanwhile, the wealthiest Vermonters have over $1 million left annually after covering their needs.
- [Percent change in real personal income, by state, 2022-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/percent-change-in-real-personal-income-by-state-2022-2023) - Vermont total personal income rose to $43 billion in 2023. Adjusted for inflation, that was an increase of 6 percent over the previous year, the highest among the states. Personal income, a key economic indicator, includes salary and wages, business income, interest and dividends, government benefits such as Social Security, employer retirement contributions, and other income. It does not include capital gains. Personal income is an aggregate measure; it doesn’t tell us how individuals are faring. But Vermont also scored well in 2023 on a measure that does. Census data released in September showed a rise in Vermonters’ median household income of 5.4 percent, after adjusting for inflation—also the largest percentage increase in the country. Half of households earn less than median, and half earn more.
- [Vermont budget appropriations over time by funding source, FY14-FY25](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-budget-appropriations-over-time-by-funding-source-fy14-fy25) - The total state budget was $8.6 billion in FY25 This was up from $6 billion pre-pandemic Federal Covid money hit in FY20-FY23 Post-pandemic, Vermont has increases in both baseline federal funds due to infrastructure investments and state funds due to increased economic activity
- [State and local taxes as a share of family income, by tax and quintile, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/state-and-local-taxes-as-a-share-of-family-income-by-tax-and-quintile-2024) - Vermont is one of the few states where the tax system does not make inequality worse The system is mostly progressive but still regressive at the top, meaning the highest-income Vermonters pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than many middle-class Vermonters Sales taxes tend to be the most regressive, although Vermont exempts many necessities like food, clothing and prescriptions Vermont’s income tax is progressive Property taxes tend to be regressive but Vermont’s is progressive at the low end because of income sensitivity in school taxes
- [Appropriations by major spending category, FY25](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/appropriations-by-major-spending-category-fy25) - Public education and healthcare are the biggest things the state does, with each accounting for about a third of the budget Public education is paid for with mostly state dollars and healthcare is paid for with mostly federal dollars Other investments are a mix of state and federal dollars
- [Vermont state revenues by major category, FY25](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-state-revenues-by-major-category-fy25) - The state relies on three main taxes: sales/consumption, income and property In Vermont, unlike other states, residential school taxes are a mix of income-based and property-based Federal money comes with a specific purpose with some flexibility in how to spend it, while state dollars are a mix of dedicated and general uses
- [Vermont state budget by major revenue and spending categories, FY25](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/17725) - This is the so-called “spaghetti” chart of Vermont’s state budget for FY25. It shows the big picture of the state’s revenues and how they are spent.
- [Vermont median household income, 2013-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/17671) - Vermont median household income rose to $81,211 last year—a 5.4 percent increase, after adjusting for inflation. Half of Vermont’s 280,000 households earn less than the median and half earn more. The rebound followed a drop in real income—that is, a loss of buying power after adjusting for inflation—in 2022. The one-year increase led the other states. Vermont also saw growth of 7.8 percent in median household income from 2019, before the pandemic, through last year—the nation’s greatest rise during that period.
- [Childhood poverty, New England, 2021-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/childhood-poverty-new-england-2021-2023) - New Census data offer proof that federal and state governments can significantly reduce child poverty. Almost 9 percent of Vermont’s kids lived in poverty, according to the three-year average of the federal official poverty measure for 2021-2023. However, the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)—which factors in state and federal government programs such as universal school meals, food and utility assistance, and the child tax credit—came in 3 percentage points lower, at less than 6 percent for the same period. The difference in poverty rates was evident across New England, where anti-poverty programs are generally strong. In Vermont, the 3-percentage-point difference between the two measures accounted for roughly 3,000 children.
- [Mental and behavioral health positions, Vermont school districts, FY2022 to FY2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/mental-and-behavioral-health-positions-vermont-school-districts-fy2022-to-fy2025) - Mental health providers and services are unevenly available around the state. That means some schools have to hire their own specialists at higher costs than districts that can contract with local providers. And the demand for mental health positions has more than quadrupled in the last three years, compounding the impact. Data source: Vermont Agency of Education
- [Vermonters can pay school taxes based on income or property value, many pay some of each](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermonters-can-pay-school-taxes-based-on-income-or-property-value-many-pay-some-of-each) - There are also inequities in who pays school taxes. Vermont’s funding system gives resident homeowners the option to pay school taxes based on their income or the value of their homes. Built into the system are thresholds on income and home values that require some low- and moderate-income people to pay both a school income tax and property taxes on a portion of their home’s value. The thresholds create tax “cliffs,” where an extra dollar of income or a property reappraisal can have disproportional tax consequences. The thresholds have not been raised or adjusted for inflation in years. And because incomes and property values have grown, more and more Vermonters are hitting these cliffs. Homeowners who cross the $47,000 income threshold can see a school tax increase of 10, 15, 25 percent or more. A family with a $350,000 home that crosses the $90,000 income threshold could see a 70 percent jump in school taxes. Data source: 32 V.S.A. § 6066
- [Vermont education funding appropriations, adjusted for inflation, 2005-2025](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-education-funding-appropriations-adjusted-for-inflation-2005-2025) - Adjusted for inflation, education spending was flat from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2024, according to the Legislature’s joint fiscal office. And while the number of students (long-term average daily membership) has declined over that period, again after adjusting for inflation, the average annual increase in per-pupil spending was less than 1 percent per year.
- [Annual U-3 and U-6 unemployment, 2003-2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-u-3-and-u-6-unemployment-2003-2023) - Vermont’s official jobless rate hit record lows last year as the state continued to recover from the pandemic. That is also true for the broadest measure of unemployment, called U-6, which counts people who have dropped out of the labor force and those who are underemployed. U-6 averaged 3.9 percent for 2023, Vermont’s lowest in 20 years, tying with South Dakota for the lowest rate in the country. The unemployment rates reported every month count only people who are out of work and actively looking for a job. But there are others who would like to work but have stopped looking, as well as part-time workers who would like more hours. These underemployed workers make up the bulk of people not captured in the official jobless rates.
- [How the common level of appraisal (CLA) works](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/how-the-common-level-of-appraisal-cla-works) - The CLA is misunderstood to begin with. It affects school tax rates at the town level, but not school tax bills. The CLA is part of the process to ensure fairness in the property tax system. For taxes to be fair, property needs to be evaluated against a uniform standard—a “common level of appraisal.” Townwide reappraisals of individual property are expensive, so they are done periodically. But each year the state determines the aggregate fair market value of each town. Based on those values, the Legislature determines the tax rates—known as “equalized tax rates”—that will generate the revenue needed to help fund public education.
- [Net change in migration to and from Vermont, 1993-2021](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/net-change-in-migration-to-and-from-vermont-1993-2021) - Vermont was an attractive destination for people moving from other states during the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The state saw a net gain of more than 3,000 residents in 2020 and again in 2021, the biggest increases since the IRS began tracking state-tostate migration in the early 1990s.
- [Migration to and from Vermont, by income, 2020 and 2021](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/migration-to-and-from-vermont-by-income-2020-and-2021) - About a decade ago, the IRS also began tracking migration by the age and income of the primary tax filer. For 2021, Vermont saw a net increase in all age brackets except filers under age 26. (Again, the IRS reports only the primary filer’s age, not the ages of everyone who migrated in and out.) In 2021 Vermont also netted an increase in the number of tax filers in all but the lowest income bracket (less than $10,000 a year). The biggest gains occurred in the highest tax brackets, as has been true over the last decade. But the age and income information is separate from information about which states people move to or from. So we can know either the age and income of filers or the states they left, but not both at the same time. For example, we know that 1,100 filers with incomes of $200,000 or more moved to Vermont in 2021, but we don’t know where they came from. And we can’t tell where the 35-44-year-olds went after leaving Vermont.
- [Migration to and from Vermont, by age group, 2020 and 2021](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/migration-to-and-from-vermont-by-age-group-2020-and-2021) - About a decade ago, the IRS also began tracking migration by the age and income of the primary tax filer. For 2021, Vermont saw a net increase in all age brackets except filers under age 26. (Again, the IRS reports only the primary filer’s age, not the ages of everyone who migrated in and out.) In 2021 Vermont also netted an increase in the number of tax filers in all but the lowest income bracket (less than $10,000 a year). The biggest gains occurred in the highest tax brackets, as has been true over the last decade. But the age and income information is separate from information about which states people move to or from. So we can know either the age and income of filers or the states they left, but not both at the same time. For example, we know that 1,100 filers with incomes of $200,000 or more moved to Vermont in 2021, but we don’t know where they came from. And we can’t tell where the 35-44-year-olds went after leaving Vermont.
- [Top ten states - migration to and from Vermont, 2020-2021](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/top-ten-states-migration-to-and-from-vermont-2020-2021) - The state saw a net gain of more than 3,000 residents in 2020 and again in 2021, the biggest increases since the IRS began tracking state-to-state migration in the early 1990s. Many of the new arrivals did not travel far. More than 19,000 people moved to Vermont in 2021, and over half of them came from states in the Northeast. About 16,400 Vermonters moved away; the most popular destinations were other New England states, New York, and Florida. The pattern was similar from 2019 to 2020.
- [Share of jobs unfilled, April 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-jobs-unfilled-april-2024) - Vermont employers have been steadily filling unfilled jobs. It’s been a challenge because of Vermont’s low unemployment rate. At times, there were as many as three job openings for each person looking for work. Nevertheless, employers have succeeded in finding workers to fill the vacancies. In January 2023, employers had just over 332,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, 7 percent of them unfilled. In April of this year, there were almost 330,000 nonfarm jobs, and the share that were unfilled had dropped to 4.5 percent. Vermont was among three states with the biggest drop in the job opening rate from March to April—nearly a full percentage point. The state showed the lowest percentage of unfilled jobs in New England in April. Nationally, the job opening rate was 4.8 percent that month.
- [Change in labor force by month, June 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/change-in-labor-force-by-month-june-2024) - Vermont’s labor force—those working and those available for work—grew during the first six months of 2024. Growth in June marked 44 months of gains and brought the total labor force up to 357,568 people, a level not seen since 2011.
- [Annual average wage by county, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/annual-average-wage-by-county-2023) - Vermont’s average annual wage rose 3.7 percent in 2023, to nearly $62,000. But the wage in 12 of the state’s 14 counties came in below that average. Chittenden County, which held a third of the state’s jobs, showed the highest average annual wage: $70,269. Washington County, another large employment hub, was second, at $64,682. A little over 44 percent of Vermont‘s jobs were in either Chittenden or Washington County, so wages there had a big effect on the state average. The lowest average annual wage in a single county lagged far behind the state average: $47,479 in Essex County—though the county made little impact on average wages because it had the state’s smallest share of jobs. No county in Vermont met the national average of roughly $72,000.
- [Personal income, by components, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/personal-income-by-components-2023) - Vermont personal income grew by 5.5 percent in 2023—to $43 billion total—the fastest growth in New England and slightly faster than the U.S. as a whole. The major components—earnings, dividends, interest, rent, and transfer payments—all increased, with transfer payments seeing the strongest growth. Transfers include Social Security, unemployment, medical (including Medicaid and Medicare), and other income from government sources. Personal income does not include capital gains.
- [Vermont workers represented by unions, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-workers-represented-by-unions-2023) - Vermont saw more than a 20 percent increase in the number of workers represented by unions in 2023. Union representation—meaning both union members and nonmembers covered by union contracts—rose to 46,000 in 2023 from 38,000 the previous year, the biggest increase in at least a decade. From 2018 through 2023, the share of Vermont workers covered by union contracts rose to 15.4 percent from 11.6 percent. That moved Vermont into seventh place among the states, by percentage of coverage. Hawaii leads the country, with more than a quarter of workers represented, while the U.S. as a whole comes in at 11.2 percent, about 16 million workers.
- [Vermonters working, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermonters-working-2024) - The number of Vermonters working increased again in January, just beating the number in January 2020, before the pandemic lockdown began. That makes the 45th consecutive month that employment has risen. The streak, starting in May 2020, is the longest in decades. The number of Vermonters looking for work also ticked up, even as the unemployment rate held steady at 2.3 percent, the third lowest in the country.
- [Total jobs, 2024](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/total-jobs-2024) - Total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 2,000 in January, topping 311,500 for the first time since March 2020. But the mix of jobs has changed. Jobs in the Professional and Business Services sector have increased by nearly 4,000. Meanwhile, the numbers in the Private Education and Health Services and Leisure and Hospitality sectors remain below their January 2020 levels—falling about 2,700 and 2,300 short, respectively.
- [Change in jobs by county, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/change-in-jobs-by-county-2023) - Vermont had 3,900 fewer jobs in 2023 than before the pandemic in 2019. But according to newly released data from the Vermont Department of Labor, the losses have not been evenly distributed. In fact, five Vermont counties showed net gains from 2019 to 2023, while the other nine saw net losses. Between 2022 and 2023, all Vermont counties saw job growth, ranging from 23 jobs in Essex County to 1,791 in Chittenden County. The state gained 5,500 jobs that year. The data also show that Essex County had the lowest average wage in 2023, at $47,479, and Chittenden County the highest, $70,269. The Vermont Department of Labor defines the average annual wage as total annual wages divided by average monthly jobs.
- [Monthly unemployment, Jul-Dec 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/monthly-unemployment-jul-dec-2023) - Vermont’s unemployment rate ticked up again in December. Since July, the number of unemployed Vermonters rose from 6,300 to more than 7,700. That’s probably good news. Unemployment is a count of people actively seeking work. The increase could signal that Vermonters have grown more hopeful about finding a job. In fact, during the same period, the number of people with jobs also rose steadily. So did the labor force—that is, working-age people either working or looking for work. In November, employers reported that they had 19,000 job openings.
- [Share of workers without paid sick leave, 2023](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/share-of-workers-without-paid-sick-leave-2023) - During the post-holiday spike in Covid cases, many working Vermonters have probably needed sick time. But not all of them have it. A recent report from the Center for Law and Social Policy shows that while Vermont is one of 15 states with paid sick leave laws, access here varies by income level and job status. Low-wage workers and part-time workers are less likely to have sick leave: 27 percent of those in the lowest quarter of the income scale lack access, compared with 8 percent at the highest end. And three in 10 part-time Vermont workers cannot take time off when they’re ill. But Vermont workers are still better off than their counterparts in most states: Four in 10 low-income workers across the country do not have sick leave, and 44 percent of part-time workers are not covered.
- [SWVT23 - tax progressivity](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-tax-progressivity) - Progressive tax systems impose higher rates on those with more income and lower rates on those with less income. Regressive systems tax the poor more heavily than the rich. Vermont has adopted various mechanisms to make its systems more progressive: an income tax with higher rates on higher income; sales tax exemptions on necessities that take a bigger bite of smaller earnings, such as food and medicine; and school taxes based not on property value but on income, which better conforms with ability to pay.
- [SWVT23 - income inequality](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-income-inequality) - Income inequality is an economic situation in which a small group receives a disproportionate share of the income, leaving less for everyone else. It is one indication of how economic growth is being distributed across a population. The analysis of income distribution is based on Internal Revenue Service data.
- [SWVT23 - income of the top 1%](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-income-of-the-top-1)
- [SWVT - State and local taxes as a percentage of personal income](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt-state-and-local-taxes-as-a-percentage-of-personal-income) - State and local taxes comprise all taxes levied by Vermont’s state and local government entities to fund public investments. Personal income is a major economic indicator. It includes total income received by persons living in Vermont from all sources except capital gains.
- [SWVT23 - Covid hospitalizations](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-covid-hospitalizations) - Hospitalization data now provide the best measure of Covid-19’s effect on communities, according to the Vermont Health Department. Measuring hospitalizations per 100,000 residents allows Vermont to compare itself with other states.
- [SWVT23 - Homelessness](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-homelessness) - The point-in-time homeless count is a measure of the number of people living in emergency shelters, hotels, transitional housing, and places not meant for human habitation. It does not include households doubled up with family or friends. The figure is based on a census taken each year in one 24-hour period in January. Vermont housing organizations conduct the survey using methods established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- [SWVT23 - Poverty by race](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-poverty-by-race) - The U.S. Census tracks poverty by many demographics, including race. Because the number of Vermonters of color is relatively small, five-year estimates—based on surveys collected over five years and therefore representing a larger population sample—provide a more reliable picture of the differences. Nevertheless, some of the estimates have large margins of error.
- [SWVT23 - Childcare capacity](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-childcare-capacity) - Childcare capacity is the number of slots licensed providers and registered homes have available for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, as reported to the Department for Children and Families. Desired capacity differs from the licensed capacity set by the state and more accurately reflects the number of children that childcare facilities can accommodate.
- [SWVT23 - Basic needs B](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-basic-needs-b)
- [SWVT23 - Basic needs](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-basic-needs) - Basic needs are the essential requirements of living in Vermont, including food, housing, transportation, childcare, clothing, household expenses, telecommunications charges, health and dental care, insurance, and savings. Vermont’s Legislative Joint Fiscal Office calculates Basic Needs Budgets for six family configurations and publishes them in January of odd-numbered years. Budgets differ based on family size and residence in an urban or rural area.
- [SWVT23 - 3SquaresVT B](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-3squaresvt-b) - 3SquaresVT provides food assistance to Vermonters with incomes up to 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Participants receive benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- [SWVT23 - 3SquaresVT](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-3squaresvt) - 3SquaresVT provides food assistance to Vermonters with incomes up to 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Participants receive benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- [SWVT23 - Supplemental poverty measure B](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-supplemental-poverty-measure-b) - The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) was introduced in 2009 as a more comprehensive and accurate measure of poverty. Unlike the official poverty measure, which counts only cash income and the cost of food, the SPM includes cash income and noncash benefits such as tax credits, food assistance, and childcare and health care subsidies. It also has a broader definition of the cost of living, which includes food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and medical expenses.
- [SWVT23 - Supplemental poverty measure](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-supplemental-poverty-measure) - The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) was introduced in 2009 as a more comprehensive and accurate measure of poverty. Unlike the official poverty measure, which counts only cash income and the cost of food, the SPM includes cash income and noncash benefits such as tax credits, food assistance, and childcare and health care subsidies. It also has a broader definition of the cost of living, which includes food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and medical expenses.
- [SWVT23 - Refundable tax credits B](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-refundable-tax-credits-b) - Refundable tax credits are used to reduce personal income taxes; if the credit is more than the taxes due, the taxpayer receives the difference as a tax refund. Vermont’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which supplements the federal EITC and is available to low- and moderate- income working families and individuals, is a refundable credit. The Vermont Child Tax Credit (CTC), which can be claimed for each child under 6, was adopted in 2022 and is also refundable.
- [SWVT23 - Refundable tax credits](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-refundable-tax-credits) - Refundable tax credits are used to reduce personal income taxes; if the credit is more than the taxes due, the taxpayer receives the difference as a tax refund. Vermont’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which supplements the federal EITC and is available to low- and moderate- income working families and individuals, is a refundable credit. The Vermont Child Tax Credit (CTC), which can be claimed for each child under 6, was adopted in 2022 and is also refundable.
- [SWVT23 - Health insurance coverage](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-health-insurance-coverage) - Health insurance coverage is the percentage of the population with health insurance, privately or publicly funded, or both. The U.S. Census has been tracking coverage since 2008 by many demographics, including employment status.
- [SWVT23 - Hourly Wages by Percentile](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-hourly-wages-by-percentile) - Percentile wages are calculated by ranking the hourly wages of full-time workers and dividing them into equal-size groups. The 10th-percentile wage is the highest wage paid to the bottom 10 percent of workers, the 20th-percentile wage is the highest wage paid to the bottom 20 percent, and so on. The 50th-percentile wage is the median wage, meaning that half of all workers are paid less than that amount, and half are paid more.
- [SWVT23 - Labor force demographics](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-labor-force-demographics) - The labor force is the number of people age 16 and over available to work. The U.S. Census breaks down the labor force by different demographics through the Current Population Survey, including sex, age, race, and education level.
- [SWVT23 - Labor force participation rate men](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-labor-force-participation-rate-men) - The labor force comprises people who are employed and those who are unemployed and actively looking for work. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of working-age people (16 and over) who are in the labor force.
- [SWVT23 - Labor force participation rate women](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-labor-force-participation-rate-women) - The labor force comprises people who are employed and those who are unemployed and actively looking for work. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of working-age people (16 and over) who are in the labor force.
- [SWVT23 - Gender gap](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-gender-gap) - One measure of pay disparity between men and women is the median income for full-time, year-round workers. It is often expressed as the amount of income the typical female worker receives for each dollar received by the typical male worker.
- [SWVT23 - Median household income](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-median-household-income) - Median household income is the middle amount of annual income—half of Vermont households receive more than the median and half receive less. Household income includes the income of all household members over the age of 15. Real median household income has been adjusted for inflation, in order to compare the relative buying power of the median household over time.
- [SWVT23 - County employment](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-county-employment) - County employment is the number of people working, including farmworkers and those who are self-employed, by county of residence—even if the person works in another county.
- [SWVT23 - Labor force statistics](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-employed-unemployed) - Each month the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Vermont Department of Labor report four key statistics about the labor force, which are based on household surveys: • Labor force: people employed and unemployed. • Employed: payroll workers, farmworkers, and the self-employed. • Unemployed: people not employed who have actively looked for work in the previous four weeks. • Unemployment rate: number of people employed as a percentage of the labor force.
- [SWVT23 - Labor force statistics B](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-labor-force-statistics-b) - Each month the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Vermont Department of Labor report four key statistics about the labor force, which are based on household surveys: Labor force: people employed and unemployed. Employed: payroll workers, farmworkers, and the self-employed. Unemployed: people not employed who have actively looked for work in the previous four weeks. Unemployment rate: number of people employed as a percentage of the labor force.
- [SWVT23 - Jobs Added and Lost](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-jobs-added-and-lost) - Employers create and eliminate thousands of jobs every year. When the Vermont Department of Labor reports the monthly or annual change in jobs, that is the net number: total jobs added minus total jobs lost. Net job growth is an important indicator, but the gross numbers provide additional insight into the pace at which employers create jobs; the source of new jobs, whether existing businesses or startups; and the number of jobs lost as a result of business closures.
- [SWVT23 - Job Openings](https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/swvt23-job-openings) - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks job openings reported by employers monthly, by state. Comparing job openings to the number of people who are officially unemployed—that is, jobless and actively seeking work—provides a measure of the labor market. In times of recession, there may be five or more unemployed workers per job opening. In the current period of low unemployment, there are more jobs than people to fill them.

## Research & Publications

- [Vermonters’ wages lag behind the national average](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-wages-lag-behind-the-national-average) - Vermont’s average wage in 2025 was $67,172 annually, well below the U.S. average of $78,722. Most states’ averages fell below the national because a handful of higher-wage states drove up that number. All of Vermont counties’ average wages also came in below the national average. But two, those of Chittenden and Washington, were above the state’s average. Grand Isle and Essex had the lowest wages, below $52,000, with Grand Isle ranking among Vermont counties showing the fastest growth over the last decade and Essex among the slowest. Across the U.S., counties’ average annual wages varied from less than $34,000 in parts of Nebraska and Missouri to over $200,000 in California.
- [More Vermont women than men juggle several jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermont-women-than-men-juggle-several-jobs) - For each of the past 30 years, more Vermont women than men have held multiple jobs at once. The total number of people working several jobs peaked in 2007, with nearly 19,000 women holding more than one job, compared with about 15,000 men. Since then, the total number of Vermont workers with multiple jobs has declined, and the difference by sex has narrowed. Despite this decline, nearly 7.5 percent of the total Vermont workforce still juggled more than one job last year. This was higher than the national rate of 5.5 percent. Only 10 states had a higher share of multi-job workers than Vermont, and none were in New England. Kansas had the highest share, with more than 9 percent of its workforce holding more than one job.
- [Resources for tracking federal policy changes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/resources-for-tracking-federal-policy-changes) - There have been a lot of changes to federal policy in recent months that are affecting Vermonters. Some have taken effect, some have been proposed and are under consideration, some have been implemented and then reversed, and some are working their way through court challenges. We will keep this page updated as much as possible as new changes happen.
- [Don’t wait till later to talk about school funding](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/dont-wait-till-later-to-talk-about-school-funding) - The education reform train the Legislature assembled a year ago finally left the station when Gov. Phil Scott signed Act 170, but it is still a long way from its final destination. Even the bill the governor just signed, “An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system,” is just the start of a vitally important process of local community engagement to shape control and management of Vermont schools going forward. Despite the immediate demands of the next several months, it is not too early to start talking about the future of education funding. The governor and some legislative leaders act as though the new foundation funding system described in last year’s education reform bill (Act 73) is a done deal. But Vermont voters and taxpayers will have the final say, and they don’t have enough information yet to make that decision.
- [The latest: Ed funding reform](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-latest-ed-funding-reform) - After considerable confusion and dissent, the Legislature ultimately approved and the governor signed the education reform bill (Act 73) into law in July 2025 with the explicit goal of spending less on public education. But neither the House plan nor the Governor’s plan address the two biggest problems we face in education funding: • unfairness in who pays school taxes • the biggest cost drivers out of districts’ control like teacher healthcare and inflation And both plans are proposing some big structural changes that raise serious concerns: • reverting to a foundation plan • dismantling democratic participation in schools • state-imposed school and district consolidation • eliminating income-based taxes and doubling down on property-based taxes Vermonters did not ask for another overhaul of our public education finance and governance system; they asked for tax relief. Our schools and communities are still reeling from the pandemic and the last decade of major changes imposed by the governor and legislature: consolidation, special education reform, and pupil weighting changes. The state has not provided any evaluation of the outcomes of those reforms, but there has been a lot of confusion and chaos and negative unintended consequences.
- [Progress toward gender wage equality is slowing](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/progress-toward-gender-wage-equality-is-slowing) - Over the last decade, Vermont narrowed the gender wage gap. From 2014 through 2021, women’s median wage grew at 3.5 times the rate of men’s, closing the gap from 16 cents to just 7 cents per dollar. But between 2021 and 2024, that trend reversed. Men’s wages grew four times as quickly as women’s over that period. In 2024, women working full time earned $61,000 annually, compared with $67,000 for men.
- [Town2town map: Changes in education policy complicate spending analysis](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/changes-in-education-policy-complicate-spending-analysis) - Recent major changes and minor tweaks to Vermont’s education funding system have added complication and confusion. They’ve made it harder for Vermonters to understand the connection between school budgets and tax bills or see how spending and tax rates have changed over time. With metrics and calculation methods changed, it is more difficult to compare education funding data from fiscal 2024 and earlier with data since fiscal 2024 to assess whether the reforms are achieving their goals. This edition of the town2town report offers readers a tool to view and assess their local education spending and tax data. In the interactive charts, readers can view tax rates and per-pupil spending from fiscal 2016 to fiscal 2026 in relation to the statewide averages. So, while the drop in per-pupil spending from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025 will be hard to interpret, readers can see whether their town moved closer to or farther from the state average in those years.
- [Privacy matters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/privacy-matters) - In the last year we’ve seen firsthand the dangers of sharing and using people’s data without their consent. The Department of Homeland Security has used data from the IRS and Center on Medicaid Services to locate and detain people in many communities. This has had a chilling effect on people accessing services they are entitled to, like medical care, childcare and food assistance. In 2023 a poll by the Pew Research Center found that 67 percent of Americans had little knowledge about what data are collected about them. While people share some information willingly on social media, data are also collected on search engines and websites, by automobiles and doorbells, and at the doctor’s office. The use of the data can lead to real economic harm—one example is surveillance-pricing, where companies use consumer data to set different costs for buyers. With so much uncertainty and the lack of transparency around these practices, we need a systemic response protecting the collection and sharing of private data.
- [Facts still matter](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/facts-do-still-matter) - Facts still matter, and the proof of that is becoming more and more evident as we continue to lose access to valuable federal government data. Today is the day we would normally be getting information about the number of jobs employers added or cut last month. We would have learned if the number of Vermonters who are out of work rose or fell. And we should have gotten data on the ratio of job openings to the number of people looking for work, which could shed light on Vermonters’ employment prospects heading into the fall.
- [While many men returned to the workplace, women kept telecommuting](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/while-many-men-returned-to-the-workplace-women-kept-telecommuting) - Before the Covid pandemic, the numbers of Vermont men and women working remotely were roughly the same. This is according to the U.S. Census, which asked how workers usually got to work the week prior to answering the survey. During the pandemic, the number of both men and women working from home tripled. But after Covid’s peak, as telework declined a gender disparity emerged.
- [Vermont’s federal workforce has plummeted since 2024](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-federal-workforce-has-plummeted-since-2024) - Vermont’s federal workforce decreased by over 600 workers—or 11 percent—between the end of the fiscal year in September 2024 and February 2026. This count includes personnel at federal agencies but excludes the U.S. Postal Service. It is the lowest number of federal employees in at least 10 years. Vermont’s rate of decline is slightly lower than the country’s as a whole. Washington D.C. and Western states such as Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming saw losses closer to 20 percent over the period.
- [Despite growth, Vermont’s lowest wages aren’t livable](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/despite-growth-vermonts-lowest-wages-arent-livable) - Over the past two decades, real wages for the lowest earners in Vermont grew more slowly than in any other New England state or in the U.S. as a whole. In 2025, 10 percent of Vermonters earned $15 per hour or less. That was higher than the U.S. wage for the same group but represented a smaller increase: 25 percent in 20 years in Vermont, compared with 32 percent growth for the U.S. The state’s minimum hourly wage was just over $14 in 2025, but the livable wage was closer to $20.
- [Medicaid cuts will hurt schools](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-schools) - Last July, Congress cut Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over a decade as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Over 150,000 Vermonters—including 60,000 children—receive health insurance through Medicaid. Up to ten percent of adults could lose health coverage due to changes in eligibility and enrollment requirements, and kids may also lose coverage. For Vermont’s schools and students, reduced Medicaid payments could mean budget shortfalls.
- [Vermont responds to ICE](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-responds-to-ice) - The events this month during the ICE raid in South Burlington have prompted a lot of questions, and a number of investigations at the state and local levels about the conduct of Vermont law enforcement that day. One thing seems clear to all involved: the state was not prepared for what would happen when Vermonters resisted ICE’s aggressive tactics.
- [Kicking the tax can](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/kicking-the-tax-can) - Some school districts are experiencing sticker shock heading into Town Meeting. Their projected tax increases for the next school year seem out of line with their proposed spending increases. A few different things can cause this, but one big factor was the Legislature’s decision last year to use one-time funds to lower tax rates for the current school year. School tax rates are determined by per-pupil spending. But from year to year, spending and tax rates don’t necessarily track one another. For one thing, property taxes are the shock-absorbers for the funding system. Tax rates for other sources of education revenue, such as the sales tax or rooms and meals tax, are fixed. So if they fall short in any given year, property taxes have to make up the difference and rates go up accordingly.
- [Try looking from the other side](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/try-looking-from-the-other-side) - Spring is almost here and that means time is short for Montpelier to get in step with local communities on education funding. Montpelier wants to create a new system so it can control spending, and local communities are looking for help to cope with higher costs. They aren’t the same thing.
- [Vermont’s growth is coming from abroad](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-growth-is-coming-from-abroad) - Vermont’s migration trend last year continued a multi-decade pattern: international gains and domestic losses. Each year from 2005 to 2025, more people from abroad moved into the state than Vermonters left for other countries. Within the U.S., more Vermonters moved to other states than people in other states relocated to Vermont, resulting in net losses from domestic migration for 18 of the past 21 years. An outlier was 2021, during the pandemic, with a surge of nearly 5,000 people coming to Vermont through domestic migration. On average over the rest of the period, the state lost 800 people annually to other states. The international migration gains have helped offset these losses, contributing to net positive overall migration during this time.
- [The governance debate is about more than maps](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-governance-debate-is-about-more-than-maps) - Vermont’s current education debate seems stuck on what to do first: Overhaul the governance structure and then reform the funding system, or do something about spending and then re-draw school district maps? Governance should be the priority, but it’s not about the maps. The first question is whether Montpelier is going to take power from voters or local communities will retain the control they now have, but with better support from an Agency of Education adequately staffed and committed to assisting schools to improve education for Vermont children. Then people will know if they still have a role or decisions about funding and governance will be made for them.
- [Vermont has dealt with bigger budget gaps](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-has-dealt-with-bigger-budget-gaps) - Legislators are wringing their hands over the prospect of closing a $150 million budget gap. It's a daunting task. But 20 years ago Vermont faced an even bigger challenge. The projected shortfall was more than $150 million when Gov. Richard Snelling was sworn in in January 1991—but that was on a General Fund budget half
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 20, 2026 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-20-2026-budget-address) - If these were ordinary times, we would expect Gov. Phil Scott to deliver his usual budget address calling for more of the same spending and revenue policies. But these are not ordinary times. The relationship between Washington and the states has fundamentally changed. The states are facing unprecedented federal cuts, spending freezes and abrupt changes to essential services. This new reality requires a new approach to revenue. Vermont, along with the other states, are going to need to reclaim the money used to provide federal tax cuts to the wealthy. Less help from the federal government doesn’t make us helpless. We can take matters into our own hands and ensure Vermonters get the services they deserve.
- [How to make school taxes fairer this year and beyond](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/how-to-make-school-taxes-fairer-this-year-and-beyond) - The two most pressing problems in public education are the unfairness in who pays school taxes and the cost drivers out of schools’ control. Current proposals in Montpelier won’t solve either of these problems. We can provide immediate tax relief to thousands of Vermonters by updating income sensitivity and ultimately moving to income-based taxes. And we can address the cost drivers without slashing school budgets, forcing consolidation, or taking away Vermonters’ say in their schools.
- [Fewer Vermonters are working than before the pandemic](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fewer-vermonters-are-working-than-before-the-pandemic) - After years of steady growth, the number of Vermonters working fell below pre-pandemic levels in late 2025. It took more than three years for Vermont employment to return to normal in the wake of Covid. By early 2024, the number of Vermonters working exceeded the number employed before the crisis. Monthly employment reached an all-time high in January 2025, at 348,340. Then it dropped every month through November.
- [If healthcare tax credits expire, Vermonters face the biggest losses in the U.S.](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/if-healthcare-tax-credits-expire-vermonters-face-the-biggest-losses-in-the-u-s-2) - One of the main issues at stake in the federal government shutdown is the expiration of enhanced healthcare premium tax credits, which help people buy insurance through the state marketplace. If Congress does nothing, the credits will expire at the end of 2025, and millions of Americans will see large increases in the cost of their healthcare. Over 30,000 Vermonters get health coverage through the state exchange. And because Vermont has the highest premiums in the country, Vermonters no longer qualifying for the credits will see the biggest increases. Middle-income participants are looking at an additional $10,000 a year for an individual and $32,000 for a family of four. How the credits work Vermont’s health insurance marketplace launched in 2014 as part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). The goal was to provide access to affordable health insurance to consumers who can’t get it through work or public programs. The ACA requires every state to operate an exchange with multiple qualified health plans and helps cover the cost of the premiums.
- [State of Working Vermont 2025](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2025) - In many ways, 2025 has been a year like no other. Federal actions affecting the state have been fast and furious: freezing grants, eliminating housing supports, withholding or slashing food benefits and heating assistance, decimating healthcare access both by cutting Medicaid and ending enhanced insurance premium tax credits. All of this adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars in lost federal support, both to many individual Vermonters and to the state. The primary objective: to finance tax cuts for corporations and the rich. These are not the only federal policies that have immediate, measurable consequences for the state. Causing unprecedented harm to the security and prosperity of Vermonters are the near elimination of global public health resources, the loss of critical data collection, layoffs of federal workers by the thousands, and a campaign of lawless, aggressive, and indiscriminate immigration enforcement. At the same time, the story this report tells about Vermont is familiar.
- [Seize the opportunity for a second chance on school reform](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/seize-the-opportunity-for-a-second-chance-on-school-reform) - The Act 73 Redistricting Task Force wrapped up their work today, and they’ve given the state a chance to rethink the course of education reform it has been pursuing for the last decade. Vermont communities, as well as elected leaders, should seize this opportunity to get us out of the ditch we’ve been in and refocus on what should be our priority: ensuring our kids have what they need to thrive. The 168-page draft proposal from the November 10th meeting of the Task Force had a lot to digest. And it requires close reading because the proposal offers much more nuanced analyses of problems confronting the education system than we’ve seen from the administration or the Legislature in recent years. The Task Force also put out a more streamlined draft report today along with an explanation of the changes. One of the group’s most important recommendations is to stop further forced consolidation of school districts, which fits with one of the Task Force’s guiding principles: Do no harm. It’s not that the committee opposes mergers. It recommends voluntary consolidation for some districts in certain circumstances, which was the state’s policy before passage of Act 46 a decade ago.
- [State leaders got the SNAP response right](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-leaders-got-the-snap-response-right) - Now that the government shutdown is over, maybe the federal game of chicken over SNAP benefits will end too. That fight showed just how critical state action is to protect the safety and security of Vermonters. Thanks to the foresight of Vermont legislators this spring coupled with their quick action last month, thousands of Vermonters were able to access food assistance despite the federal government’s refusal to pay.
- [What’s at stake in a government shutdown: Vermont jobs and millions of dollars](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/whats-at-stake-in-a-government-shutdown-vermont-jobs-and-millions-of-dollars) - Thousands of Vermont’s federal workers are at risk of getting furloughed or fired under the government shutdown which began on October 1st. Even with a continuing resolution in place, hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding to Vermont could be at risk and lead to programmatic funding cuts, particularly in high-inflation sectors. Congressional leaders failed to reach an agreement on a funding bill. As a result, federal discretionary funding expired on September 30th, 2025 at midnight, the end of the 2025 federal fiscal year (FFY). While discretionary funding accounts for only about a quarter of all government spending, nearly half of this amount is allocated toward employee benefits and pay, making it a significant funding source for federal workers. Until Congress takes action, many federal programs won’t be able to operate, many essential federal employees will be working without pay, and federal employees considered non-essential will not be able to work. Employees typically receive back pay when the shutdown ends, but the administration has suggested some furloughs will become permanent this time.
- [The property tax is the problem](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-property-tax-is-the-problem) - Recently, residents of the town of Windham wrote about how their neighbors on fixed incomes saw a nearly four-fold increase in their property tax bills after a town-wide reappraisal this year. Concerned that big hikes would force folks out of their homes, the authors wondered why these low-income Vermonters, who according to Vermont statute should pay no more than 4.5 percent of the income for property taxes, were now facing bills as high as 16 percent of their incomes? It’s a good question.
- [Vermont income and employment both dropped](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-income-and-employment-both-dropped) - Newly released U.S. Census data show that Vermont’s median annual income decreased last year to $82,730 after adjusting for inflation. While this change was not statistically significant, Vermont was one of only six states nationwide where income declined. Only North Dakota and Rhode Island saw sharper drops. This marks a departure from the income growth Vermont experienced immediately after the start of the Covid pandemic: a rise of over 8 percent between 2019 and 2021, the fastest growth in the country.
- [Vermont is losing manufacturing jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-is-losing-manufacturing-jobs) - Manufacturing jobs have been declining for decades—and that decline has been bigger in Vermont than the nation overall. In the last 25 years Vermont has lost nearly 20,000 manufacturing jobs, and manufacturing’s share of private-sector jobs has declined by nearly half. In July 2000, Vermont had 46,200 jobs in manufacturing—more than 18 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs. Last month the state’s 26,900 manufacturing positions accounted for just over 10 percent of jobs offered by private employers. Over the same period, the share of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. as a whole declined less sharply, from 15 percent to just over 9 percent. Although manufacturing jobs generally offer higher pay, the wages for these positions in Vermont have not increased as quickly as the average wage for all private-sector jobs over the same quarter-century. In fact, manufacturing wages in Vermont have not kept pace with inflation, unlike manufacturing wages nationally, which have seen real growth over time.
- [Vermont workers aren’t receiving the fruits of their labor](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-workers-arent-receiving-the-fruits-of-their-labor) - Most Vermont workers’ pay has not kept pace with the growth of their output. From 2000 to 2024, productivity—total income generated in the economy per average hour of work—grew 47 percent in Vermont. But compensation—measured by the median hourly wage and benefits for production and nonsupervisory workers—rose by just 34 percent.
- [Not all counties have regained the jobs lost during Covid](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/not-all-counties-have-regained-the-jobs-lost-during-covid) - Most Vermont counties saw an increase in jobs between 2023 and 2024, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But several were still struggling to make up the losses they suffered during the Covid pandemic. Ten of Vermont’s 14 counties added jobs last year; eight still had fewer jobs than in 2019. Rutland faced the largest gap. Even after adding 172 jobs in 2024, it had nearly 1,500 fewer jobs than before Covid. Windham County added the most jobs last year (703), followed by Washington County (484), and Caledonia County (142) was fourth after Rutland.
- [Missing the mark on education reform](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/missing-the-mark-on-education-reform) - If and when the governor and Legislature agree on something they call “transformational educational reform,” it’s unlikely to be what most people expected or wanted. Vermonters won’t see the property tax relief they were hoping for because changes to the funding system will be a few years off. Instead, the first signs of reform will be reorganization of their school districts, which they didn’t ask for. On top of that, democratic decision-making on school budgets will be a thing of the past.
- [State of Working Vermont 2024](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2024) - Vermont has one of the highest gaps between wages and costs in the country. This mismatch leaves many Vermonters struggling to afford their basic needs. The state has made some improvements on affordability in recent years, but in other areas policies have fallen behind. Targeted investments would make a big difference for Vermont families’ economic security. In fact, under Vermont statute, the purpose of the state budget is to address Vermonters’ need for health, housing, dignified work, education, food, social security, and a healthy environment. And Vermont has the resources to honor these obligations and make the state more affordable. The latest State of Working Vermont Report analyzes U.S. Census and other data including costs, income, and wages to look at how Vermonters are doing and pinpoint the areas where the state can make reasonable policy improvements to help more all residents afford to meet their basic needs.
- [Vermont job-seekers find fewer options](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-job-seekers-find-fewer-options) - Vermonters may be feeling the effects of a tightening job market. Job openings in the state have fallen to their lowest level since November 2020, dropping by 4,000 positions between February and March. These openings include both full-time and part-time jobs for which employers are actively recruiting. Some of the decrease is due to employers filling positions, and some is likely due to postings getting pulled down. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed Vermonters increased over the same period, leaving fewer job openings per unemployed person. The last time Vermont had such a low number of openings per person seeking work was March 2021.
- [What Congressional budget reconciliation means for Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-congressional-budget-reconciliation-means-for-vermont) - If you’re following the national news, you’ve probably heard that Congress is in the midst of the budget reconciliation process. What is reconciliation, and how will it impact Vermonters? Reconciliation is a budgetary process Congress can use to fast-track changes to federal spending and revenues. For lawmakers in the majority, it is popular and effective because it requires only a simple majority in the Senate—51 votes—rather than the 60 typically needed to advance legislation. There are restrictions on what’s included in a reconciliation package. Under a rule adopted in the 1980s and named after the late Senator Robert Byrd (D-W. Va), each provision of the bill must: ...
- [House Ways & Means Committee Testimony—January 29, 2025](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-ways-means-committee-testimony-january-29-2025) - From Steph Yu's testimony: We’ve been working on education funding for over 20 years because public education is the biggest thing the state does and the most visible tax Vermonters pay. I want to start by defining what we see as the most pressing problems in the education funding system, then raise some questions about some other concerns we’ve been hearing. Our primary focus has always been on how we pay for schools. And we see two major problems with the current distribution: low and middle-income Vermonters are paying more of their income in school taxes than the highest-income Vermonters; and many moderate- and middle-income Vermonters face tax “cliffs” that cause big tax jumps from one year to the next regardless of whether school spending goes up in their district. Changes in how much we spend will not fix either of these problems.
- [House Ways & Means Committee Testimony—April 3, 2025](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-ways-means-committee-testimony-april-3-2025) - Homestead exemptions perpetuate unfairness - testimony by Steph Yu: Since the 1970s, the state has been moving towards basing school taxes on income because the value of your primary residence is not a good measure of your ability to pay. For low- and middle-income Vermonters with mortgages, the value of the primary home overstates their ability to pay because their home equity is less than the home value. And many taxpayers have other debt so may even have a negative net worth. And at the high end, the primary residence is a small share of their wealth and understates their ability to pay. Any homestead exemption structure perpetuates the regressivity of the current system—meaning that higher-income taxpayers pay a smaller share of their income in school taxes than middle-income Vermonters.
- [House Ways & Means Committee Testimony—March 26, 2025](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-ways-means-committee-testimony-march-26-2025) - Good Public Schools & Fair Taxes – testimony by Steph Yu: The most pressing problem with education funding isn’t how much we spend. The two biggest problems we face in education funding are unfairness in who pays school taxes and cost drivers out of districts’ control like teacher healthcare and inflation. There are two ways in which how we pay for education taxes are unfair now: 1. The richest Vermonters pay a smaller share of their income in school taxes than low and middle-income Vermonters; 2. Income sensitivity has gotten out of whack for many low and moderate-income Vermonters, leaving them facing tax cliffs that can double their bills from one year to the next. This is because the thresholds determining income sensitivity have not been updated in decades. Teacher health insurance, inflation, and rising demand for special education services and mental healthcare for kids are biggest cost drivers in school budgets and are outside of school districts’ control. These aren’t school funding problems; they’re societal issues.
- [The economy grew, but the labor force shrank](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-economy-grew-but-the-labor-force-shrank) - Vermont produced $45.7 billion in goods and services last year. That was a 2.3 percent increase in the state’s gross domestic product, after adjusting for inflation. The increase was better than the previous year, but the smallest increase among the New England states. Meanwhile, Vermont total personal income reached $45.5 billion in 2024. That represented a 4.9 percent increase from 2023, but the smallest increase in the New England states and smaller than the country as a whole.
- [Education reform redux](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/education-reform-redux) - Now that the House has passed an education reform plan, it will be easy to get bogged down in the minutiae that differentiate it from Gov. Phil Scott’s “Education Transformation Proposal.” But before Vermonters get lost in the weeds debating these proposals, they might want to ask themselves if they support the radical change that both plans represent: -Are they ready to abandon the idea that taxation for public education should be based on residents’ ability to pay and that a person’s income is the fairest measure of that ability? -Are they ready to take control of education spending away from local voters and cede it to the Agency of Education?
- [Women power Vermont’s social services](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/women-power-vermonts-social-services) - The news this Women’s History Month is that women and men share an equal presence in the Vermont workforce. But the workforce is highly segregated by sex. Both men and women work in occupations where one sex accounts for at least two-thirds of the workers. Many of the state’s social services, such as education and healthcare, rely on women’s labor. Women fill roughly three-quarters of Vermont’s more than 28,000 jobs in educational instruction, including tutors, librarians, teaching assistants, and teachers at all education levels. They represent a similar share of jobs in healthcare, office and administration, and social services occupations, including counseling, social work, and therapy.
- [Rainy days are beginning; Vermont should prepare for federal cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rainy-days-are-beginning-vermont-should-prepare-for-federal-cuts) - The federal government is making massive cuts to government functions that Americans—and Vermonters—count on and is planning to make more cuts. Layoffs of federal workers, funding freezes, tariffs, and cuts to government programs, including public benefits for those most in need, could threaten the well-being of Vermont’s people and its economy. While we may not know the scale of these cuts, the timeline, or where cuts will occur, this crisis needs attention. To address funding gaps and ensure that families can meet their basic needs, now is the right time for the legislature to craft its response to federal actions before the end of the legislative session, which is rapidly approaching.
- [The long arm of DOGE reaches into Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-long-arm-of-doge-reaches-into-vermont) - More than 3,000 Vermonters are caught in the on-again, off-again firings and layoffs of federal employees by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It is challenging to keep track of who has a job and who doesn’t, or even of which departments still exist. During the first two months of Trump’s second term, DOGE ordered mass layoffs of federal agency employees. Federal judges reinstated the workers in 19 agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and temporarily paused firings. But uncertainty remains as to whether the reinstatements will hold and how long the pause will last—if, that is, the administration complies with the court orders.
- [Leslie Black-Plumeau Joins Public Assets’ Board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/leslie-black-plumeau-joins-public-assets-board) - Montpelier – Leslie Black-Plumeau, Research and Community Relations Director at Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), has joined the board of the Public Assets Institute. A nonpartisan nonprofit in Montpelier, Public Assets is Vermont’s independent research organization on state budget, tax, and economic issues and the source for timely and in-depth state fiscal and policy analysis. Leslie's work at VHFA includes overseeing the agency’s research, data, communications and public engagement activities. She has 25 years of professional experience in program evaluation and public policy research in the areas of housing, human services, and community development. Her work has most recently been focused on Vermont, and she has a broad understanding of housing issues and HUD programs as a result of her many years of experience in Washington, DC as a Congressional housing and community development program evaluator.
- [Press conference: Keep the Public in Public Education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/press-conference-keep-the-public-in-public-education) - Public Assets is part of a coalition of students, parents, teachers, and community members who support public education. The group gathered at the statehouse on Tuesday, February 25 for a press conference and sledding party. Press conference speakers included: Susan Clark, author and community facilitator; Liz Schlegel of the Alchemist Foundation; Jamie Kinnarney, Superintendent of the White River Valley Supervisory Union; Vermont 2017 Teacher of the Year and Montpelier Representative Kate McCann; Harwood Union High School Tenth Grader Harmony Belle Devoe; and Bekah Mandell, Communications & Development Director at Public Assets Institute.
- [Migration: Millennials and the wealthy moved in. Most Vermonters stay put](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/migration-millennials-and-the-wealthy-moved-in-most-vermonters-stay-put) - Recently released IRS data from tax filings in 2022 provide new information about people moving in and out of Vermont. For the third year in a row, the state continued to see more filers enter than leave. Two of these years of growth occurred during the COVID pandemic—2021 and 2022. Over half of those arriving in 2022 were millennials—the generation born between 1981 and 1996—and a quarter of all new filers had incomes of $100,000 or more.
- [House Human Services Committee Testimony—January 29, 2025](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-human-services-committee-testimony-january-29-2025) - Affordability and equity in Vermont - testimony by Julie Lowell: Before I share with you some of our research today that looks at Vermont’s economy and how Vermonters are doing, I want to ground this conversation in state statute. With everything happening federally right now it’s more important than ever to understand the stated purpose of our current system, where it does well in supporting people, and where we need improvement. In 2012, Vermont passed the People’s Budget Language, calling for the state’s revenue and spending policies to address health, housing, dignified work, education, food, social security and a healthy environment. As you will see from the data I’m going to share, much of which comes from our annual State of Working Vermont report, we are doing better in some of these areas than others.
- [House General Committee Testimony—January 10, 2025](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-general-committee-testimony-january-10-2025) - Watch Julie Lowell's testimony on Vermont's housing landscape--Affordability and equity in Vermont housing.
- [Low-paid workers stretched to meet basic needs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/low-paid-workers-stretched-to-meet-basic-needs) - A recent report by the Joint Fiscal Office shows that Vermont’s 2024 livable wage was nearly $19 an hour—exceeding the state minimum wage by almost $5. Vermont defines livable wage as the hourly earnings necessary for a single person working full time and living in shared housing to meet their basic needs. The gap was the largest in a decade, making it harder for workers to make ends meet.
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 28, 2025 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-28-2025-budget-address) - Gov. Phil Scott said again today he would reform education by doing more with less. We're hearing understandable concerns about his plan. While we don't know all the details yet, we've heard this promise before—and don’t have a lot to show for it. Here’s what we do know: Vermonters want good schools and fair taxes. Right now, low- and middle-income Vermonters pay more of their income to support schools than the richest Vermonters. And the biggest cost drivers in recent years, like healthcare and inflation, are out of school districts’ control. Until we address those underlying problems, any changes won’t do much to help kids, communities, or taxpayers.
- [Gladdish tidings: Incomes rose, but so did unemployment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/gladdish-tidings-incomes-rose-but-so-did-unemployment) - Vermont total personal income rose to $43 billion in 2023. Adjusted for inflation, that was an increase of 6 percent over the previous year, the highest among the states. Personal income, a key economic indicator, includes salary and wages, business income, interest and dividends, government benefits such as Social Security, employer retirement contributions, and other income. It does not include capital gains. Personal income is an aggregate measure; it doesn’t tell us how individuals are faring. But Vermont also scored well in 2023 on a measure that does. Census data released in September showed a rise in Vermonters’ median household income of 5.4 percent, after adjusting for inflation—also the largest percentage increase in the country. Half of households earn less than median, and half earn more.
- [Property tax relief for Vermonters: three-part plan](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/property-tax-relief-for-vermonters) - First things first: Vermonters need property tax relief Policymakers need to focus on the urgent school funding priority: providing our kids with a quality education while delivering property tax relief to middle-class Vermont homeowners. These taxpayers were hit hard this year, experiencing abrupt school tax increases. In three steps, the Legislature can make the system much fairer and simpler for taxpayers, providing needed property tax relief for next year—fiscal 2026—and addressing the longer-term issues of school costs and tax fairness in subsequent years.
- [New businesses created the lion’s share of jobs in 2023](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-businesses-created-the-lions-share-of-jobs-in-2023) - Vermont added about 1,600 net new jobs during the 12-month period ending March 2024. Almost 70 percent of those jobs came from new businesses. After a record rise in the wake of the pandemic, the pace of job growth slowed, especially among existing private sector employers, with the biggest decline taking place during the year that ended in March 2024.
- [State of Working Vermont 2013](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2013) - Five years after the start of the Great Recession at the end of 2007, life had not improved for many low- and middle-income Vermonters. • Despite a low unemployment rate, fewer Vermonters were working in 2012 than in 2007. And private employers were providing fewer jobs, most concentrated in low-wage sectors. • The number and the percentage of Vermonters in poverty had increased, along with homelessness. • More Vermonters received the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2011* than in 2007. • At the end of 2012, more than 100,000 Vermonters qualified for 3SquaresVT, the state’s food stamp program—an 86 percent increase in five years. • Typical Vermont households’ purchasing power was lower in 2012 than in 2007—or even 2002. While there is much about the state of working Vermont in 2012 that is troubling, Vermont also has some solid fundamentals on which to build an economic recovery that works for all Vermonters: • Vermont’s workforce has a higher percentage of college graduates than most other states. • The state’s median household income is higher than the national average. • Vermont’s workforce participation rate is typically better than in most other states. • And the state’s poverty rate is lower than most.
- [State of Working Vermont 2014](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2014)
- [State of Working Vermont 2015](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2015) - Vermont’s economy began to grow again after the recession, but has since cooled off. Even before the recession, real economic growth was slow. And figures released in December 2015 show that Vermont’s gross state product—the value of goods and services produced in the state—was essentially the same in 2014 as it was in 2011, after adjusting for inflation.
- [State of Working Vermont 2016](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2016) - While Washington and the rest of the nation sort out the meaning of a Donald Trump presidency, new leaders in Montpelier have an opportunity to address the needs of low- and moderate-income Vermonters for whom a secure middle-class life seems unaffordable and out of reach. A higher minimum wage, access to high-quality child care, an expanded public education system including at least two years of college, and a program to help workers save for retirement can address the affordability problem for Vermonters struggling to make ends meet.
- [State of Working Vermont 2017](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2017) - State of Working Vermont 2017 documents the reality confronting average Vermonters: while the economy grows, their paychecks do not. Among the report’s findings: Wages and incomes are growing fastest for those who already are doing well. After accounting for inflation, for most of the last decade the median Vermont household has lived on less than it did in 2006. Poverty is increasing, and it is highest among Vermonters of color. While nearly all Vermonters have health insurance, housing has grown less affordable and child care less accessible.
- [State of Working Vermont 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2018) - Many Vermonters are not benefiting from the state’s economic growth. That’s the central message of State of Working Vermont 2018. The data are new. But the message was similar in the 2017 report—and the year before that, and the year before that. State of Working Vermont 2018, published in a readable chart-book format with brief explanatory text, includes indicators designed to answer three questions: Did the overall Vermont economy grow, and who benefited? Were Vermonters able to make ends meet? How was the job market for Vermonters, and who was working?
- [State of Working Vermont 2021](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2021) - State of Working Vermont 2021 tells the pandemic story from the perspective of everyday Vermonters. It's laid out chronologically, tracking major developments in the disease and the economy, federal and state government responses, medical advances, and Vermonters’ work and family lives. It also discusses the pandemic’s impacts on racial and gender equity, state revenues, and Vermonters’ consumption patterns. The report highlights lessons learned from the pandemic and the response that can improve Vermonters’ lives during both normal times and emergencies: People do better, materially and psychologically, when they have enough money— and so does the economy. When crisis hits, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and women get hit the hardest—but policy can change that. When government springs into action it can meet people’s needs.
- [State of Working Vermont 2020](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2020) - When COVID-19 suddenly put nearly 100,000 Vermonters out of work, many were already in economically poor shape. Nearly $5 billion in federal assistance to Vermonters definitely helped weather the pandemic, so far. But more is needed, now and in the future. The state needs to invest in the public good—child care, education, housing, and other essentials—to secure the long-term economic well-being of Vermonters. This story, reflecting the challenges of Vermont’s top-heavy economy and the exacerbating effects of the pandemic, is laid out in State of Working Vermont 2020, Vermont’s economy expanded, but too many Vermonters haven’t seen the benefits of this growth. Wages increased, but more for high-wage workers than for those earning less. Child poverty hit its lowest point in 16 years, but remained at nearly 10 percent. Inequality grew: Half of all 2019 income in the state went to the top 20 percent of Vermonters. This year's report includes a graphic breakdown of 2020 federal pandemic aid and how Vermont is using it, as well as stories in Vermonters’ own words about their lives during the pandemic.
- [State of Working Vermont 2019](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2019) - Vermonters feel the effects of inadequate public investment As the economy recovers many are left behind There are two differing views of Vermont’s economy. Both are true. The recession is over, the economy is expanding, and we have a record-breaking number of private sector jobs. Many Vermonters are hurting and unable to meet basic needs. State of Working Vermont 2019, published in a readable chart-book format with brief explanatory text, takes a close look at a number of indicators to see how Vermonters and their families were faring economically at the end of 2018. It also points out that Vermont’s level of public investment has been flat for a quarter of a century and that our failure to make timely public investments is creating serious consequences for Vermonters.
- [State of Working Vermont 2022](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2022) - In an accessible chartbook, State of Working Vermont 2022 analyzes Census and other data, including wages, jobs, and employment, poverty, household income, and migration to portray Vermonters’ well-being before, during, and after the arrival of COVID. This year’s annual report highlights the progress achieved when our government adequately addresses the needs of people and communities. It shows how Vermonters would benefit from the state’s leaders fixing persistent problems, build on the solidarity expressed during the pandemic, and create a state that works for everyone.
- [Economic Security 101](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/economic-security-101) - What do we need to do to make Vermont affordable for all? Public Assets Director Steph Yu explains: we know Vermont has the resources to make the state affordable for everyone who lives here. Some of the solutions will take time, but there are also some that we can implement right now that will immediately improve family economic security and make sure that Vermont is affordable for all.
- [Ed Funding 101 (and what happened in FY25)](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ed-funding-101-and-what-happened-in-fy25) - Vermont has one of the most equitable education funding systems in the country. It hasn’t felt that way lately, because there are pockets of inequities that hit some taxpayers and some districts more than others. Public Assets' Executive Director explains the fundamentals of our public education funding system. Public education is one of the most important things the state does and there is a lot we can do to make the tax system simpler and fairer without losing what’s equitable about it, while ensuring that Vermonters can make good decisions about their schools.
- [Vermont state budget 101](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-budget-101) - Curious about how the state budget works? Steph reviews the basics of Vermont's budget including revenues, appropriations, and the so-called spaghetti chart that ties it all together.
- [Steph Yu to House Ways and Means on State of Working Vermont 2023](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2023-to-house-ways-and-means) - A presentation by Steph Yu to the House Ways and Means Committee on the State of Working Vermont 2023, April 4, 2024
- [Katrina Menard joins Public Assets as State Policy Fellow](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/katrina-menard-joins-public-assets-as-state-policy-fellow) - MONTPELIER – Katrina Menard has been selected as the State Policy Fellow for Vermont. The State Policy Fellowship program, sponsored by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington D.C., is a research-focused fellowship dedicated to making change through careful research, thoughtful advocacy, and strong partnerships in a state policy context. Menard begins the two-year fellowship position on July 8.
- [Education funding: The three cliffs problem](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/education-funding-the-three-cliffs-problem-2) - Education spending saw its biggest jump in years in fiscal 2025, and school taxpayers are noticing the change in their bills. The increase this year was due to a lot of factors outside both schools’ and taxpayers’ control—inflation, healthcare costs, and the loss of pandemic-era federal support chief among them. All of that led to an increase in total homestead taxes of 12.9 percent, although the rate varied from town to town. But taxpayers can see their tax bills suddenly balloon even when spending increases are modest. The reason: thresholds built into the system. A majority of Vermont resident homeowners pay all or some of their school taxes based on their household income, which better reflects their ability to pay. But the Legislature has imposed limits on these income-based taxes, which means some homeowners—and the number has been increasing—pay a combination of the income-based and property-based school taxes. The property taxes kick in when homeowners’ incomes or house values pass certain thresholds. These thresholds create tax “cliffs”—sudden rises in tax owed. Because the thresholds haven’t been increased or adjusted for inflation over time, more and more Vermonters have hit these cliffs and seen a jump in their school tax bills.
- [Public programs lifted 3,000 Vermont kids out of poverty](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-programs-lifted-3000-vermont-kids-out-of-poverty) - New Census data offer proof that federal and state governments can significantly reduce child poverty. Almost 9 percent of Vermont’s kids lived in poverty, according to the three-year average of the federal official poverty measure for 2021-2023. However, the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)—which factors in state and federal government programs such as universal school meals, food and utility assistance, and the child tax credit—came in 3 percentage points lower, at less than 6 percent for the same period.
- [Vermont’s median income and workforce both grew](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-median-income-and-workforce-both-grew) - Vermont median household income rose to $81,211 last year—a 5.4 percent increase, after adjusting for inflation. Half of Vermont’s 280,000 households earn less than the median and half earn more. The rebound followed a drop in real income—that is, a loss of buying power after adjusting for inflation—in 2022.
- [Predicting the unpredictable: budgeting for flooding and climate change](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/predicting-the-unpredictable-budgeting-for-flooding-and-climate-change) - As Vermont recovers from yet another round of flooding and braces for what’s left of Tropical Storm Debby, it may come as no surprise that Vermont is ranked seventh in the nation for the most federal disaster declarations due to extreme weather since 2011. And some parts are harder hit than others: Washington County is tied for second as the most disaster-prone county in the country, while Lamoille, Chittenden, Orange, Orleans and Essex are all tied for fourth.
- [Jared Duval, Head of Energy Action Network, to Receive 2024 Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jared-duval-head-of-energy-action-network-to-receive-2024-con-hogan-award) - The Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership are pleased to announce that Jared Duval, executive director of the Montpelier-based Energy Action Network (EAN), will be honored with this year’s award. EAN brings together more than 200 Vermont-based nonprofits, utilities, businesses, universities, and public sector partners to work toward a common goal: to achieve Vermont’s climate and energy commitments in ways that create a more just, thriving, and sustainable future. The network supports research and data-tracking on energy and emissions, with a focus on evidence-based policy analysis.
- [There’s more to school tax increases than spending](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/theres-more-to-school-tax-increases-than-spending) - Vermonters have been understandably upset by the abrupt rise in their school taxes for fiscal 2025. Most of the complaints focus on the rise in spending, as does the response from policymakers. But taxpayers may also be affected by changes that make the funding system less fair. The Agency of Education presented some clear analyses last spring explaining the main reasons for the spending increase: rises in salaries and benefits in response to inflation; health insurance cost increases exceeding inflation; the expanding need for expensive mental health services for students; the loss of federal funds the schools received as part of the pandemic-related American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). There are other reasons as well, related to fiscal decisions made in the past few years. The expenditures are critical for providing kids with a quality education. But knowing that doesn’t make the tax bumps easier to take. Even modest increases can be a problem if the costs, and who pays them, are not distributed fairly. In fact, some districts and taxpayers have been facing disproportionately higher bills for a while.
- [Anika Heilweil in Senate Finance on Fair Share Proposal](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/anika-heilweil-in-senate-finance-on-fair-share-proposal) - A presentation by Anika Heilweil to Senate Finance Committee on the Fair Share for Vermont Proposal, January 30, 2024
- [Julie Lowell to Senate Finance on anti-poverty tax credits](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/17575) - A presentation by Julie Lowell to the Senate Finance Committee on Anti-poverty Tax Credits, April 17, 2024
- [Vermont saw a surge of newcomers during the pandemic](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-saw-a-surge-of-newcomers-during-the-pandemic) - Vermont was an attractive destination for people moving from other states during the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The state saw a net gain of more than 3,000 residents in 2020 and again in 2021, the biggest increases since the IRS began tracking state-to-state migration in the early 1990s. Many of the new arrivals did not travel far. More than 19,000 people moved to Vermont in 2021, and over half of them came from states in the Northeast. About 16,400 Vermonters moved away; the most popular destinations were other New England states, New York, and Florida. The pattern was similar from 2019 to 2020.
- [Vermont unemployment is falling by all measures, not just the official one](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-unemployment-is-falling-by-all-measures-not-just-the-official-one) - Vermont’s official jobless rate hit record lows last year as the state continued to recover from the pandemic. That is also true for the broadest measure of unemployment, called U-6, which counts people who have dropped out of the labor force and those who are underemployed. U-6 averaged 3.9 percent for 2023, Vermont’s lowest in 20 years, tying with South Dakota for the lowest rate in the country. The unemployment rates reported every month count only people who are out of work and actively looking for a job. But there are others who would like to work but have stopped looking, as well as part-time workers who would like more hours. These underemployed workers make up the bulk of people not captured in the official jobless rates.
- [2023 Con Hogan Award Winner HB Lozito Speaks about the Award and Its Impact](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2023-con-hogan-award-winner-hb-lozito-speaks-about-the-award-and-its-impact) - 2023 Con Hogan Award Winner HB Lozito Speaks about the Award and Its Impact Nominations for the 2024 award close on June 27; the winner to receive $15,000 Cash Prize HB Lozito was honored with the 2023 Con Hogan Award. Lozito is the executive director of Brattleboro-based Out in the Open, which is working to build a multi-issue, multiracial social justice movement of rural LGBTQ+ people. In a recent interview, they talked about their life and work and what receiving the award meant to them both personally and professionally.
- [More Vermonters are working, and fewer jobs are vacant](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermonters-are-working-and-fewer-jobs-are-vacant) - Vermont employers have been steadily filling unfilled jobs. It’s been a challenge because of Vermont’s low unemployment rate. At times, there were as many as three job openings for each person looking for work. Nevertheless, employers have succeeded in finding workers to fill the vacancies. In January 2023, employers had just over 332,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, 7 percent of them unfilled. In April of this year, there were almost 330,000 nonfarm jobs, and the share that were unfilled had dropped to 4.5 percent. Vermont was among three states with the biggest drop in the job opening rate from March to April—nearly a full percentage point. The state showed the lowest percentage of unfilled jobs in New England in April. Nationally, the job opening rate was 4.8 percent that month.
- [State of Working Vermont 2023](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2023) - Big challenges confronted Vermont in 2023. Much of the state was inundated by the second “100-year” flood in a dozen years. Meteorologists recorded 2023 as the hottest year on record. New variants of Covid kept arising, and pandemics are predicted to become more frequent. Problems we faced before Covid are still with us: poverty, food insecurity, shortages of affordable housing and childcare. And the pandemic seems to have made some problems worse, such as inadequate mental health services, especially for children.
- [Vermont Can Invest in Brighter Future With Targeted Income Tax Measure](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-can-invest-in-brighter-future-with-targeted-income-tax-measure) - Testimony of Wesley Tharpe, Senior Advisor for State Tax Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Before the Vermont House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kornheiser, distinguished members—good morning. I’m Wesley Tharpe, and I’m Senior Advisor for State Tax Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) in Washington, D.C. Thank you very much for the invitation to speak, and I appreciate the opportunity to share some brief perspective here today and to take any questions you may have at the end. First, allow me a word about where I work and who I am. CBPP is an independent, nonpartisan research institute that since 1981 has worked to advance both federal and state policies aimed at building a nation where everyone has the resources they need to thrive.
- [State’s commitment to people doesn’t end with COVID](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/states-commitment-to-people-doesnt-end-with-covid) - Vermont leaders demonstrated their commitment to Vermonters during the pandemic. They told the truth, faced reality, and committed to the public good to weather the emergency. The post-COVID recovery requires this same level of commitment to address the ongoing challenges that the pandemic highlighted—deteriorating infrastructure, income insecurity, and systemic inequities. Aided by federal relief funds this year, the $7.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2022, which started on July 1, provides a good start.
- [Vermont leads the nation in pay parity](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-leads-the-nation-in-pay-parity) - Vermont should celebrate the recent announcement that the gap in earnings between men and women was the smallest in the country in 2019. According to a study by the National Women’s Law Center, the typical female Vermont worker earned about 91 cents for every $1 earned by the typical male worker. The gap closed, in part, because median earnings for women working full time year round rose 5.6 percent from the previous year. That was the good news. The bad news was that median earnings for men fell a little more than 1 percent.
- [Where is the federal relief for Vermont municipalities?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-is-the-federal-relief-for-vermont-municipalities) - In March, the American Rescue Plan Act allotted nearly $200 million of relief to Vermont’s local governments—$76.6 million to cities and towns, and another $121 million to Vermont counties—to respond to the COVID health emergency, boost essential worker pay, provide needed government services, and invest in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. This money will have significant impact, as it is nearly 40 percent of what Vermont local governments collected in municipal taxes in 2020. But where is that federal relief money?
- [Affordable higher education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/affordable-higher-education) - If there was ever any doubt that unaffordability prevented Vermonters from pursuing higher education, the news last week should have laid it to rest. Reports that there was more demand than supply for a state program offering free tuition to Vermont colleges were probably not surprising to many in the higher education field. While Vermont’s high school graduation rates consistently have been among the highest in the country, college attendance rates have been low. And attempts over the years to understand and solve this conundrum haven’t provided much new clarity. At the risk of stating the obvious, it seems that cost is a barrier for many.
- [Over $10 billion in federal COVID relief](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/over-10-billion-in-federal-covid-relief) - The federal government has allocated over $10 billion to Vermont to minimize the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. This unprecedented amount of aid—an amount equal to 30 percent of Vermont’s 2019 total personal income—has helped Vermonters get through the pandemic. A third of the support has gone directly to individuals, in the form of unemployment benefits, stimulus payments, tax credits, and other supports; a quarter has gone to businesses, through the Paycheck Protection Program and other grant programs; and the rest has gone to public services helping Vermonters maintain housing, and access healthcare, education, and other social services. Most of the individual and business support is already out the door, with expanded unemployment benefits ending in early September. The public services dollars are a mix of emergency aid and support for longer-term projects to be spent by 2026.
- [U.S. Census 2020: Vermont is growing](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/u-s-census-2020-vermont-is-growing) - Vermonters can stop sounding the alarm about a dwindling population. The state gained 17,336 people in the last decade, according to the 2020 U.S. Decennial Census. While Vermont’s 2.8 percent growth is lower than the 7.4 percent national increase, it is not the slight population drop suggested by estimates made yearly by the Census.
- [Testimony to Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force, September 9, 2021](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-pension-benefits-design-and-funding-task-force-september-9-2021) - Testimony of Paul A. Cillo, President, Public Assets Institute Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force September 9, 2021 Good afternoon, Co-Chairs Rep. Copeland Hanzas and Sen. White, and members of the task force. My name is Paul Cillo. I’m the president of Public Assets Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy think tank here in Montpelier. For those of you who may not be familiar with Public Assets, we research and analyze Vermont tax, budget, and economic policy from the perspective of everyday residents. We publish all of our work on our website at publicassets.org. By way of background, I’m a lifelong Vermonter originally from Castleton, graduated from UVM, and have lived in Hardwick for the past 40 years. I’ve had a long history of public service in Hardwick as a Selectboard member, chair the Planning Commission and the Special Committee that led to the successful merger of the village and town in 1988, as well as a member of a number of nonprofit boards. I also served in the Vermont House for 10 years, four on the Ways and Means Committee...
- [Clemmons Family Farm ED Lydia Clemmons to Receive the 2021 Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/clemmons-family-farm-ed-lydia-clemmons-to-receive-the-2021-con-hogan-award) - The Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial Community Leadership are pleased to announce that Lydia Clemmons, PhD, MPH will be honored with this year’s award. Dr. Clemmons is President and Executive Director of the Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte. Established by a group of Con’s colleagues in 2015,
- [Income and poverty both fell during the pandemic. Huh?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/income-and-poverty-both-fell-during-pandemic) - In 2020 the typical Vermont household income dropped $8,000 from the previous year, to $66,902—below the U.S. median for the first time since 2007. But the state’s official poverty rate stayed steady at around 9 percent. The economic impact of COVID-19 would have been worse were it not for substantial help from the federal government. In fact, by another measure poverty in Vermont fell during the pandemic. The state’s Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM)—which includes tax credits, pandemic stimulus payments, and other government transfers that the official rate does not—decreased to 8.3 percent in 2020 from 9.4 percent in 2019. The U.S. as a whole saw a similar drop in SPM in 2020. Both the national supplemental and official poverty rates have fallen since 2015.
- [Why is there a worker shortage?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/why-is-there-a-worker-shortage) - The Washington Post recently tackled the question a lot of people have been talking about. The headline read: “Why America has 8.4 million unemployed when there are 10 million job openings.” What was refreshing about the Post story was that it didn’t offer the usual explanation about the mismatch between jobs and job skills, which seems to lay the blame for worker shortages on the workers. Instead, according to the Post, the mismatch is between the jobs on offer and jobs workers want. Maybe the tide is turning. Maybe the demand for employees is reaching the point where they not only can ask for better pay, but also for meaningful work.
- [Weigh in on state priorities](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/weigh-in-on-state-priorities) - During the pandemic, did unemployment benefits, housing supports, or food aid help you make ends meet? Has poor internet made it difficult to learn or work remotely? Over the summer, did Lake Champlain’s closed beaches prevent you from cooling off? Now is your chance to weigh in on how government can support Vermonters going forward. The legislature is seeking input on how to use the federal American Rescue Plan funds. They have already allocated nearly half of the $1.05 billion on: the recovery of Vermonters, work force development and business supports housing development broadband development climate change mitigation clean water initiatives.
- [Weighing money and education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/weighing-money-and-education) - Student weighting dominates a lot of discussions around Vermont school funding these days. I guess that’s what we should expect after the release of a report to the Legislature titled: “Study of Pupil Weights in Vermont’s Education Funding Formula.” But the study also raises broader questions about money and education. The weighting study examined the
- [American Rescue Plan brings $200 million to Vermont towns and villages](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/american-rescue-plan-brings-200-million-to-vermont-towns) - The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed in March 2021, earmarked $76.6 million for Vermont’s local governments, and another $121 million for county government. Because Vermont counties have limited roles, the feds redirected the dollars to towns and villages. Local governments can use money through the end of 2024 to help pay for government services; direct assistance to households, small businesses, and non-profits for COVID-related costs; premium pay to essential workers; and infrastructure investments. Funds will be distributed in two equal payments, at least 12 months apart. Towns and villages have already received the first payments from both grants. See the map for the total grants towns will receive over the next two years. See the table for information on village allocations.
- [The expanded Child Tax Credit should be permanent](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-expanded-child-tax-credit-should-be-permanent) - The pandemic has demanded quick responses from government over the past 18 months, from protecting public health to making sure Vermonters had food, shelter, and financial security during an unprecedented economic rollercoaster. On the whole, our government has gotten a lot of things right: access to testing and treatment for COVID-19, a massive vaccine rollout in a matter of weeks, and financial support to Vermonters who needed it. Most of the funding came from the feds, but the Vermont Legislature and the governor deserve a lot of credit for their part in the pandemic response. Now as more and more Vermonters are vaccinated and the economy has started to stabilize, we’re starting to see divides re-emerge.
- [Jobs and workers are returning, if not rushing back](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-and-workers-are-returning-if-not-rushing-back) - Vermont has recovered nearly 80 percent of the private sector jobs lost in the early days of the pandemic. The four industries with the most growth in 2021 were among the hardest hit over the last year and a half. Manufacturing, educational services, and entertainment are pretty much back to pre-pandemic levels, while the restaurant industry remains about 20 percent below where it was at the beginning of 2020. Still, 2021 has not seen steady growth.
- [Vermont’s tools for education funding equity: Weighting and categorical aid](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-tools-for-education-funding-equity-weighting-and-categorical-aid) - Vermont’s education funding system is built on fairness to taxpayers, to communities, and to students. The state has two tools to help mitigate variable costs so that all schools can afford to educate all their students, regardless of need: categorical aid and pupil weighting.m This explainer shows how they work.
- [$200 million to Vermont cities and towns](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/200-million-to-vermont-cities-and-towns) - Right now, Vermont municipalities have an opportunity to make investments that will move their communities forward with federal pandemic relief funds. You may be asking: How is my community using these funds? How can I participate in the process? The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated over $200 million to Vermont cities, towns, and villages (see how much your town received here). This is nearly 40 percent of the amount collected in local taxes in 2020. The money can be spent broadly on costs incurred through 2024 to address COVID-19 impacts, giving local governments the chance to help residents rebuild and recover from the pandemic.
- [Covid’s toll on business was less disastrous than feared](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covids-toll-on-business-was-less-disastrous-than-feared) - Vermont netted a loss of just 75 businesses between March 2020 and March 2021, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That followed a net loss of 258 businesses during the previous 12 months, most of which occurred around the onset of the pandemic. Between March 2020 and March 2021, nearly 2,500 businesses shut their doors, but more than 2,400 opened or reopened, most likely thanks to massive federal spending to mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic.
- [Public Assets is hiring](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-is-hiring-2) - Public Assets Institute is seeking a manager for the Fund Vermont’s Future (FVF) Campaign. The FVF Campaign aims to change how state priorities and budgets are developed and funded by centering people at every stage of the process, shifting from a scarcity mindset, and budgeting transparently with meaningful public input. FVF is a coalition-based project of Public Assets Institute. The Campaign Manager will oversee campaign development, implementation, and management and help with both field and legislative advocacy campaign plans, expanding the FVF coalition, building partnerships, educating policymakers and the public, and shaping the public debate. The Manager will provide administrative support to the Campaign Steering Committee.
- [It’s time to weigh in on the state budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-time-to-weigh-in-on-the-state-budget) - Every year the governor and his administration invite the public to comment on budget priorities as they develop next year’s spending plan. The governor kicks off the state budget process each year by putting together a budget proposal that he delivers to the Legislature in January. Public input is more important than ever this year.
- [Student enrollment is higher than it appears](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/student-enrollment-is-higher-than-it-appears) - We’ve all heard the complaint: Why does Vermont education spending continue to rise when student enrollment has declined? The answer can be found in the UVM student weighting study released in late 2019 and in the spotlight for the last 6 months. There may be approximately 87,000 actual students in Vermont public schools on any
- [In 2020 shopping eased the long months at home](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/in-2020-shopping-eased-the-long-months-at-home) - No surprise, Vermonters cut back their consumer spending in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released data recently showing that Vermonters spent $1.2 billion less in 2020 than the year before. That was about a 4 percent drop. But while people stopped shelling out for hotels, restaurant meals, and trips to the dentist, some appear to have made the most of being stuck at home. Spending on garden tools and equipment rose almost 14 percent, or $10 million, and on books and periodicals more than $35 million. Vermonters spent less on health overall, yet paid the pharmaceutical companies almost $50 million more than the previous year. Travel restrictions cut into trips abroad, and the shutdowns of large gatherings nearly wiped out spectator activities, where spending fell more than 70 percent.
- [Task Force uncovered flaws with student-count weights](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/task-force-uncovered-flaws-with-student-count-weights) - The Legislative Task Force looking at changes to the state’s school funding system deserves Vermonters’ thanks for work it did over the last six months. The committee, officially known by the unwieldy name “Task Force on the Implementation of the Pupil Weighting Factors Report,” released its report and recommendations last Friday. It’s not a quick
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 18, 2022 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/gov-budget-address-2022) - Gov. Phil Scott urged legislators Tuesday to make rebuilding Vermont’s labor force a top priority this session. The labor force was down by 24,000 since February 2020, the governor said before laying out a laundry list of investments—from both federal and state funds—to boost training, incentives, and job opportunities to attract more workers. Vermont’s labor force had been declining before the pandemic, so the governor is right to focus on the problem early in his Budget Address. But the solution to the current labor shortage is not all about workers. The governor could have reminded employers that they have a role, too.
- [It’s a job seeker’s market](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-a-job-seekers-market) - Workers were ready for change last fall. About 13,000 Vermonters quit their jobs in November—an all-time high and more than double the pre-pandemic monthly average. We don’t know why: Vermont data don’t tell us how many left the workforce altogether and how many took new jobs. In either case workers were in high demand, with more than 23,000 unfilled jobs in November. National data and reporting show that many workers are leaving for jobs with better pay, better hours, or perhaps less COVID-19 risk. Voluntary leaves were highest among workers in restaurants and hotels, both public-facing, low-paying sectors.
- [Brigham Decision: Shared responsibility for funding education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/brigham-decision-shared-responsibility-for-funding-education) - Twenty-five years ago the Vermont Supreme Court declared the state’s education funding system to be unconstitutional. More than a third of the state’s residents are too young to remember what was happening back then. And more than half of Vermonters now over 25 moved here from somewhere else. It’s safe to say, for many Vermonters, the old Foundation Plan and the ruling that ended it are distant or non-existent memories. A brief retrospective is in order.
- [Vermont Child Tax Credit: Good for kids, good for the economy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-child-tax-credit-good-for-kids-good-for-the-economy) - Last week the Vermont House passed a child tax credit bill. If the legislation becomes law, it would go a long way toward helping over 34,000 families with children, especially the lowest income households, meet their basic needs. The bill, which creates a $1,200 refundable credit beginning this year for kids six and under, is modeled on the expanded 2021 federal child tax credit, which was refundable and paid in monthly installments. A refundable credit ensures that families with no or low earnings get the full credit.
- [A big opportunity to improve school funding](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-big-opportunity-to-improve-school-funding) - The Legislature is actually looking at two big changes to education funding this session. There are misconceptions about each, but both, if done right, can strengthen the school funding system and make it fairer. The change that has generated the most attention and discussion is a plan to provide more money to students who require additional resources, such as English-language learners, kids from poor families, and those attending small, rural schools. The money isn’t really the sticking point, although there are questions about the latest cost estimate for teaching English as a second language. The main point of disagreement is how to distribute additional resources to the districts that need them. One approach, student weighting, is more complicated for voters and tends to favor high-spending school districts. The other option, cost equity aid, would provide fixed payments per pupil for various categories of students, which would be more transparent and easier for voters to follow, and it wouldn’t exacerbate disparities in per-pupil spending among districts. The other important change being considered doesn’t involve the distribution of education funds, but how those funds are generated.
- [Vermont’s labor market is recovering, but not recovered](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-labor-market-is-recovering-but-not-recovered) - After record job losses in 2020 due to the pandemic, Vermont enjoyed record gains in 2021. The state added 13,500 jobs from December 2020 through December 2021, the most of any year since data became available in 1990. Hotels, restaurants, and reopening art venues led the 2021 growth, adding 60 percent, or 8,000, of the jobs. But despite the gains, Vermont ended 2021 with 18,000 fewer jobs than it had at the start of 2020. In two weeks, more data will show how the job market is faring as the pandemic enters its third year, cases decline, and the economy continues to adjust.
- [The Ed Fund needs an outside opinion](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-ed-fund-needs-an-outside-opinion) - Gov. Phil Scott wants to use a $96 million surplus in the Education Fund for a little tax relief for homeowners and to expand job training. Another scenario laid out by the tax commissioner in December was, in essence, to just lower everybody’s school taxes for one year. These aren’t the only options, nor the best ones, which is why the Legislature needs to create an Education Fund Advisory Committee to oversee the long-term stability of the education finance system. Governor Scott proposed last week that half of the surplus—about $48 million—be returned to resident homeowners in the form of a rebate. He recommended a flat amount of $250-$275 to each household. If you were going to issue rebates, that would be a better way to do it than, say, a small percentage reduction in everyone’s tax bills. The percentage approach favors those with higher tax bills, i.e. those with more valuable property or higher incomes. A fixed rebate is better for lower-income households, but better still would be to set a maximum income threshold and to include something for renters.
- [COVID relief continued to boost income in 2021](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covid-relief-continued-to-boost-income-in-2021) - In 2021 Vermont saw its second-highest gain in personal income in 10 years—4.5 percent. But preliminary numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analyses show that Vermont’s total state personal income—earnings, dividends, interest, rents, and government transfers—had the lowest rate of growth among the states. One reason: Vermont was one of only two states where Medicaid transfers declined from 2020 to 2021. Vermont’s highest gain was in 2020, thanks to the first year of federal pandemic relief. COVID-related payments grew in 2021—but more slowly than in other states—and continued to make up nearly 6 percent of Vermont’s personal income. Earnings, dividends, interest, and rents also increased.
- [Child poverty in Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/child-poverty-in-vermont) - Does Vermont want to help families with children living in poverty? So far we’ve gotten a mixed message from policymakers on this question. But there is still time for the Legislature to act decisively.
- [Is a labor market mismatch keeping jobs unfilled?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/is-a-labor-market-mismatch-keeping-jobs-unfilled) - In January 2022 Vermont had 26,000 open jobs, twice the average for that month over the previous decade. But the labor shortage might not be as acute as some employers think. This January nearly 10,000 Vermonters were officially unemployed—not working and actively seeking work. Additionally, in 2021 an average of 11,200 were either marginally attached to the labor market—they wanted to work but had not recently sought a job—or were working part time only because they couldn’t find more hours. Why then are so many jobs going unfilled? It’s likely that they do not match the needs of the 21,000 people seeking work, because of pay, location, schedule, health risks, or other reasons.
- [Where is the state headed?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-is-the-state-headed) - The Vermont House, Senate, and governor’s office are thrashing out their differences over state appropriations for the coming fiscal year that will total roughly $8.3 billion. We’re all aware that a massive amount of federal aid has poured into the state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s worth pausing for a moment to grasp the magnitude and the potential of all of that aid. In the five years prior to COVID, Vermont’s annual spending averaged about $6 billion a year. Since COVID, the budgets have been: $6.3 billion (FY2020), $7.2 billion (FY2021), $7.9 billion (FY2022), and $8.3 billion (FY2023, pending). Much of the early COVID money—and not all of it flowed through the state’s coffers—was used to protect people from the virus and treat its victims, but it also was intended to protect states from economic collapse. States faced extraordinary and unexpected costs, and fortunately the federal government stepped up to foot the bill. Then came the American Rescue Plan, which extended and expanded some of the earlier programs, but also contained some elements of a traditional economic stimulus plan. As part of that plan, Vermont received $1.05 billion, essentially, to spend as it saw fit.
- [Vermont needs to make a real, ongoing commitment to our kids](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-needs-to-make-a-real-ongoing-commitment-to-our-kids) - We saw first-hand how the expanded 2021 federal child tax credit (CTC) reduced child poverty in the country. The additional income to families from refundable state credits like CTCs have also been shown to improve child development and educational outcomes and boost local economies. Seeking these benefits for the state, the Vermont House initiated a state CTC earlier this legislative session for kids six and under. But the state Senate has cut back the House bill and would end the credit in 2025. In order to lower the price tag, the Senate’s version of the CTC, passed last week, would help fewer children and families than the House plan. The Senate reduced the amount of the credit, disqualified six-year-olds, and lowered the income threshold for qualifying families, cutting nearly 10,000 kids from the benefits of the credit.
- [Public Assets Announces Retirement of Paul Cillo](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-announces-retirement-of-paul-cillo) - Paul Cillo, founding Executive Director and President of the Public Assets Institute, is stepping down, the organization’s Board of Directors announced today. Cillo has led the think tank, which focuses on advancing racial, social, and economic justice, for 19 years. “Paul’s impact on the state of Vermont can’t be overstated, and neither can his impact on turning Public Assets Institute into the respected, high-impact organization it is today,” said Board Chair Steve Gold. “We will miss his skilled leadership, and are so appreciative that he’s leaving the organization in excellent shape. It sets the stage for Public Assets’ continued effectiveness under its next leader.”
- [A flexible, effective revenue adjustment tool](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-flexible-effective-revenue-adjustment-tool) - Twenty years ago, Vermont lost a valuable tool that let the state easily adjust state revenues to respond to fluctuating demands for public services. It’s time to find a replacement. In 2002, the state ended the simple, straightforward system for assessing personal income taxes that had been in place for more than 30 years. Vermont stopped using the “piggyback,” whereby the amount of income tax a person owed to Montpelier was calculated from the amount owed to Uncle Sam. Typically, the rate was about 25 percent of a person’s federal tax liability. But it varied, which was the beauty of that system. Vermont started using the piggyback in 1968. As a result, it had one of most progressive personal income taxes in the country because the federal income tax was much more progressive than typical state income taxes. Under the federal system, income is taxed in tiers, and income in the higher tiers is taxed at higher rates than the income in the lower tiers. Such systems are fairer because they better reflect people’s ability to pay. Thanks to the piggyback, Vermont’s income tax system mirrored the progressivity of the federal system.
- [The pandemic shuffled Vermont’s top 10 jobs list](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-pandemic-shuffled-vermonts-top-10-jobs-list) - Last year, managers held the No. 1 occupation in Vermont, with retail salespersons a close second. Managers’ place at the top was a yet-unexplained surprise; the category has fallen low on the top 10 list in recent years. Notably missing from the 2021 list were waitstaff and food preparation workers, which pre-pandemic were Nos. 5 and 7, respectively. Over 57,000 Vermonters—20 percent of all workers, excluding the self-employed—were employed in the top 10 occupations. Six of the 10 most common occupations in 2021 had a median wage over $15 an hour. Managers and nurses, the top earners, made more than double this amount, at over $36 an hour. Salespeople and cashiers earned less than $15 an hour.
- [What’s the plan when pandemic aid ends?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/whats-the-plan-when-pandemic-aid-ends) - In the past few years, Vermont has gotten a taste of what it would be like to have a state that worked for everyone who lives here. Thanks to extraordinary federal relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state received billions of dollars that allowed policy makers, at least for a time, to
- [In summer the child care drought only gets worse](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/in-summer-the-child-care-drought-only-gets-worse) - Working parents with school-age kids struggle to find child care every summer, some coming up so short that they’re forced to work less. But the lack of child care is a year-round problem that has gotten worse since the pandemic. From September 2019 through April 2022, the number of spots for preschool and school-age children dropped by nearly 7.5 percent—more than 1,800 spots, about half in licensed centers and half through registered home providers. Over the same period infant and toddler spots remained steady but scarce, continuing the years-long acute shortage in infant care.
- [A giant leap backward](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-giant-leap-backward) - The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade has devastating effects on anyone who can get pregnant. Plain and simple, this ruling is a clear effort to assert control over women’s bodies and therefore our agency, our autonomy, and our freedom. Vermont has codified the right to reproductive health care in statute and will vote on a constitutional amendment to reinforce that in November. The governor issued a statement on Friday in support of that right and the amendment. But none of that means that Vermonters are shielded from the consequences of this decision. Many have made the case that this ruling is wrong, that it sets us back 50 years and that it subjugates those who can get pregnant to the whims of the state they live in. Others have pointed out that the history of systemic racism in this country means that Black, Indigenous and other people of color will pay a disproportionate price for this ruling. Low-income people will struggle to access health care that better-off individuals can seek across state lines. And the lack of access to reproductive health care has severe long-term economic consequences for women and their families. These are all true, and yet this is even bigger than any of that.
- [Vermont is growing and so is its labor force](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-is-growing-and-so-is-its-labor-force) - Since the pandemic began, there’s been a lot of talk about people moving to Vermont. New Census Bureau data verify the rumor: Vermont’s population netted a gain of nearly 4,900 via migration between the summers of 2020 and 2021. Newcomers were spread across the Vermont counties, ranging from less than a half a percent of the population in Chittenden County to 2.1 percent in Grand Isle. Although Census estimates for smaller counties tend to be less accurate, a clear pattern of net in-migration emerges statewide. The 2020-21 influx represented a big change from before the pandemic. It followed a net loss in 2019 and totaled more than two and a half times the number of people arriving in 2018. Nearly 95 percent of the migration came from within the U.S. The exception was Chittenden County, with a third of the newly settled coming from outside the country.
- [State revenue: What do we want for the new “normal”?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-revenue-what-do-we-want-for-the-new-normal) - A strong economy, spurred by federal stimulus money and funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, is producing a surge in Vermont state tax receipts. Personal income taxes are up, meals and rooms taxes are up, and so are corporate taxes. Now is the time to start planning for when revenues come back down to earth.
- [Vermont lacks available workers, not jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-lacks-available-workers-not-jobs) - Nationally, the big news is that employers have added back more jobs than were lost in the pandemic. That’s not the case in all states, though, including Vermont. If employers here could find workers for their open positions, jobs would be at an all-time high, bringing the state above the 319,000 filled jobs it had at its peak in March 2019. This is a tall order, because job openings in Vermont outnumber job seekers. In June there were more than three openings for each person looking for work. In contrast, at the end of the Great Recession, in June 2009, there were three workers for each available job. Increasing wages and opportunities for advancement, creating respectful workplaces, and improving other conditions might help fill these vacant positions. But it is still not clear what would encourage more people to seek work.
- [Vermonters’ incomes have grown](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-incomes-have-grown) - Vermont’s median household income passed $70,000 last year, for the first time ever. This means half of Vermont households took in more than $70,000, and half got less. Household income rose by about $5,700 between 2019 and 2021, after adjusting for inflation, according to U.S. Census Bureau numbers released last week. That was the largest two-year increase since 2000. The Census skipped reporting state-level median income in 2020, when the pandemic interrupted data collection. Remote workers COVID-19 forced many people to work remotely, and new Census data show that many continued to do so in 2021. One in five—or more than 64,000—Vermonters worked from home in 2021, compared with about 22,800 in 2019.
- [Joe Wiah, Refugee Resettlement Director, to Receive the 2022 Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/joe-wiah-refugee-resettlement-director-to-receive-the-2022-con-hogan-award) - The Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial Community Leadership are pleased to announce that Joe Wiah will be honored with this year’s award. Wiah is Director of the Ethiopian Community Development Council’s (ECDC) Multicultural Community Center in Brattleboro. The annual award, established by a group of Con Hogan’s colleagues in 2015, celebrates his life’s work by recognizing a community leader who shares his vision of a better Vermont and seizes the responsibility for making that vision real. The awardee shows deep community involvement, generosity, enthusiasm, a collaborative approach, and a focus on data and measurable outcomes in their work.
- [Student loan relief also comes with tax relief](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/student-loan-relief-also-comes-with-tax-relief) - Vermonters who qualify for a reduction in their student loan debt will get another break from the state: The loan forgiveness won’t be taxed. Debt forgiveness is typically counted as income and taxed by both federal and state governments. People who negotiate debt reduction with credit card companies are sometimes surprised to learn they owe income taxes on the amount written off. Before President Joe Biden announced his student loan forgiveness plan, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed in 2021, anticipated the tax consequences of such a proposal. Under ARPA, federal student loan debt forgiven through 2025 is not be counted as federal taxable income.
- [Stephanie Yu will take leadership of Public Assets Institute January 1](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/stephanie-yu-will-take-leadership-of-public-assets-institute-january-1) - MONTPELIER –– Steven Gold, chair of the Public Assets Institute Board of Directors, announced today that it has selected Stephanie Yu, current deputy director, as the organization’s next president and executive director. Yu replaces founder Paul Cillo, who will step down at the end of this year. “We are fortunate to have Steph’s experience and insights to lead Public Assets as the organization enters its third decade,” Gold said. “We’re excited about the prospects for Public Assets and for the state with Steph at the helm and are looking forward to the ideas and projects she advances in collaboration with Public Assets’ excellent staff.”
- [New Medicaid agreement opens health care opportunities](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-medicaid-agreement-opens-health-care-opportunities) - Under Vermont’s newest Medicaid agreement with the federal government, Vermont will get more money and be allowed more flexibility in the services it provides and the people it provides them to. It also gives the state support to address some difficult public health issues that have worsened during the pandemic. Medicaid, an entitlement program that gives states federal matching funds for health care services for low-income residents, affects about a third of Vermonters, including more than 65,000 children. Each year it accounts for nearly 30 percent of health care dollars spent on Vermonters. Before the pandemic Medicaid spending was about $1.8 billion in federal and state dollars combined. For every dollar from the state, the feds put in about $1.17. The federal share increased during the pandemic and is expected to return to the previous level when the pandemic recovery measure sunsets.
- [Jobs are creeping back—and child poverty is too](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-are-creeping-back) - Despite a national pandemic, poverty fell in Vermont, New England, and the nation in 2020 and 2021. Vermont’s supplemental poverty rate dropped to just below 7 percent; approximately 14,000 fewer Vermonters were living in poverty in 2021 than in 2019. The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) defines income and need differently from the official measure—and more realistically. The SPM factors in cash income as well as non-cash benefits and variable expenses including taxes, child care, and medical care. SPM poverty thresholds are generally higher and based on the cost of food, clothing, shelter, and utilities. The official measure counts only cash income, and need is based only on the cost of food.
- [Businesses added over 11,000 jobs as pandemic waned](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/businesses-added-over-11000-jobs-as-pandemic-waned) - In the second year of the pandemic, from March 2021 to March 2022, Vermont’s private employers added or restored more jobs than they had in decades. Payroll jobs at existing businesses increased by over 22,000, and new businesses created almost 10,000 more, for a total of 32,204. To be sure, some businesses closed, and others
- [Public Assets Institute releases State of Working Vermont 2022](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-institute-releases-state-of-working-vermont-2022) - As the pandemic winds down, report evidences need for “new normal” of security, equity, and shared prosperity MONTPELIER —State of Working Vermont 2022, released today, analyzes Census and other data, including wages, jobs, and employment, poverty, household income, and migration to portray Vermonters’ well-being before, during, and after the arrival of COVID. Before the pandemic:
- [Blame wages, not inflation, if Vermont is ‘unaffordable’](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/blame-wages-not-inflation-if-vermont-is-unaffordable) - Low wages, more than high prices, continued to stymie Vermonters struggling to make ends meet. In 2021 Vermont’s average annual wage of $56,296 was 83 percent of the national average, ranking 33rd in the U.S. The state’s wage also came in second lowest in New England, where the average annual wage ranged from $54,651 in Maine to $87,752 in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, as inflation soared in 2021, prices did not increase as much in Vermont as in the U.S. overall. Prices in Vermont were slightly above the national average during the first year of the pandemic but fell just below it in 2021. These averages are based on price data gathered by the federal government for a variety of items, including food, transportation, housing, and medical services.
- [Covid showed us the value of public investment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covid-showed-us-the-value-of-public-investment) - There were two threads running through Gov. Phil Scott’s fourth Inaugural Address last week. One was a clear, even refreshing, acknowledgement of the role that government and money played in the last few years to protect Vermonters and improve their lives. The other was the governor’s vision of a future Vermont where all communities, big and small, have the tools they need to be “more dynamic and vibrant.” The challenge of this new biennium will be to keep these two threads connected. Continued public investment—government and money—will be required to provide the kind of infrastructure and services the governor wants Vermonters to have. Governor Scott painted an inspiring picture of what Vermont could achieve. It’s hard to argue with his to-do list.
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 20, 2023 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-20-2023-budget-address) - The most memorable part of Gov. Phil Scott’s fiscal 2024 budget address had nothing to do with the budget. He ended his speech extending a hand to immigrants: “With compassion and courage, we can do our part to welcome those bold or desperate enough to leave their lives, and all they’ve ever known, behind to travel thousands of miles just to live the American dream.” It was an important message in these polarized times. For everyone to access that American dream, we need well-funded public services. We were encouraged by the governor’s call for expanded child care services, but we need to see the details. A RAND Corporation report released last week estimated child care expansion could cost between $179 million and $279 million. The governor said additional services could be provided “without asking families with less to pay for families with more.” Does that mean he’s ready to ask families with more to pay for families with less?
- [Jobs were up, joblessness still low—but not uniformly](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-were-up-joblessness-still-low-but-not-uniformly) - In his Jan. 5 Inaugural Address Gov. Phil Scott talked about the economic disparities between Vermont communities and the need to level the playing field. December’s unemployment rates highlight the challenges of doing so. Overall, Vermont’s jobless rate ranked among the best in the country—tied for sixth lowest. But the rate in Orleans County was two and half times the rate in Chittenden County—5 percent versus 2 percent. Jobs were also unequally distributed. The Vermont Department of Labor pointed out Tuesday that 90 percent of the new positions created in 2022 were in the greater Burlington area.
- [Sandrine Kibuey Joins Public Assets’ Board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/sandrine-kibuey-joins-public-assets-board) - Sandrine Kibuey has been unanimously elected to the board of Public Assets Institute. “We are delighted that Sandrine Kibuey has joined us,” said Board Chair Steve Gold, “she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, and a perspective we value. Her work with a diversity of Vermonters including New Americans, and her commitment to equitable access to public resources and services make her an ideal addition to the board.” “My work has focused on managing large local, regional, and international projects, and it’s made me care deeply about the policies that affect peoples’ wellbeing. I see my work with Public Assets as an extension of the work I do solving big problems and getting the details right.” said Kibuey, who is director of Statewide Housing Advocacy at Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) directing rapid rehousing housing, advocacy and support services to vulnerable communities including asylum seekers and mobile home park residents.
- [Ensure that families get the state Child Tax Credit](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/get-the-new-state-child-tax-credit-to-families-who-need-it) - Amid rising prices and expiring pandemic assistance for housing, food, and other basics, there’s some good news for Vermonters and their kids. Families most in need—those with low or no earnings—with children under 6 can now receive $1,000 from the refundable Vermont Child Tax Credit when they file their 2022 tax returns. But here’s the challenge: Many families with low earnings don’t have to file taxes—so they risk missing out on these credits. In 2019 the IRS estimated that 17 percent of Vermont filers did not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, a similar refundable tax credit targeting families with low income, even though they were eligible.
- [More Vermonters are seeking jobs, but a smaller share are working](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermonters-are-seeking-jobs-but-a-smaller-share-are-working) - The share of Vermonters who are working has fallen off in the wake of the pandemic and has not regained the levels held for four decades before Covid. From 1981 to 2019, two-thirds of Vermonters 16 and older were working each year, on average. That percentage dropped under 60 percent in the first year of the pandemic and crept up to 61.5 percent in 2022, according to new federal data. During the 40 pre-Covid years, Vermont ranked among the top 10 states in the percentage of the working-age population that was employed. In 2022 Vermont’s position was just 18th. If the state’s employment-population percentage returned to long-term pre-pandemic levels, 20,000 more Vermonters would be employed.
- [Vermont’s new Child Tax Credit: Improving life for families](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-new-child-tax-credit-improving-life-for-families) - Refundable tax credits are an important tool for reducing child poverty and advancing racial, social, and economic justice. They get cash to families efficiently, helping them meet basic needs like food, clothing, and housing. During the pandemic, when many people were out of work, the federal government used refundable income and child tax credits as quick ways of easing families’ financial struggles. Some states, Vermont included, followed their lead by passing state-level child tax credits. What is the Vermont Child Tax Credit? Vermont’s Child Tax Credit (CTC) provides $1,000 annually per child under 6 to families with adjusted gross incomes up to $125,000. It is fully refundable—families with low or no earnings can receive its full value. Families earning between $125,000 and $175,000 receive a partial credit. In 2023, over 95 percent of Vermont kids under 6—34,000 children—will benefit from the credit, making it the most robust in the country.
- [Vermont jobs increase, the number of kids falls](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-jobs-increase-the-number-of-kids-falls) - The number of children in Vermont dropped by almost 1 percent a year between 2006 and 2021. According to the latest Census data, more than 133,000 children under 18 lived in the state in 2006, compared with just over 116,000 in 2021. Of those, 69 percent were living in married-couple households, a similar share to 15 years earlier. At the same time, the number of children in single-parent households dropped. How can this be? Some of the kids showed up in a household category recently created for unmarried couples. Prior to 2019 single-parent households were described as “no spouse present.” Now the category is male or female householder with “no spouse/partner present.” As newly defined, single-parent families decreased. But about 11 percent of Vermont children were counted as living in households of cohabiting couples, a group not tracked before 2019.
- [Vermont families need both the Child Tax Credit and childcare investments](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-families-need-both-the-child-tax-credit-and-childcare-investments) - The Vermont Senate voted Friday to repeal the brand-new Child Tax Credit (CTC) in order to redirect funds to early care and education. But there is no reason to pit the two against each other. Vermont needs both.
- [Post-pandemic, Vermont businesses rejiggered telework](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/post-pandemic-vermont-businesses-rejiggered-telework) - More Vermont businesses have become all-remote workplaces, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But fewer allow hybrid arrangements, where some employees work from home some of the time. When the pandemic hit in 2020, about 30 percent of Vermont businesses—accounting for more than 150,000 workers—expanded opportunities for their employees to work from outside the office. As vaccination increased and the risk of COVID subsided, companies reassessed their telework policies. According to the BLS, the number of establishments where all employees work remotely all the time increased about 40 percent from 2021 to 2022. Meanwhile, other businesses appear to have cut back on telework. The number allowing a mix of in-office and remote work dropped by a third.
- [Repealing the Child Tax Credit hurts Vermont families](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/repealing-the-child-tax-credit-hurts-vermont-families) - Senate Bill 56 holds the promise of better childcare at lower cost to more Vermont families. But the bill as passed by the Senate in late March repeals the Child Tax Credit. This would harm the same families, and many others. S.56 expands the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) and reduces the cost of care for many families. The bill also aims to improve the quality of childcare by increasing the amount CCFAP pays to providers. However, to help pay for the reforms, S.56 repeals the state Child Tax Credit (CTC) passed just last year, eliminating a $1,000 credit that eligible households now receive for each child under six. The repeal would leave at least 8,200 Vermont households worse off financially.
- [Celebrate 20 years of fighting for a just and thriving Vermont! ](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/celebrate-20-years-of-fighting-for-a-just-and-thriving-vermont) - Over the past 20 years, our deep experience, timely, reliable data, and clear, accessible analysis has driven major policy improvements for Vermonters, from expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, to raising the minimum wage, and making school funding more equitable for all our kids. In honor of our twentieth anniversary this year, we’ll be celebrating our past wins and inviting more people to get involved in our work.
- [The childcare debate that wasn’t](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-childcare-debate-that-wasnt) - Expansion of Vermont’s childcare subsidy program with an infusion of $120 million in new revenue will be a signal achievement of the 2023 legislative session if it survives a gubernatorial veto. There is more to be done, but this will be transformative for Vermont. Not just for families currently using paid childcare and any family thinking about having a kid or another kid, going back to work, or moving to Vermont, but for the well-being of all our kids. That means a better state for all of us. Unfortunately, in the rush to adjournment, public debate about how to fund childcare expansion got short shrift. Yes, there were headlines about an impasse between the Senate and the House. The Senate wanted to levy a new payroll tax; the House wanted to increase personal and corporate income taxes. But the Senate threatened to scuttle the reform effort if it didn’t get its way, so there was no public debate and Vermonters never got a chance to weigh in on how they wanted to pay for improving the state’s child care system.
- [Vermont’s economy grew, job openings fell](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-economy-grew-job-openings-fell) - Vermont’s economy grew 2.8 percent, after adjusting for inflation, in 2022—the second year of growth after a drop in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the end of March show that Vermont’s gross state product—the total value of all goods and services—saw the highest growth rate in New England. In 2022 Vermont’s gross state product also surpassed $40 billion for the first time, a rise from 2021 of more than $3.5 billion in unadjusted dollars.
- [2022 Con Hogan Award winner Joe Wiah speaks about the award and what it means to him](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2022-con-hogan-award-winner-joe-wiah-speaks-about-the-award-and-what-it-means-to-him) - In 2022, Joe Wiah was honored with the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership. The director of the Ethiopian Community Development Council’s (ECDC) Multicultural Community Center in Brattleboro, Wiah is helping refugees integrate into community life in Southern Vermont. In a recent interview, he talked about his work and what receiving the award meant to him both personally and professionally.
- [The outlook is improving for Vermont job-seekers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-outlook-is-improving-for-vermont-job-seekers) - There was good news on the jobs front in 2022, according to data just released by the Vermont Department of Labor. Last year, the state counted over 9,000 net additional jobs covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI). 1 Every county except Franklin saw growth. This was the second record-setting year in a row; Vermont added more than 8,000 jobs in 2021. In the previous two decades, Vermont had never gained more than 4,000 jobs in a single year. The increase brought the average number of UI-covered payroll jobs to 301,066 in 2022, still about 9,600 jobs shy of the 2019 pre-pandemic level. Vermont was one of 23 states that by 2022 had not recovered all jobs lost during the pandemic. Still, total U.S. covered payroll jobs in 2022 exceeded those in 2019.
- [Public Assets’ statement on H. 471](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-statement-on-h-471) - There has been a lot of attention on the veto session this week and all that was accomplished this year—universal school meals, improved but imperfect investments in housing, and of course the signature accomplishment: the biggest investment in childcare in the country. But a less-noticed, otherwise unremarkable tax bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Phil Scott contained two important provisions also worth celebrating.
- [Flood Update](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/flood-update) - Thanks to everyone who has reached out after the flooding last week. We’re grateful all of our staff and board are safe and sound. But the same cannot be said for our office, much of downtown Montpelier and many other parts of the state.
- [Workers in eight counties can get disaster unemployment insurance](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/workers-in-eight-counties-can-get-disaster-unemployment-insurance) - In the hardest hit parts of Vermont, flood recovery will take some time. But the federal disaster declaration for Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties makes resources available immediately.
- [Another Flood Casualty: Vermont Jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/another-flood-casualty-vermont-jobs) - Last month’s devastating floods washed away jobs along with homes, cars, crops, office equipment, and documents.
- [Vermont Median Household Income Takes a Hit](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-median-household-income-takes-a-hit) - The typical Vermont family saw modest income growth last year, but it was not enough to keep up with inflation.
- [Janet Ancel Joins Public Assets’ Board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/janet-ancel-joins-public-assets-board) - Janet Ancel has been unanimously elected to the board of Public Assets Institute. Ancel was the chief architect of Vermont’s groundbreaking state Child Tax Credit, which became law in 2022. Ancel’s state credit was modeled on the pandemic-era expansion of the federal child tax credit, which successfully reduced child poverty by more than forty percent nationwide, with even larger reductions among Black and Hispanic children. “We are delighted that Janet Ancel has joined us,” said Board Chair Steve Gold, “her leadership on the Vermont Child Tax Credit exemplifies precisely the type of equity-focused, data-driven innovation that Public Assets strives to bring to statewide policy conversations. We look forward to the contribution her leadership and vision will make to our work in the coming years.”
- [We can reduce poverty, but will we?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/we-can-reduce-poverty-but-will-we) - We have the means to reduce poverty. What we need is the political will. That is the conclusion of a massive real-world experiment that took place during the Covid pandemic of 2020-2022. Now that the emergency has subsided, we are beginning to see the effects of actions—and the dangers of inaction—taken by political leaders to help people meet their ongoing basic needs.
- [More Vermonters are finding jobs, fewer driving to work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermonters-are-finding-jobs-fewer-driving-to-work) - The Covid pandemic shaped Vermonters’ commuting habits. According to new U.S. Census data, nearly 15,000 fewer workers commuted daily in 2022 than did so before the pandemic. Almost 80 percent of those pre-pandemic commuters drove alone. The Census data also show nearly 56,000 Vermonters working from home last year, up from nearly 23,000 in 2019. Vermonters may be sliding back to their old ways, however. Commuting alone inched up and remote work inched down in 2022 as compared with 2021, when Covid was regarded as more of a threat. If Vermonters continue to forgo getting in their cars, that might reduce greenhouse gas emissions—and the pandemic might have done a bit of good for the climate.
- [Ed Paquin joins Public Assets’ board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ed-paquin-joins-public-assets-board) - Ed Paquin, former state representative and recently retired executive director of Disability Rights Vermont, has joined the board of the Public Assets Institute. Since 1990 Paquin has advocated on behalf of his constituents and Vermonters with disabilities. His work in the Vermont House of Representatives contributed to expansions of health insurance coverage to low-income Vermonters, equalizing entitlements to home care and nursing home care, and protecting all aspects of the state’s community-based Medicaid Long-term Care system for people with disabilities. He led Disability Rights Vermont in shaping corrections policy to better serve people with psychiatric disabilities and preserving the civil rights of people facing forced treatments in many settings. “Ed is an excellent addition to the board,” said Board Chair Steve Gold. “His understanding of the real-world consequences of policy, his thoughtful and practical advocacy, and the depth of his knowledge about the gaps in our supports for Vermonters with disabilities and their families will be invaluable as we continue to work for a Vermont that works for all of us.”
- [Vermont jobs and employment keep rising](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-jobs-and-employment-keep-rising) - Vermont’s private employers are making up for lost time. In the wake of the Covid pandemic, they’ve added jobs at a pace not seen since the 1990s. According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vermont employers created more than 29,000 jobs from March 2022 to March 2023. That came on the heels of over 32,000 jobs added from March 2021 to March 2022. Jobs increased by about that number each year in the 1990s. But the pace lagged in the 21st century: From 2001 through 2020, the private sector added an average of about 23,000 jobs annually.
- [It’s time for the wealthiest to pay their fair share in taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-time-for-the-wealthiest-to-pay-their-fair-share-in-taxes) - We can build a Vermont that works for everyone who lives here. We can have thriving downtowns, safe roads and bridges, and housing that people can afford. Our children can learn in vibrant and supportive schools. We can protect our environment. We can care for Vermont families at every stage of life. But first, we need to look at our tax code. That’s right—our tax code.
- [Vermont’s workforce is growing, but not fast enough](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-workforce-is-growing-but-not-fast-enough) - Vermonters continued to find work in recent months, and at the start of the year employers filled jobs at a record pace. But Vermont still has more jobs than people to fill them. According to the most recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Vermont workplaces had 2.7 jobs openings in October 2023 for every unemployed person—that is, someone without work who is actively seeking it. That ratio was down slightly from the summer months, but an increase over October 2022. Vermont’s ratio of job openings to job-seekers was nearly double the U.S. ratio in October.
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 23, 2024 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-23-2024-budget-address) - For a speech that started out on a theme of affordability, it was striking how much Gov. Phil Scott’s budget address focused on the idea of public investment to deal with problems Vermonters face. He repeatedly talked about investing, rather than spending. But he also said he would make his investments while holding to a modest increase in the General Fund portion of the budget. It was a confusing message. The governor acknowledged that smart, public investing is the key to addressing housing, public safety, drug addiction, workforce training, and other initiatives, so why is he proposing to invest so little? Investments often require some extra initial effort, and an ongoing commitment to provide the resources necessary to get the job done. Vermont has the capacity—and the obligation—to act on these problems now, instead of waiting for Washington or economic winds to somehow generate clearly needed new revenue. These are not problems that we can solve by doing more of the same.
- [More Vermonters are working and looking for work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermonters-are-working-and-looking-for-work) - During the post-holiday spike in Covid cases, many working Vermonters have probably needed sick time. But not all of them have it. A recent report from the Center for Law and Social Policy shows that while Vermont is one of 15 states with paid sick leave laws, access here varies by income level and job status. Low-wage workers and part-time workers are less likely to have sick leave: 27 percent of those in the lowest quarter of the income scale lack access, compared with 8 percent at the highest end. And three in 10 part-time Vermont workers cannot take time off when they’re ill. But Vermont workers are still better off than their counterparts in most states: Four in 10 low-income workers across the country do not have sick leave, and 44 percent of part-time workers are not covered.
- [House Ways and Means Committee Testimony—January 25, 2024](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-ways-and-means-committee-testimony-january-25-2024) - Hi everyone, thanks for having me back. Again, I’m Stephanie Yu, Executive Director of Public Assets Institute. I just want to make a couple of quick points about what all this great work (and clear, thoughtful methodology behind it) from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) means. First, that the goal is a progressive tax system; we’ve heard now that our tax system actually improves income inequality unlike so many states, but that it remains regressive at the top end and is not truly a progressive system. So what’s the best way to make our system more progressive? Do we need to increase taxes on the high end or decrease them on the low end? I think the answer is both. I would say the first step is eliminating the regressivity at the high end. Vermonters making $90,000 or $140,000 a year should not be paying a greater share of their income in taxes than those making $500,000 or $1,000,000.
- [Jobs and employment return to pre-pandemic levels](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-and-employment-return-to-pre-pandemic-levels) - Total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 2,000 in January, topping 311,500 for the first time since March 2020. But the mix of jobs has changed. Jobs in the Professional and Business Services sector have increased by nearly 4,000. Meanwhile, the numbers in the Private Education and Health Services and Leisure and Hospitality sectors remain below their January 2020 levels—falling about 2,700 and 2,300 short, respectively.
- [The labor market—and Labor—start 2024 on the upswing](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-labor-market-and-labor-start-2024-on-the-upswing) - Vermont saw more than a 20 percent increase in the number of workers represented by unions in 2023. Union representation—meaning both union members and nonmembers covered by union contracts—rose to 46,000 in 2023 from 38,000 the previous year, the biggest increase in at least a decade. From 2018 through 2023, the share of Vermont workers covered by union contracts rose to 15.4 percent from 11.6 percent. That moved Vermont into seventh place among the states, by percentage of coverage. Hawaii leads the country, with more than a quarter of workers represented, while the U.S. as a whole comes in at 11.2 percent, about 16 million workers.
- [Taking a beat on education funding reform](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/taking-a-beat-on-education-funding-reform) - A projected jump in school taxes next year has everyone’s hair on fire in Montpelier. But before taking drastic action, legislators and the administration ought to take the time to assess all of the reforms of recent years to understand what’s really going on. Nobody is saying that the double-digit increases in education spending and likely tax bills this year are sustainable, including many voters. In a normal year, a handful of school budgets get voted down while 90-95 percent of them pass. This year, a third went down, some more than once. The voters spoke and rejected increases that felt too high. But does that mean Vermont needs more funding reform? It’s too soon to tell. Let’s look at how we got here.
- [Vermont employment and income are highest ever](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-employment-and-income-are-highest-ever) - Vermont personal income grew by 5.5 percent in 2023—to $43 billion total—the fastest growth in New England and slightly faster than the U.S. as a whole. The major components—earnings, dividends, interest, rent, and transfer payments—all increased, with transfer payments seeing the strongest growth. Transfers include Social Security, unemployment, medical (including Medicaid and Medicare), and other income from government sources. Personal income does not include capital gains.
- [The new and “improved” CLA](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-new-and-improved-cla) - The 1973 oil embargo prompted many energy-saving ideas—real and imaginary. Daylight savings was extended year-round, which was spoofed in a cartoon of President Richard Nixon demonstrating an energy-saving blanket. He was shown cutting a strip from one end of the blanket and sewing it back on to the other end. The current plan to reform the notorious CLA—common level of appraisal—looks a lot like Nixon’s blanket. It doesn’t actually change how things work, it just makes them look a little better to the public.
- [More Vermonters are working than ever before](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermonters-are-working-than-ever-before) - Vermont had 3,900 fewer jobs in 2023 than before the pandemic in 2019. But according to newly released data from the Vermont Department of Labor, the losses have not been evenly distributed. In fact, five Vermont counties showed net gains from 2019 to 2023, while the other nine saw net losses. Between 2022 and 2023, all Vermont counties saw job growth, ranging from 23 jobs in Essex County to 1,791 in Chittenden County. The state gained 5,500 jobs that year.
- [Education funding: Diagnosis before treatment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/education-funding-diagnosis-before-treatment) - Whatever Montpelier did this year about education taxes was going to be a can-kicking exercise. By overriding the governor’s veto of the so-called “yield bill,” which sets tax rates for the coming year, the Legislature avoided a protracted fight over how far to kick the can. That bought them some time—about six months. Now, let’s hope, we’ll get a serious effort to understand what’s going on with education funding before plunging ahead with solutions. In response to the uncharacteristically large increase in school budgets for next year, the Legislature created the ambitiously named Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont. It is scheduled to start meeting in July.
- [Vermont’s average wage masked county disparities](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-average-wage-masked-county-disparities) - Vermont’s average annual wage rose 3.7 percent in 2023, to nearly $62,000. But the wage in 12 of the state’s 14 counties came in below that average. Chittenden County, which held a third of the state’s jobs, showed the highest average annual wage: $70,269. Washington County, another large employment hub, was second, at $64,682. A little over 44 percent of Vermont‘s jobs were in either Chittenden or Washington County, so wages there had a big effect on the state average. The lowest average annual wage in a single county lagged far behind the state average: $47,479 in Essex County—though the county made little impact on average wages because it had the state’s smallest share of jobs. No county in Vermont met the national average of roughly $72,000.
- [Vermont workers make headway in jobs, wages, and education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-workers-make-headway-in-jobs-wages-and-education) - At 2.4 percent, Vermont’s February unemployment rate was tied with three other states for the lowest in the country. The rate was also the lowest on record for Vermont since at least 1976, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking unemployment. Joblessness has been steadily declining since mid-2009, when it reached 6.9 percent. And not only are fewer Vermonters unemployed. The total number of Vermonters working has also been ticking upward for three months.
- [(un)Equal Pay Day](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unequal-pay-day)
- [Paid family and medical leave is a good deal for Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/paid-family-and-medical-leave-is-a-good-deal-for-vermonters) - The basic idea is simple: A statewide insurance plan that provides paid family and medical leave to Vermont workers most of whom could not otherwise afford to take time from work to care for a new child, a sick family member, or the worker’s own health problem. The six other states (and the District of Columbia) that currently offer paid leave plans provide a range of benefits. They all include protection for the employee’s own health condition. Most offer longer leave periods for medical conditions than for the birth of a child. They are funded through a mix of employer and employee contributions. Wage replacement ranges from 50 to 90 percent of the worker’s average weekly wage, depending on where they fall on the wage scale. Every state also caps the maximum benefit. There’s a paid family and medical leave bill (H. 107) working its way through the Vermont House now and it’s likely to get to the governor’s desk. The governor vetoed the plan passed by the Legislature last year.
- [It’s time to raise Vermont’s minimum wage](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-time-to-raise-vermonts-minimum-wage) - The purpose of the minimum wage is to provide a floor for most workers’ hourly pay. Policymakers already agree that Vermont should continue to set a minimum. The question is whether now is the time to raise it. An assessment of economic indicators shows that low-wage workers, especially those making minimum wage, have lost ground compared with higher-wage workers and compared to the cost of living. To make life affordable for all workers, Vermont should raise the minimum wage now.
- [As joblessness drops, women of high-earning age drop out](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/as-joblessness-drops-women-of-high-earning-age-drop-out) - The labor market continued its strong streak, as unemployment fell another notch in March, to 2.3 percent. But the trend is different for women 45 to 54 years old, who were less likely to be working in 2018 than five years earlier. Preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that 77.5 percent of women ages 45 to 54—often a worker’s highest-earning years—were on the job last year, the lowest rate in 20 years. Meanwhile, women 25 to 34 years old were more likely to be working.
- [Invest in Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/invest-in-vermont) - Legislators in Montpelier are getting close to the end of the session, but they’re still in search of that elusive prey: revenue. According to legislative watchers, our elected officials are trying to find revenue sources for state investments that are widely acknowledged to be long overdue: clean water, child care, Reach Up, weatherization. Here’s an idea: How about using some of the $350 million in federal tax breaks delivered to upper-income Vermonters in 2018?
- [Capital gains taxes need more than a tweak](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/capital-gains-taxes-need-more-than-a-tweak) - The revenue bill passed by the Vermont House late last month will generate more money—about $5 million annually—by increasing the amount of investment income that is subject to the state’s capital gains tax. The additional revenue is welcome, and the change is a step in the right direction. But rather than simply tweaking the capital gains tax, the Legislature should be asking why it gives away $15 million every year by excluding certain investment income from taxes. A January report by the Joint Fiscal Office and the Vermont Department of Taxes raises questions about the underlying justification for treating capital gains differently than the income earned by most working stiffs.
- [Building an Economy that Works for Everyone](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/building-an-economy-that-works-for-everyone) - Public Assets wants to know not only how the Vermont economy is doing, but who's benefitting from it. Are Vermonters able to make ends meet? How’s the job market? Who's working? We believe the needs of Vermonters should be at the center of policy discussions in Montpelier. Sen. Sanders’ office made this video about our annual State of Working Vermont report. It’s a great summary, stars our very own Stephanie Yu, and highlights people all across Vermont.
- [Minimum wage versus Medicaid?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/minimum-wage-versus-medicaid) - Tens of thousands of Vermont workers do not make enough to support their families. At the same time, home health and personal care agencies that hire many of these low-wage workers can barely keep afloat because of low Medicaid reimbursements. But underfunded Medicaid should not put the brakes on a long-overdue minimum wage increase. A recent Public Assets Institute report shows that people earning minimum wage have lost ground over the past 40 years even as costs for essentials, such as housing, childcare, and college have risen substantially. Raising the wage to $15 by 2024 would start to address this disparity.
- [Ed Fund needs independent guidance](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ed-fund-needs-independent-guidance) - The Education Fund, for the most part, has stayed out of the headlines this year, perhaps because Gov. Phil Scott hasn’t offered the kind of end-of-session surprises we saw in his first two years. But we should be paying close attention even if the Education Fund isn’t in the spotlight. Important decisions are at hand that affect the stability of the fund. The Education Fund budget approved by the House earlier this year relied on reserves and other one-time sources of revenue to artificially hold down property tax rates. In the House version, Education Fund spending was projected to increase by about $70 million, and nearly half of that additional money would have come from sources the Legislature couldn’t count on in subsequent years. It was another case of confronting today’s problem by pushing it off into next year.
- [Low joblessness hides more troubling signs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/low-joblessness-hides-more-troubling-signs) - Vermont has gone from a record high of 25,059 people unemployed in May 2009 to a record low of 7,565 unemployed last month. But fewer jobless has not meant more employed. The number of Vermonters at work increased by just 2,782 in the same period, meaning that the labor force—the total of everyone working or actively looking for work—shrank by more than 14,000.
- [Family and medical leave needs to work for families](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/family-and-medical-leave-needs-to-work-for-families) - A family and medical leave program should make juggling work and caregiving easier for families. The House bill (H.107) passed in early April would do that through wage-replacement and job protection for employees who are out of work due to a new baby, or for unexpected personal or family medical needs. But the Senate version cuts back these benefits to workers and their families. Focused on decreasing the program cost, the Senate plan undermines the bill’s intent: supporting families.
- [Well-being](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/well-being) - New Zealand recently unveiled what’s being described as the world’s first “well-being budget,” designed to improve the lives and living standards of all of its citizens. Maybe Vermont can claim credit for being the inspiration. While, unlike Vermont, New Zealand is fully integrating its wellbeing goals into the budgeting process and committing real money to its new priorities, there are echoes of a statute Vermont passed in 2012 in New Zealand’s well-being budget.
- [Protect Vermonters in poverty](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/protect-vermonters-in-poverty) - Thousands of Vermonters are in danger of losing critical public benefits if proposed changes to national poverty thresholds are approved. The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is exploring the impacts of using a lower inflation rate when updating the Official Poverty Measure (OPM), used by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create poverty guidelines that regulate the receipt of many public benefits. They are accepting comment on the proposal until 11:59 PM on Friday, June 21, 2019. Public Assets filed comments earlier this week.
- [Prospects improve for some—not all—Vermont workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/prospects-improve-for-some-not-all-vermont-workers) - The Vermont labor force grew for the sixth straight month in May. This followed declines during almost all of 2018. The growing labor force has helped push down Vermont’s unemployment rate to 2.1 percent, the lowest in the country now and the record low for Vermont since state-specific data began being tracked in 1976. Plus, interactive map on job growth.
- [Family leave and minimum wage: Connecticut did it, why can’t Vermont?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/family-leave-and-minimum-wage-connecticut-did-it-why-cant-vermont) - Connecticut was able to do what Vermont couldn’t this past legislative session: raise the minimum wage to $15 and create a paid family and medical leave insurance program. Our New England neighbor could provide some guidance for the Vermont Legislature when it reconvenes in January. Connecticut’s current minimum wage of $10.10 will be raised to $15 an hour by 2023, a full year sooner than any of the legislation Vermont has been considering. Their paid family and medical leave bill allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave annually, covering 95 percent of wages for people earning minimum wage.
- [It’s summertime and livin’ with child care is a little easier](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-summertime-and-livin-with-child-care-is-a-little-easier) - For all the fun of summer vacation—creemees, camping, swimming, and sun—it brings a host of challenges for Vermont families. With the end of the school year, working parents scramble to find and pay for childcare. And for families with children who aren’t yet school-age, it’s a year-round struggle. But an increase in the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) funding this summer will alleviate some of this financial stress. On July 21st the state will boost child care subsidies, providing more financial assistance for low-income families. This increase is long overdue. From 2010 to 2017, the average cost of care grew 35 percent for pre-school age children, while state reimbursement rates grew just 3 percent and have not changed since 2014.
- [A dip in the labor force and a slide for union membership](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-dip-in-the-labor-force-and-a-slide-for-union-membership) - Half of Vermont counties lost workers last year, and the state’s labor force dropped overall. The total change was small—75 fewer people working or actively looking for work—and may have been a temporary dip. Two years of growth preceded it, and the latest figures from the Vermont Department of Labor show the state’s labor force grew again in the first half of 2019. Labor force numbers are based on workers’ places of residence; jobs are counted at the place of employment. So while the labor force of Vermont’s northwest counties fell, the region still accounted for more than half of Vermont’s job growth.
- [The case gets stronger for $15 an hour](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-case-gets-stronger-for-15-an-hour) - There may be a silver lining to the Legislature’s failure last session to reach agreement on raising Vermont’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. New research published in recent months highlights the benefits of a higher minimum wage, questions the putative negative effects, and strengthens the case for Vermont to act sooner rather than later. A recent story in the Washington Post summarized much of the new research. It cites a new study in the Quarterly Journal of Economics that challenges the conventional wisdom that going to $15 an hour will hurt the people it is designed to help by destroying low-wage jobs. That study was complemented by researchers at Berkeley, who looked at low-wage areas within states and also found no adverse effects on employment.
- [Full-time work grows but buying power languishes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/full-time-work-grows-but-buying-power-languishes) - Private employers added 600 jobs in July. So far this year, the private sector has created 3,000 new jobs, showing growth for the last four straight months. Unemployment held steady at 2.1 percent for the third straight month, and Vermont’s labor force has increased every month this year. The share of Vermont workers with two or more jobs ranked second highest in New England in 2018. Although high for New England, the rate of Vermont workers with multiple jobs—6.5 percent, or 22,000 people—was the state’s lowest since reporting began in 1994. Falling unemployment since 2010 may be increasing the hours available to employees, making one job enough. The number of part-time workers looking for full-time work also has declined.
- [Ben Doyle and Weiwei Wang Join Public Assets’ Board; Tiffany Bluemle Elected Chair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ben-doyle-and-weiwei-wang-join-public-assets-board-tiffany-bluemle-elected-chair) - MONTPELIER –Tiffany Bluemle was elected chair of the board of Public Assets Institute at the organization’s annual meeting earlier this month. She announced that Weiwei Wang of Burlington and Ben Doyle of Montpelier have been elected to the board. A non-partisan nonprofit with offices in Montpelier, Public Assets Institute is the state’s premier independent research organization on Vermont budget, tax, and economic issues and the source for timely and in-depth state fiscal and policy analysis. “I have long respected and depended upon Public Assets for budget information and analysis. The role that it plays in shedding light on complicated issues and in shaping public conversation and priorities is critical. I am honored to serve as chair of a board that is rich in experience and expertise and am particularly happy to welcome the presence and insights that both of these accomplished young individuals bring to our work” said Bluemle, who is director of Change the Story Vermont.
- [Supporting the labor of early childhood professionals](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/supporting-the-labor-of-early-childhood-professionals) - Monday is the 125th Labor Day, a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of workers to our community. Arguably few contribute more to growth and development across the country than early childhood workers, primarily women. Early childhood professionals are in positions to shape the values we want for our children and community: how to share and take turns, how to be safe with one another, and how to be kind. They can support parents through the complexities of raising a child and educate them on how to navigate children’s developmental changes. And we want them to keep our children safe and healthy.
- [Vermont’s friendlier for workers than many other states](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-friendlier-for-workers-than-many-other-states) - Vermont dropped a few notches from the previous year, but it still ranked as the 8th best state in 2019 when it comes to pay and legal protections for workers. The ranking was done by Oxfam America in its report: “Best and Worst States to Work in America.” In 2018, the first year Oxfam published its Best States to Work Index (BSWI), Vermont was ranked 5th. However, Vermont and Maine switched places on the index this year, in large part because Maine now has a higher minimum wage ($11.00 an hour) than Vermont ($10.78). The Oxfam report looks at three areas that affect the well-being of workers: ...
- [Green jobs could put green in Vermonters’ pockets](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/green-jobs-could-put-green-in-vermonters-pockets) - The young Vermonters at the September 20 Climate Strike might soon be joining the state’s green jobs market. About 18,900 people now work in jobs related to clean energy, according to the 2019 Vermont Clean Energy Industry Report from the Department of Public Service. That’s an increase of about 28 percent since 2013. And while job growth has slowed, the time devoted to clean-energy work has increased, according to the report. Meanwhile, the Vermont Department of Labor announced Friday that the total number of nonfarm payroll jobs in the state fell by 600 in August.
- [Jan Demers to receive the 2019 Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jan-demers-to-receive-the-2019-con-hogan-award) - The Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial Community Leadership announced today that Jan Demers will be honored with this year’s award. Demers is the Executive Director of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO), serving Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties. The $15,000 award, to be used however the recipient chooses, will be presented at a public reception on Wednesday, October 2 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Established by a group of Con’s colleagues in 2015, the annual award recognizes his life work by rewarding each year a community leader who shares his vision of a better Vermont and who seizes the responsibility for making that vision a reality. The award is given to a leader who shows deep community involvement, generosity, enthusiasm, a collaborative approach, and a focus on data and measurable outcomes in his or her work.
- [Let’s learn from the newcomers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lets-learn-from-the-newcomers) - There has been a certain amount of hand-wringing for the last decade or so about how many rich people and young people are moving in and out of Vermont. Migration data compiled by the Internal Revenue Service are at the heart of the debate, which invariably focuses on the people leaving. Why don’t we pay more attention to the new arrivals, including the thousands of international immigrants who have settled in Vermont but aren’t counted by the IRS? They could tell us something about how to improve life for all Vermonters.
- [Welcoming immigrant workers is good for Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/welcoming-immigrant-workers-is-good-for-vermont) - The Pew Research Center estimates that there are several thousand undocumented immigrants in Vermont. These workers pay roughly $3 million in taxes annually and support a number of state industries, especially agriculture. And their contributions aren’t just economic: immigrants writ large are an integral part of our families, schools and communities. However, changes to state
- [2019 Legislative Report Card: Is Vermont making progress? ](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2019-legislative-report-card-is-vermont-making-progress) - As the governor prepares the fiscal 2021 budget with his staff, it’s worth looking back on what the state accomplished in the last legislative session and what’s left undone. Vermont made some progress this year making the kinds of investments that can move the state forward and create an economy that works for everyone, particularly in early childhood education and Reach Up benefits. But a lot of good policies got stuck last year, like minimum wage and paid family and medical leave. And some never came up at all, like how to improve the unemployment system. To continue to advance these issues, we compiled this short report card assessing the progress made on each of the recommendations during the 2019 legislative session.
- [Employment dipped, the gender gap persisted](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/employment-dipped-the-gender-gap-persisted) - After a steady rise in the first half of 2019, the number of Vermonters working declined by more than 2,000 in August and September, offsetting half the growth tallied from January to July. Vermont’s unemployment rate, which was at an all-time low during the summer, ticked up to 2.2 percent in September. Poor moms and kids Single mothers represented a disproportionate share of families with children in poverty, according to U.S. Census data for 2018. About 20 percent of all families with children—13,000 of 60,000—were headed by single mothers. But single-female-headed households made up 60 percent of families with children living below the federal poverty threshold, or 4,000 of about 7,000 families.
- [Testimony: Vermont Tax Structure Commission](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-vermont-tax-structure-commission) - The Vermont Tax Structure Commission was formed in 2018 to analyze Vermont’s tax system and make suggestions for improvements. As part of that work, the Commission has been looking at Vermont’s school funding system and invited Public Assets to testify recently about moving to income-based school taxes for Vermont residents. That testimony and related attachments are posted here. The Commission has released several white papers and other information and is expected to complete their final report in January 2021. The public is welcome to attend their meeting and provide feedback on Vermont’s tax structure. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th. Public input into revenue and spending policies can also be submitted to the administration online.
- [Equitable education for all Vermont children](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/equitable-education-for-all-vermont-children) - Voices for Vermont’s Children’s annual conference Just Systems and Thriving Communities, for Every Child and Youth is this Wednesday, November 6, at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier. The conference will focus on economic security, child protection, and health and education. Voices is a longtime partner of Public Assets Institute, particularly in the area of ensuring
- [The labor market is improving, if at a creeping pace](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-labor-market-is-improving-if-at-a-creeping-pace) - Since June the number of Vermonters looking for work has risen by nearly 470. At the same time, the number of people working has fallen for three straight months. Still, overall, joblessness has stayed extraordinarily low, reaching its lowest point on record—7,246 people—in June. The unemployment rate also has been setting records: only 2.1 percent from May through August, edging up to 2.2 percent in September and October, with Vermont’s rate the lowest in the country.
- [Labor force falls, minimum wage to climb...18 cents](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/labor-force-falls) - Vermont’s labor force shrank for the fourth straight month in November, hitting its lowest point since May 2002. In fact, the labor force has declined steadily since the Great Recession. Last month it was down to 343,104 workers—a drop of more than 18,000 from its peak in 2009. Yearly pay raise More than 16,000 Vermonters will get a raise on New Year’s Day, when the minimum wage goes up. The rise, to $10.96, is the annual inflation adjustment required by state law—for 2020, it’s 1.7 percent, or 18 cents. That leaves minimum-wage workers short of the current livable wage: $13.34, as calculated by the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office. The livable wage is the hourly amount needed to cover half of a basic needs budget for a two-person household.
- [Vermonters feel the effects of inadequate public investment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-feel-the-effects-of-inadequate-public-investment) - As the economy recovers many are left behind, new report shows MONTPELIER — Economists told us last summer that the current economic recovery had become the longest on record. Vermonters at the top of the income ladder have enjoyed the effects. But for the 66,000 in poverty, the single mother earning no more than her
- [Public investments move the state forward](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-investments-move-the-state-forward) - As legislative leaders prepare to tackle pressing issues confronting Vermont, the Scott administration has signaled that they shouldn’t be looking to state government for any more help. If the Legislature wants to combat climate change, expand the availability of high-quality child care, or extend paid family and medical leave benefits, any new investments will have to come from existing programs because state government is doing all it can do. At least that seems to be the clear implication of the letter sent early last month to House Speaker MitziJohnson and Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe.
- [Play State of the State Bingo; Win free stuff!](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/play-state-of-the-state-bingo-win-free-stuff) - 2:00pm Thursday, January 9, 2020 Vermont faces challenges of all sorts. The State of the State address is an opportunity for the governor to share with Vermonters his assessment of the state’s successes and challenges over the past year and to outline his proposals to the Legislature. We’ll be listening closely to what the governor says—and to what he doesn’t say. We hope all Vermonters will be listening as well to this important speech. Listen along with us and play State-of-the-State Bingo! The first three winners get a Public Assets t-shirt or hat.
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 21, 2020 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-21-2020-budget-address) - Gov. Phil Scott used his Budget Address today to lay out a clear vision of the role state government can play to improve the lives of Vermonters. Child care, transportation infrastructure, affordable housing, climate change, job creation, mental health care and suicide prevention, small town revitalization, and refugee resettlement were just some of the items on his long list of worthy targets for public investment. He rightly identified the challenges Vermont faces and even seemed eager to the take on the task, as the head of state government, to solve these problems. But the speech also contained a major contradiction. In the governor’s view, taxes—the means for making these critical investments in the state’s future—make the state unaffordable. So while much of his address outlined modest additional funding for programs and services that governor said had shown proven results, he said it all could be done without raising taxes. In fact, he make several proposals to cut taxes. Vermont does face many new challenges, and it’s going to take additional effort if we’re going to address them in time to make a difference—especially for the youngest Vermonters. State and local taxes in Vermont, as a share of the economy, haven’t changed in 25 years. Today’s problems won’t be solved without major new public investments. Major investments were nowhere to be found in the governor’s address.
- [The governor’s U-turn](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-governors-u-turn) - Give Gov. Phil Scott credit for having the humility to reverse course and abandon a bad idea. A few days after announcing a plan to exempt young adults from the Vermont income tax, he scrapped the proposal. He changed his mind when he found out it would cost $14 million in lost revenue. (It’s another
- [At year’s end Vermont tallied fewer jobs and workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/at-years-end-vermont-tallied-fewer-jobs-and-workers) - Vermont lost jobs in 8 of the 12 months of 2019. There were 315,500 nonfarm payroll jobs in December—1,100 fewer than at the end of 2018. Vermont’s labor force also shrank last year. The numbers of people both working and unemployed were lower at the end of 2019 than in the previous December. Self-employed Vermonters have been a constant in the state’s employment landscape. From 2008 to 2018, they made up nearly 15 percent of total Vermonters employed—more than 50,000 workers in 2018. People counted as self-employed are those who work for profit in their own business as their primary job. More Vermonters own businesses but are excluded because those enterprises are not their primary jobs. Vermont has consistently ranked among the top states for self-employment rates. At 15.1 percent, Vermont had the highest rate in New England in 2018 and tied with Montana for the highest nationally. For 12 years, Vermont has remained in the top five states.
- [Build on Vermont’s strengths](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/build-on-vermonts-strengths-2) - U.S. News & World Report is out with its latest “Best States” rankings. Vermont was number five last year, behind Washington, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Utah. The report adds a new perspective to some of the debates we hear in Montpelier—about Vermont’s strengths, its weaknesses, and what matters. U.S. News looks at a lot of factors to make its comparisons. They include equality indicators, like the distribution of income and the employment gap for people with disabilities. They look at the unemployment rate and the growth of the gross state product, but also the gap between men and women in workforce participation.
- [Yes, all kids deserve a decent start](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/yes-all-kids-deserve-a-decent-start) - There’s a lot in the budget the governor presented last month to the Legislature—and to the public. It’s a proposal to spend more than $6.3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The detailed budget book is over 1,350 pages, and that doesn’t count the supporting documents. Buried in all of that information is one number that is hard to understand: a saving of $449,704 in the Reach Up program, which helps to pay for food, clothing, and housing for children in low-income families that can’t afford these basic necessities. The saving comes from a projected drop in the Reach Up caseload. More than 6,000 families turned to the program for help during and immediately after the recession. But now participation is down to about 3,500, and the forecast is that the number of families needing help will “decrease modestly through 2020 and stagnate in 2021.” That all seems to make sense—fewer people, less cost—until you dig into another document the governor included in his budget package.
- [40,000 Vermonters need a raise now](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/40000-vermonters-need-a-raise-now) - Yesterday, the governor vetoed the Legislature’s proposed minimum wage increase. The bill would raise the wage to $11.75 an hour in 2021 and again in 2022 to $12.55, from the current wage of $10.96. While the bill falls short of the most ambitious plans passed by the Legislature in recent years, it’s a big step
- [Build on Vermont’s strengths](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/build-on-vermonts-strengths) - U.S. News & World Report is out with its latest “Best States” rankings. Vermont was number five last year, behind Washington, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Utah. The report adds a new perspective to some of the debates we hear in Montpelier—about Vermont’s strengths, its weaknesses, and what matters. U.S. News looks at a lot of factors to make its comparisons. They include equality indicators, like the distribution of income and the employment gap for people with disabilities. They look at the unemployment rate and the growth of the gross state product, but also the gap between men and women in workforce participation. Overall, Vermont’s fifth-place showing was pretty good. And while we don’t want to ignore the areas where we’re falling short, the state is best served if we focus on, build on, and promote our strengths.
- [Legislature overruled the governor, raised the minimum wage](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/legislature-overruled-the-governor-raised-the-minimum-wage) - There was a celebratory feeling in the air in Montpelier on Tuesday after the Legislature overrode the governor’s veto of S.23, the bill to increase Vermont’s minimum wage. The governor rejected the bill despite the support of nearly three-quarters of Vermonters for the increase. In the end, the Legislature decided that 40,000 of the lowest-paid Vermonters needed the raise. While many policies that get discussed in the State House are complicated and can be controversial, this isn’t one of them—at least outside the building. This policy is popular and straightforward because Vermonters know it puts money in the pockets of those who need it most: working parents, older adults, and the disproportionate share of women in low-wage jobs.
- [A harder road for school construction](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-harder-road-for-school-construction) - Last Tuesday, communities across Vermont voted on school budgets (among other things). Historically, Vermonters have provided the financial resources that school boards have indicated our kids need to thrive in school—and preliminary results this year suggest voters passed over 90 percent of the school budgets up for approval on Town Meeting Day. In addition to voting yea or nay on the annual school budget, five school districts—Barre Unified Union, Canaan Schools, Champlain Valley, Slate Valley Unified, and South Burlington—faced a second separate school budget decision: whether to fund school construction needs.
- [Worker protections are strained by the COVID-19 crisis](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/worker-protections-are-strained-by-the-covid-19-crisis) - Necessary public health measures could overwhelm Vermont’s unemployment fund. The governor’s order to shutter schools, child care services, bars, and restaurants affects about 40,000 workers. Closing most retail outlets and arts and recreation venues, as some have done and experts recommend, would idle 30,000. Some employers will keep paying workers. But Vermont’s unemployment insurance fund held $500 million in January. During the Great Recession, when monthly unemployment reached 25,000, Vermont depleted its $121 million fund in one year.
- [COVID-19 Crisis](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covid-19-crisis) - We are all facing challenges that none of us have experienced in our lifetimes. As Public Assets follows the developments of the global pandemic and resulting economic downturn, we will be doing our best to add context and help you understand what’s happening in Vermont on tax, budget, and economic issues. Public Assets will be
- [Vermonters count on Census Day results](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-count-on-census-day-results) - Life in the time of the COVID-19 has upended everyone’s daily routines. It’s a wonder anyone has remembered the 2020 Census form that recently arrived in the mail. But as of last weekend, just over 16 percent of Vermonters had completed the survey. Nationally, the response rate has been 19.2 percent. April 1, just a week away, is Census Day. That’s the reference date for answering the Census questions about the people in each household, their ages, race, relationships, and about home ownership. This is the basic head count that is done every 10 years, and it’s critical in determining the distribution for federal funds, representation in Congress, and representation in the Vermont Legislature. Federal highway construction, Medicaid, food assistance (known here as 3SquaresVT), Head Start, and school meals are just a few of the federal programs affected by the Census count.
- [More workers are getting adequate unemployment benefits](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-workers-are-getting-adequate-unemployment-benefits) - One goal of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the $2 trillion federal stimulus law, is to encourage workers to stay home by providing them enough cash for their families to live on. For many Vermont workers, the policy succeeds. State unemployment benefits replace 58 percent of a worker’s wages and are capped at $513 a week. The feds will provide $600 a week on top of state benefits for unemployed workers through July 31. In total, a Vermont full-time minimum wage worker would receive just over $850 a week; a worker earning the average weekly wage would get a little less than $1,100 in state and federal benefits. To meet the basic needs of a Vermont family of four, two adults each need to earn $815 to $900 a week, according to the Joint Fiscal Office.
- [People working during the pandemic need a living wage too](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/people-working-during-the-pandemic-need-a-living-wage-too) - The $2.2 trillion federal stimulus bill will keep the wolf from the door for millions of people who can’t work and businesses forced to close because of the coronavirus pandemic—at least for a while. Congress rightly recognized its first priority is to see that people with no money coming in have enough to live on. Now we must do the same for those who are still working.
- [What’s the cost of living and staying healthy?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/whats-the-cost-of-living-and-staying-healthy) - Let’s all take a deep breath. Before we jump to the conclusion that $600-a-week federal unemployment checks on top of state benefits are going to destroy the work ethic and wipe out the labor force, let’s remember why we’re doing this. The intended consequence of federal pandemic unemployment benefits through July is that workers will stay home. Until there is a vaccine, isolation is the best defense against the coronavirus. And if people are going to be confined to their homes, they need to have enough money to feed themselves and their families, make rent or mortgage payments, and pay for essential goods and services. We’re looking at this the wrong way if we’re trying to balance “unemployment compensation” in one hand and “to not be working” in the other.
- [Women filled most of the frontline jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/women-filled-most-of-the-frontline-jobs) - More than 72,000 of Vermonters worked in jobs that are now on the frontlines of the coronavirus crisis, providing goods and services that many of the rest of us need as we shelter in place. Two out of three of these workers were women. Nearly one in three (30 percent) had a child living at home. These are some of the findings of a new analysis released by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in Washington, D.C., using data from 2014 to 2018. The frontline workers included in the study represent 22 percent of all Vermont workers 16 and older.
- [The COVID crisis is hitting some Vermonters harder](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-covid-crisis-is-hitting-some-vermonters-harder) - Initial unemployment claims shot up to nearly 50,000 in March after Gov. Phil Scott acted to curb the spread of the coronavirus. That was more than five times the initial claims for benefits in any month during or after the Great Recession. The crush has continued this month, adding 26,000 new claims by April 11.
- [Don’t hurt kids in the name of “fairness”](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/dont-hurt-kids-in-the-name-of-fairness) - It’s too early to have a clear picture of how Vermont should allocate the $1.25 billion it received last week from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. But a fully funded, fully functioning public education system has to be a top priority. We’ve already heard demands that “schools need to share the economic pain” caused by the coronavirus crisis. At first blush, that sounds like a reasonable appeal to a sense of fairness. But it won’t be schools that pay the price if we start cutting education funding. It will be children, who already are going to miss about a third of this school year. Are we really going to ask third graders or high school sophomores to “share the pain” by giving up part of their education next year too? Are we prepared to tell them they need to do more with less education?
- [Federal COVID aid helps, but it may not be enough to see Vermonters through](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/federal-covid-aid-helps-but-it-may-not-be-enough-to-see-vermonters-through) - During the first month of the pandemic, Congress scrambled to pass multiple aid packages aimed at helping states and individuals prepare for and respond to the crisis. But whether that will be enough to meet Vermonters’ needs is anyone’s guess. The packages approved in Washington include increased unemployment benefits, limited paid leave, funds to hospitals and other medical providers, and one-time direct payments to low- and moderate-income individuals, as well as additional program dollars for child care subsidies, education, community development, and other priorities. To date, Vermont’s small businesses have taken more than $1 billion in Small Business Administration loans that may be forgiven if they keep their employees on payroll for the two months following receipt of the loan.
- [Money, money everywhere, but not a lot to spend](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/money-money-everywhere-but-not-a-lot-to-spend) - Vermont’s April revenue collections highlight the absurdity of federal rules restricting the use of the Coronavirus Relief Fund—the $150 billion that Congress appropriated in the CARES Act to help the states. The state’s personal income tax receipts dropped by two-thirds last month. Instead of taking in $184 million, as forecast, the tax department received $63 million. But according to the latest guidance Vermont can’t use its federal relief funds to close that gap—to pay for the programs and services that would have been covered by the $121 million the state didn’t collect.
- [Cutting school funding now is a bad idea](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cutting-school-funding-now-is-a-bad-idea) - If there’s anything that has become clear in this pandemic, it’s just how important schools are to Vermont families. School staff are feeding kids, providing online instruction, helping connect kids to resources that they need—everything they always do and then some, but under much more challenging circumstances. And with schools working to reach kids who don’t have broadband access and continuing to meet students’ special education needs, they need more funding, not less.
- [COVID-19 has cost Vermonters their livelihoods](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covid-19-has-cost-vermonters-their-livelihoods) - Almost 55,000 Vermonters were unemployed in April, and the state’s jobless rate rose to 15.6 percent. The unemployment rate increase since January was the third highest in the country. This is the official rate, which counts people without a job who are actively seeking work. Since the beginning of March, almost 95,000 Vermonters have filed initial claims for unemployment compensation. Jobs gone - The number of Vermont jobs reported in the monthly survey of employers dropped below 250,000 in April, to its lowest level since 1992. Income down - More than half of Vermont adults reported losing income or living in a household that lost income since mid-March.
- [Hope for the best, but plan for the worst](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/hope-for-the-best-but-plan-for-the-worst) - Health comes first. But the next biggest risk Vermonters face from the coronavirus pandemic is loss of income. As leaders in Montpelier contemplate the best uses for $1.25 billion in federal aid from the Coronavirus Relief Fund, insuring that Vermont families continue to have money for food and shelter has to be at the top of the list. Until last week, the weekly reports on new claims for unemployment benefits were about the only data we had on what the coronavirus was doing to the state’s economy. Now we’re starting to get more numbers.
- [‘A riot is the language of the unheard’](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-riot-is-the-language-of-the-unheard) - The national unrest of the last week has added a layer of pain to what many Vermonters were already experiencing during the pandemic: economic hardship, inequitable access to public resources and health care, and the stress of being isolated from family and friends. The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that have
- [Open letter on federal pandemic relief funds](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/open-letter-on-federal-pandemic-relief-funds) - June 10, 2020 Dear Member of the Vermont General Assembly: As you build a plan to spend the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) monies that were allocated to Vermont, we hope you will use some basic guidelines in your decision making. Vermonters are struggling. These funds, as with all state revenues, should be first and foremost used to meet the needs of the people of Vermont and to create a Vermont that works for everyone. Rather than focusing on what the federal rules permit, we urge the Legislature and administration to focus on what Vermonters need. It is likely that the federal rules for use of CRF money will change, maybe even this month, to allow greater flexibility, especially the ability to use the funds to backfill for the loss of state revenue resulting from the pandemic. And there may be additional federal funds coming to Vermont. Even if the funds in the initial allocation cannot be used for certain purposes, we urge you to list all the needs you see, so that if and when funding criteria are broadened or more funding is available, other needs can be addressed.
- [Jobs are returning, but businesses have a ways to go](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-are-returning-but-businesses-have-a-ways-to-go) - The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out more than 63,000 Vermont jobs in April, but employers began to increase their payrolls again last month. Jobs rose by 15,700 in May, by far the biggest monthly increase in at least 30 years. But even if this growth continues, it will be mid-September before the lost jobs are recovered. The service sector gained 7,700 jobs, a fraction of the nearly 50,000 lost in April. Meanwhile, Vermont’s unemployment rate dropped to 12.7 percent last month from 16.5 percent in April.
- [Federal aid helped, and more will be needed](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/federal-aid-helped-and-more-will-be-needed) - The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) pumped $1.19 billion into the Vermont economy in April, May, and June to help employers hang onto nearly 114,000 jobs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. To put that in perspective, in normal times Vermont has about 315,000 non-farm payroll jobs, and the state’s total output of goods and services in a three-month period is about $8.7 billion. The money provided through the Paycheck Protection Program came in the form of loans administered by local banks, credit unions, or other lenders. Some or all of a loan can be forgiven if the business meets certain criteria for retaining employees and maintaining salaries. We don’t know yet how much of this money will eventually become a grant to Vermont businesses and their employees. Full-service restaurants and their employees were perhaps hit hardest by the business closures ordered in the early days of the pandemic. Vermont businesses in that industry make up the largest group that turned to the Paycheck Protection Program for help, according to new, nationwide loan data released by the Small Business Administration this week.
- [The state unemployment trust fund is ample—so far](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-state-unemployment-trust-fund-is-ample-so-far) - Four months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 50,000 Vermonters are relying on unemployment benefits each week. As of July 4, regular state unemployment insurance (UI) was paying about 40,000 weekly claims; in addition 9,500 people were collecting federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), a program for workers, including self-employed, who don’t qualify for regular jobless benefits. Meanwhile, Vermont’s unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent in June, as 10,000 more Vermonters went to work last month.
- [Vote in the August 11 primary](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vote-in-the-august-11-primary) - It’s summer in Vermont. And despite the pandemic, we can still do some of the things we usually do this time of the year: go for a hike, hit a bike trail, go to a swimming hole. These activities might look a little different: more masks, for one thing, smaller groups for another, and socially-distanced lines waiting for creemees. And there’s one more summer activity that will look a little different this year: Vermont’s August 11 primary. Back in June, the Legislature worked with the Secretary of State to pass legislation making voting by mail available to all Vermonters for the November general election. And this week, Secretary Condos announced that all registered voters will be automatically sent ballots for the November election. The August primary looks a little different. Rather than sending all voters a ballot, registered Vermonters should have received a postcard asking if they would like to request a ballot by mail.
- [Some help for some essential workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/some-help-for-some-essential-workers) - It took a little while, but Vermont’s Front-Line Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program opened for applications this week. The $28 million program will provide grants from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to qualified employers to provide $1,200 or $2,000 in hazard pay to certain frontline workers, depending on how much they worked. The money will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The program covers some workers in public safety, public health, human services and health care who: had elevated risk of exposure to COVID-19; earn less than $25 an hour; and worked at least 68 hours between March 13th and May 15th.
- [Complete the Census, fight COVID-19](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/complete-the-census-fight-covid-19) - Time is running out! Vermonters only have a month and a half to complete the 2020 Census, and we’re way behind. Vermonters need to be counted because of the importance of Census data. Census population and poverty counts determine how much federal money many Vermont programs receive. Given increased need due to COVID-19, and the economic uncertainty of state revenues, federal funding is crucial for Vermont’s physical and economic health. Population estimates have already determined an influx of assistance for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing; emergency food and shelter; and childcare and elementary and secondary schools. For COVID-19 testing and tracing alone this has meant $65 million for Vermont, supporting over 100,000 people being tested.
- [COVID cases ease, but Vermont workers are still suffering](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covid-cases-ease-but-vermont-workers-are-still-suffering) - The number of unemployed workers in Vermont dropped by more than 50 percent from April to July. That decline, from nearly 58,000 to just over 28,000, made Vermont one of 10 states where the number of unemployed in July was down by more than half from their peaks. But not all of those Vermonters found jobs. During the same period the number of people employed rose by only 17,600, meaning that the total labor force shrank by over 12,000. Jobs gained About two-thirds of Vermont’s hotel and restaurant jobs and a quarter of retail jobs disappeared in the winter and spring, when businesses were closed to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Together, they totaled almost 70,000 jobs. Retail positions are recovering more quickly, with numbers in July just 8 percent below January 2020. Hotel and restaurant jobs, however, were still off by 50 percent.
- [Balanced budget can’t make up for lost federal aid](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/balanced-budget-cant-make-up-for-lost-federal-aid) - Dithering in Washington has left a lot of states scrambling to figure out how to pay for the support and services their citizens desperately need. In Vermont, Washington’s paralysis means the Legislature will have just over a month to determine whether the $7.1 billion budget Gov. Phil Scott proposed for the current fiscal year will be adequate to get Vermonters, including individuals and businesses who have seen federal support dry up, through the coronavirus pandemic. In a normal year, House and Senate committees spend four or five months taking testimony, negotiating, and deliberating on appropriations bills.
- [Testimony follow up: Vermont Tax Structure Commission](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-follow-up-vermont-tax-structure-commission) - September 11, 2020 Vermont Tax Structure Commission Re: Follow up to August 31 testimony Dear Commissioners: Thank you for inviting me and our deputy director Stephanie Yu to your meeting last week. We appreciated the opportunity to review with you some of the key reasons we believe that eliminating the school property tax on primary residences is good public policy and how making this change would create a fairer, simpler school funding system for voters and taxpayers. I want to review and expand on some points that were addressed at the August 31 meeting:
- [Mattison Joins Public Assets Board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/mattison-joins-public-assets-board) - Montpelier – Tiffany Bluemle, chair of the board of Public Assets Institute, announced that C.D. Mattison of Burlington has been elected to the board. A non-partisan nonprofit with offices in Montpelier, Public Assets Institute is Vermont's premier independent research organization on state budget, tax, and economic issues and the source for timely and in-depth state fiscal and policy analysis from the perspective of everyday Vermonters. “We’re delighted to have Mattison join the board,” said Bluemle, who is the founder of Change The Story Vermont. “She is a passionate, clear thinker with a breadth of experience in the private and nonprofit sectors who will help ensure that our work continues to be relevant to the needs of all Vermonters.”
- [Widespread joblessness persists](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/widespread-joblessness-persists) - The number of Vermonters who are working dropped by more than 2,000 in August, after recovering some over the summer. At 308,000, that’s more than 20,000 below pre-pandemic levels. And while 30,000 Vermonters are still applying for unemployment benefits, many of them are not included in the official federal unemployment rate. That rate is based on a narrow definition of unemployment that does not accurately reflect people who are still unable to work or look for work because of the pandemic.
- [Vermont’s unemployment rate riddle](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-unemployment-rate-riddle) - Q: When is a drop in the unemployment rate bad news? A: When people are leaving the labor force rather than going back to work. The official monthly employment numbers for August were released last Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Vermont’s reported unemployment rate fell from 8.3 percent in July to 4.8 percent in August. That would normally be great news. Fewer unemployed means more people have gone back to work, right?
- [Fiscal 2021 budget provides some help to Vermonters left behind](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fiscal-2021-budget-provides-some-help-to-vermonters-left-behind) - Washington scrambled to meet people’s needs as COVID-19 shutdowns began in March. Many received financial support, others did not. Those left out include low-wage, essential workers—disproportionately women and Vermonters of color—who have been hit hardest by the crisis both physically and economically. Vermont’s Legislature and governor deserve credit for taking the pandemic seriously and working to address Vermonters’ needs during this crisis. Before taking a summer break at the end of June, the Legislature appropriated $28.0 million for the Hazard Pay program, providing 16,000 front-line public safety and health care workers with one-time bonus pay of up to $2,000. In September, they finished work on the state’s fiscal 2021 budget, signed by Governor Scott on October 2nd, addressing additional inequities. The budget allocates $5 million for the Economic Stimulus Equity Program and an additional $22.5 million to expand the Hazard Pay program, strengthening their COVID-19 response by including more workers.
- [Vermont sees precarious signs of recovery](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-sees-precarious-signs-of-recovery) - The pandemic has hurt employment in every corner of the state. Nearly 25,000 fewer Vermonters worked in September 2020 than in September 2019—a decline of 7.5 percent. Employment fell by as much as 9 percent, depending on the county, with the northwest corner of Vermont—Grand Isle, Chittenden, and Franklin counties—seeing the largest drops.
- [No school tax increase for COVID shortfall](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-school-tax-increase-for-covid-shortfall) - The Legislature did the right thing this year by holding property tax payers harmless after the COVID pandemic took a big bite out of the state’s Education Fund. The shortfall this year mostly has to do with a loss of sales taxes and rooms and meals taxes. All sales tax revenue and a quarter of rooms and meals taxes go directly into the Education Fund, along with property taxes and state lottery receipts. Together these sources cover the cost of public education in Vermont.
- [Will we set a new voting record?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/will-we-set-a-new-voting-record) - The presidential election is a week away and Vermonters have already broken one voting record. Forty percent of voting age Vermonters have cast an absentee ballot so far, according to Vermont’s Election Division, breaking the 2008 record of 19 percent. Now let’s break one more – total voter participation rate.
- [Late is better than never for more COVID relief](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/late-is-better-than-never-for-more-covid-relief) - Now that Election Day is over Congress needs to get back to work and approve another round of COVID relief to support the states. New national daily COVID cases are topping 130,000, and the first round of federal relief is running out. So far, Vermont hasn’t taken the financial hit that was anticipated last March when COVID-19 became a pandemic. That is due in large part to swift action by Congress. The CARES Act directed more than $4.5 billion in federal aid to Vermont businesses, individuals, and state government. That included $600 a week in federal supplemental unemployment benefits, which was a lifeline to workers who had to stop working but couldn’t support their families on regular state unemployment insurance payments. According to a new report from the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office, the federal aid pumped into the Vermont economy helped to generate nearly $50 million in extra tax revenue for the first three months of this fiscal year. General Fund tax receipts from July through September were expected to be $523 million. Instead, the state took in almost $573 million.
- [Joblessness drags on as assistance dries up](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/joblessness-drags-on-as-assistance-dries-up) - Initial claims for unemployment compensation have been rising since mid-October, when they hit the lowest mark since the pandemic began. Vermont’s 860 new claims in the second week of November were filed before renewed restrictions closed bars and limited restaurant hours. According to the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, these orders affect approximately 12,000 Vermont workers. By mid-November, nearly 10,000 Vermonters—half of the 20,000 receiving unemployment—were jobless for half a year or longer. Unemployment claims for both women and men spiked in April as schools and businesses shut. Yet men’s claims fell to pre-pandemic levels in October, while seven times more women were unemployed that month than in March.
- [New report: ‘Working with Disability’](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-working-with-disability) - The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed deep-rooted structural inequalities in the U.S. Immense, historic, and racialized inequity in health and health care and the near-invisible “essential workers” who make everyone’s daily lives possible. Who is “essential?” Who is invisible? What rights do people have to safety and dignity in the workplace? Who is considered expendable? These issues are not new for people with disabilities, who have fought for access to employment and other civil and human rights for more than half a century. The Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) has issued a new report—Working with Disability: Toward a truly inclusive Vermont labor force—with data, history, and personal stories of Vermonters with disabilities.
- [Jobs fall as COVID cases and business restrictions rise](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-fall-as-covid-cases-and-business-restrictions-rise) - After six months of slowly returning, hotel and restaurant jobs dropped off again in November, as increasing COVID-19 cases limited travel and socializing. And this midmonth count probably does not capture the effects of new restrictions that began on Nov. 14. Vermont hotels and restaurants had 40 percent fewer jobs last month than in November 2019. Private-sector jobs overall were down 10 percent year over year. Unemployment claims As COVID cases rise, so does the number of newly unemployed Vermonters. Federal pandemic benefits are set to expire next week, yet Congress has failed to act. Remote work As many as 150,000 Vermonters may have been able to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- [COVID-19 made a bad situation worse for many Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/covid-19-made-a-bad-situation-worse-for-many-vermonters) - It also revealed the crucial role of government, not just in crises, new report shows MONTPELIER — The recession created by the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in February 2020, ended the longest economic recovery on record. The highest-income Vermonters came out of that recovery better off. But no one else did. Those at the bottom had less income in 2019 than in 2007 before the start of the Great Recession. Real median household income—the middle of the scale—ended 2019 where it was in 2007. And the state’s poverty rate showed no improvement. So when COVID-19 suddenly put nearly 100,000 Vermonters out of work, many were already in economically poor shape. Nearly $5 billion in federal assistance to Vermonters this year definitely helped Vermonters weather the pandemic, so far. But more is needed, now and in the future. The state needs to invest in the public good—child care, education, housing, and other essentials—to secure the long-term economic well-being of Vermonters.
- [More federal pandemic relief](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-federal-pandemic-relief) - As the legislature gets into full swing this month, dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 on Vermonters will be at the top of the list. At the end of 2020, Washington approved another round of pandemic relief, adding more funds and extending the spending deadline for the federal aid sent last spring. Vermont expects up to $2.5 billion from this new round of aid, with $1.8 billion accounted for so far. The aid includes funds for businesses, broadband investments, food, COVID-19 response, and other priorities. The new money extends a number of programs slated to expire including federal unemployment insurance and food programs, as well as additional health care support to test, trace and vaccinate Vermonters. About $650 million of that will be subject to legislative oversight.
- [Revenues are up, but it’s all relative](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/revenues-are-up-but-its-all-relative) - Federal stimulus funds clearly have been a godsend for Vermont and other states. Through the first round of relief—direct payments to state government, supplemental unemployment benefits, or aid to businesses—more than $5 billion flowed into Vermont to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to offset some of the economic damage it has caused. And we learned this week, thanks to all of this federal aid, that Vermont will be collecting hundreds of millions more in tax revenue this year and next. But before we assume the crisis has passed, we need to ask: Hundreds of millions more than what?
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 26, 2021 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-26-2021-budget-address) - Over the past year Gov. Phil Scott has recognized that many Vermonters needed help to meet their basic needs during the pandemic. His administration deserves credit for applying the power of state government, with the help of billions of dollars in federal aid, to meet those needs. The governor acknowledged in his Budget Address today that many Vermonters were struggling even before the pandemic. Our State of Working Vermont 2020 report notes that many Vermonters—especially Black and brown Vermonters, low-income Vermonters, and Vermonters with disabilities—had not recovered from the Great Recession when the pandemic-driven recession began last year. Federal aid has helped thousands of Vermonters and Vermont businesses make ends meet over this last year. It also allowed the state to spend money on things that have historically received inadequate investment, such as affordable housing, higher education, and child care. But instead of cautioning that this is one-time money that shouldn’t set the standard for budgets to come, the governor and Legislature should chart a course to continue to meet not only Vermonters’ basic needs, such as food, but also those needs that it took a global pandemic to reveal and address.
- [Exiting 2020, the pandemic takes a rising toll](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/exiting-2020-the-pandemic-takes-a-rising-toll) - Record unemployment New claims for unemployment insurance benefits (UI) rose at the end of 2020 as new COVID-19 cases spiked. It is common for new UI claims to increase at the end of the year. But the 7,366 monthly claims filed in December 2020 had not been seen since December 2010. And this January’s claims are on track to match December’s. Gender gap Vermont lost nearly 36,000 jobs in April, May, and June of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. Women accounted for more than 20,000, or 57 percent, of these jobs, although they held just over half of Vermont jobs going into the pandemic. With the exception of arts and entertainment, women lost a disproportionate share of jobs in the hardest-hit sectors. This is not because they predominate in all of those sectors. Rather, women left the workforce to assume extra caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic.
- [Tax Commission will issue consensus report](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tax-commission-will-issue-consensus-report) - The president is calling for unity, as the transfer of presidential power in Washington has been anything but peaceful over the past few months. Here in Vermont the soon to be released Tax Structure Commission’s report provides a real-world example of what united policy development looks like. The Vermont Tax Structure Commission, established by the Legislature in 2018, is putting the finishing touches on their draft report recommending changes to the state’s tax system. The Commission has three members, two appointed by the Democratic legislature and one by the Republican governor, each with different tax backgrounds. They have been working together over the last two years analyzing the state’s tax system and developing long-term recommendations to make it “more fair, more sustainable, and simpler.”
- [Climbing the benefit cliff](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/climbing-the-benefit-cliff) - Benefit cliffs are a real problem. The term is used to describe the predicament people get into when earning more income makes them ineligible for certain public benefits. Their income goes up, but then they fall off a benefit cliff. “Benefit cliffs’ is also one of those technocratic terms that’s hard to get excited about. But that could all change if enough people read just a short section of the Final Report of the Vermont Tax Structure Commission. It cuts through all of the usually confusing information and describes clearly the reality of a problem that needs fixing. I can’t improve on the report by paraphrasing, so I’m quoting it at length below.
- [Wages fall short of workers’ basic needs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/wages-fall-short-of-workers-basic-needs) - How much income does a person need to live? The Joint Fiscal Office’s January release of its biennial Vermont Basic Needs Budgets and Livable Wage report answers this question. Unfortunately, it reminds us that not all Vermonters are able to meet their basic needs. In 2020 livable income levels for full-time workers ranged from nearly $13 an hour for people without children in rural Vermont to nearly $42 an hour for a single parent with two children in the Burlington area – about $27,000 and $87,000 a year respectively.
- [A year in, the pandemic economy sets woeful records](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-year-in-the-pandemic-economy-sets-woeful-records) - COVID knocked the percentage of Vermonters working to its lowest point since 1976, when data first became available. Just 60 percent of Vermonters ages 16 and older were employed in 2020, down from 65 percent in 2019. Still, the rate of working-age Vermonters employed in 2020 was the second highest in New England and superseded the U.S. rate of 57 percent. The pandemic forced Vermonters to stop working because of business closures, caregiving responsibilities, and health needs.
- [Reflections on the Atlanta shootings](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/reflections-on-the-atlanta-shootings) - A lot has already been said about last week’s shootings of six Asian women and others at spas in Atlanta—that it was shocking but not surprising, that it was the predictable result of a year of hate spewed by political leaders, that it doesn’t have to be totally racially motivated to be a hate crime and can in fact be the product of racism and misogyny and fetishization all at the same time, that it was the result of lax gun laws that allow the violent to act on their worst impulses. There’s also been an understandable look back at systemic racism against Asians in the U.S., from the massacres in Wyoming and Los Angeles and the Chinese Exclusion Act to the internment of Japanese-Americans in the 1940s. All this can seem far removed from Vermont. Asian-Americans made up less than two percent of Vermont’s population, with two-thirds living in Chittenden County according to recent Census data.
- [Vermonters are weathering the pandemic with federal aid](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-are-weathering-the-pandemic-with-federal-aid) - Child tax credit More than 90 percent of Vermont families with children could receive expanded tax credits under the American Rescue Plan. Starting this summer, as many as 52,000 families could get a refundable federal Child Tax Credit of up to $3,000 per child, $3,600 for children under 6. The one-year change increases the benefit from $2,000 per child and extends eligibility to all lower-income families. Single filers earning up to $75,000 and joint filers up to $150,000 receive the full credit.
- [School taxes can be simpler and fairer](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-taxes-can-be-simpler-and-fairer) - Simplicity, equity, and let’s-just-call-it-what-it-is. Those were among the key reasons the Vermont Tax Structure Commission recommended recently that the state abolish the homestead property tax and move to an income-based school tax for all resident homeowners. We support the Commission’s recommendation. We also urge everyone, but especially policymakers, to read the final report. It addresses many persistent questions that have swirled around education funding for almost 25 years.
- [town2town: 3 Vermont school tax questions answered](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/town2town-3-vermont-school-tax-questions-answered) - Vermont's education funding system is built on fairness for students, fairness for taxpayers, and local control. The statewide tax base supports school spending voted by each community. Each school district in Vermont sets its own budget and spending per pupil on or around Town Meeting Day. And all school taxes go into a single pot, the Education Fund. The Legislature sets a school tax rate schedule that applies to primary residences in all towns, so residents know their school tax rates based on their town's voted per-pupil education spending. There are two rates—one based on the value of the home and the other based on household income. Residents can choose the better deal for them, and most Vermonters pay the income rate for all or some of their school taxes. Towns with more spending per pupil have higher tax rates; those with less spending per pupil have lower rates; and towns with the same per-pupil spending have the same rates. The system effectively equalizes the taxing power of all communities. Regardless of the actual wealth of any community, every town has to make the same tax effort—i.e. have the same tax rates—for each $1 of funding it votes per pupil. Below are an interactive map and charts showing school income and property tax rates for all towns from school year 2012-13 to 2020-21. Select a town and year and see the current rates and spending relative to other towns, and how those rates have changed over time.
- [Vermont’s economy is still ailing from the pandemic](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/april-2021) - Despite a dramatic drop in unemployment in recent months, the number of Vermont residents who are working has not increased. The number of people officially unemployed—available and looking for work—fell since last April because workers left the labor force, not because they returned to work. In March 2021, 30,000 fewer Vermonters were employed compared with the same month in 2020, before the full COVID shutdown—a 9 percent drop.
- [Nominations Open for 2021 Con Hogan Community Leadership Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/nominations-open-for-2021-con-hogan-community-leadership-award) - Winner to Receive $15,000 Cash Prize Nominations are now being accepted for the $15,000 Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership. Launched in 2015, the annual award is a tribute to Con Hogan’s life’s work and commitment to public service. The goal of the award is to encourage and reward leaders who share Con’s
- [Vermont is digging out and building back](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-is-digging-out-and-building-back) - The number of hotel and restaurant jobs increased by 1,800 in April, out of 1,900 total new private-sector jobs last month. As COVID-19 cases declined and business restrictions loosened, jobs in the hospitality sector grew to 24,300. The sector is still down more than 20 percent from pre-pandemic levels.
- [Unemployment benefits common sense](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unemployment-benefits-common-sense) - Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face Nearly half of the governors—23 and counting—have decided to end federal supplemental unemployment benefits for workers in their states. Evidently, they never heard the old adage: Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. In these bizarre times, I guess we have to be grateful that Governor Scott was raised with more common sense. Despite the pandemic—with the business shutdowns, layoffs, school closures, illness, and all of the other things that kept so many people out of work—personal income in Vermont actually grew in 2020. It rose to $36.56 billion from $34.50 billion the previous year. That was a 6 percent increase—the biggest since 2006—and all of the growth was due to unemployment benefits and to refundable tax credits.
- [The people vs. the computer](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-people-vs-the-computer) - Good government serves its people and puts their needs first. But unemployment insurance policy changes this year that would have helped unemployed Vermonters were stymied by a 40-year-old computer system. In non-pandemic times, workers who qualify for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits receive up to 57 percent of their wages. A federal benefit boost is helping them make ends meet during the pandemic but is set to end in early September. So legislators brainstormed several UI benefit changes that would start in September.
- [Student weighting is more complicated than it seems](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/student-weighting-is-more-complicated-than-it-seems) - Many legislators and school officials are eager to adjust Vermont’s education finance system to provide more money for school districts with kids from low-income families and those for whom English is not their first language. We agree these resources are necessary and should be provided as soon as possible. But the Legislature was right to set up a special legislative task force this session to research and discuss with Vermont parents and voters the options for providing additional funding to these school districts. Here’s why: The proposed changes are an extreme use of weights, and made more so by Vermont’s funding system. Student weighting is just what the term suggests: Certain students who cost more to educate are counted as more than one person—given more weight—as a means to provide the additional funding to their school district.
- [Jobs return post-COVID, but are they good enough?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-return-post-covid-but-are-they-good-enough) - As the Vermont economy reopens, there’s a lot of talk about jobs going unfilled. In fact, we don’t have good state-level data on how many jobs are open, what they are, or how much they pay. We know Vermont lost more low-wage than high-wage jobs last year, so it’s likely that many of the jobs returning now are at the low end of the scale. But the scale could change. Nationally, according to the New York Times and the Washington Post, the pandemic increased the risks and stresses of many lower-wage jobs. Workers quit and are holding out for better jobs. That has forced some employers to offer higher pay and left those that haven’t in the lurch. There are other barriers to work, too, including continued COVID risk and scarce affordable child care.
- [Averages can be deceiving](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/averages-can-be-deceiving) - Vermont’s average annual wage rose to just over $54,000 last year. The increase, nearly 10 percent, was the largest since at least 1988. It’s nothing to celebrate, though. We aren’t really better off. The average went up last year because the COVID-19 pandemic took its biggest toll on low-wage jobs.
- [Per-Pupil Education Spending and Tax Rates, Fiscal 2016](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/per-pupil-education-spending-and-tax-rates-fiscal-2016) - After the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the state’s school funding system was unconstitutional in 1997, the Legislature re-built the system on a fundamental fairness principle: school districts that spend the same amount per pupil have the same tax rates. The old system wasn’t fair. Some towns had extremely low tax rates, but easily raised more money per pupil than most communities in the state. Meanwhile, towns with the highest tax rates raised far less per pupil than the average school district. The current funding system creates a single, statewide tax base that all towns and school districts draw on. All non-residential property is taxed at the one rate statewide. Tax rates for primary residences vary by town with spending per pupil.
- [Analysis of General Fund Transfer to Education Fund](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/analysis-of-general-fund-transfer-to-education-fund) - Paul Cillo (September 2006) An issue brief showing that the transfer of money from the state General Fund to the Education Fund has been less than required by statute for the past two years. The result: $25 million more in property taxes.
- [Recreational Enforcement and Education Unit](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/recreational-enforcement-and-education-unit) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Aug 2008 We’ve all encountered state troopers on the highways. But since the 1960s, troopers have also patrolled state waters and, more recently, snowmobile trails. These state police became the Recreational Enforcement and Education Unit, enforcing marine and snowmobile laws and running safety-education programs throughout the state and online.
- [A Cost Shift to the Education Fund: Smaller is Better](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/smaller-is-better) - Vermont property taxpayers dodged a bullet this year. The Legislature blocked the governor from transferring the cost of teachers’ retirement to the Education Fund. Had the governor succeeded, in two or three years local voters would have faced big property tax increases or deep cuts to their education programs.
- [Health care is the budget-buster—not education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/health-care-is-the-budget-buster-not-education) - From 1992 to 2009, the amount Vermonters spent on health care shot up. In the early 1990s, health care spending was roughly 10 percent of the state's economy. Last year it was over 17 percent. When you plot those figures on a chart, you see a steeply rising line. Economically, this growth in the cost
- [2012: With Federal Protection Gone, Education and Human Services Are in the Crosshairs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2012-education-and-human-services-in-the-crosshairs) - If the Legislature does not restore the lost federal funding for education in fiscal 2012, that will mean a further shift onto the property tax. And without increased revenue to restore the human services budget, poor and vulnerable Vermonters will continue to bear the heaviest burden of this recession.
- [New Report Lays Out Vermont Education Funding Facts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-lays-out-vermont-education-funding-facts) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15, 2010 MONTPELIER—A new, easy-to-read report by Public Assets Institute lays out some often overlooked facts about education spending in Vermont. As measured against the overall economy, for example, the report shows that education costs have been remarkably stable since the early 1990s, not out of control as many have asserted.
- [Has Vermont put too much value on education all this time?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/has-vermont-put-too-much-value-on-education-all-this-time) - According to U.S. Census data, Vermont has been funding public education at about $50-60 for every $1000 of residents’ personal income for nearly 20 years. In fiscal 2009, the most recent data available, Vermont spent $1.4 billion, which worked out to about $57 per $1000 of personal income. As the chart below indicates, education spending
- [Investing in Education Will Build a Stronger Vermont Economy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/investing-in-education-will-build-a-stronger-vermont-economy) - The best way for Vermont to strengthen its economy is by continuing to invest in educating its workforce, according to a new paper published today by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN). “A Well Educated Workforce is Key to State Prosperity” was researched and written by Noah Berger,
- [Per-Pupil Education Spending and Tax Rates, Fiscal 2014](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/per-pupil-education-spending-and-tax-rates-fiscal-2014) - One of the primary goals of Act 60, passed in 1997, was to ensure that Vermont provides substantially equal access to public education resources for all of the state’s children, regardless of the wealth of the community they live in. That is what the Supreme Court required when it declared the previous financing system unconstitutional.
- [More cost shifts to the Education Fund](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-cost-shifts-to-the-education-fund) - The Vermont Legislature is pushing ahead with school consolidation on the promise that it will produce better educational opportunities for Vermont children and lower costs for taxpayers. But if consolidation is such a good idea, why won’t lawmakers—to borrow a well-worn phrase—put a little skin in the game and invest General Fund dollars in the
- [Testimony to House Education Committee, March 17, 2016](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-house-education-committee-march-17-2016) - Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Paul Cillo. I’m the president of Public Assets Institute. We’re a nonpartisan, 501c3 nonprofit located here in Montpelier. We provide state tax, budget, and economic analysis from the perspective of ordinary Vermonters. I was asked to speak today about how I thought equity has been
- [20 years ago, Act 60 fundamentally changed the way Vermont pays for public education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/20-years-ago-act-60-fundamentally-changed-the-way-vermont-pays-for-public-education) - What problem were we trying to solve? Before 1997 Vermont had vast inequalities in education and tax bills from town to town. Towns with ski resorts, lakes, lots of stores, or high-value homes enjoyed well-funded schools with low tax rates. Property-poor towns had to tax themselves at high rates to afford barely adequate schools. For
- [Education Fund needs new management](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/education-fund-needs-new-management) - Unlike last year, nobody seems to be panicking over education funding as legislators prepare to return to Montpelier. But that doesn’t mean we should forget about the Education Fund. In fact, now, when the Legislature’s hair is not on fire, is a perfect time to reform management of the $1.7 billion fund. Why do we need reforms? Because the Education Fund, which funds pre-K to 12 public education and accounts for almost 30 percent of all state spending, has become more susceptible to political manipulation.
- [Public Assets Institute Adds a New Policy Analyst](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-institute-adds-a-new-policy-analyst) - MONTPELIER – Dr. Julie Lowell has joined Public Assets Institute’s staff as a Policy Analyst. “We’re delighted to welcome Julie to Public Assets. Her academic research and direct social-service work in Vermont make her a great addition to our staff,” Public Assets president and founder Paul Cillo said Monday. Lowell came to Public Assets after working at Vermont Works for Women for four years, as both a program evaluator and a direct service provider. She has worked directly with survivors of domestic violence, families experiencing homelessness, and women exiting correctional settings, informing her advocacy at the state level to positively impact policy for individuals living in poverty.
- [New report: Vermont’s tax system is among the least regressive](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-vermonts-tax-system-is-among-the-least-regressive) - MONTPELIER— Tax systems generally favor the wealthy, but Vermont’s system is skewed less than most other states when it comes to high-income taxpayers. That was the key finding of a study released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and Public Assets Institute. Taxes are considered regressive if lower-income taxpayers pay at higher rates than do taxpayers with higher incomes. According to the new report, Vermont taxpayers in the top 1 percent now pay a slightly higher share of their income in state and local taxes than those in the middle. However, some upper-income taxpayers pay a lower percentage than Vermonters in the middle. The lowest-income taxpayers pay the smallest share of their income in state and local taxes, according to the report.
- [The State of Working Vermont 2006 report](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-state-of-working-vermont-2006-report) - Sept 12, 2006
- [A fairer, simpler way to fund education](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-fairer-simpler-way-to-fund-education) - Eliminate the property tax on primary residences and base school taxes on income How it works now In 1997 the Vermont Supreme Court declared the state’s education financing system unconstitutional and required that the Legislature devise a system that provides substantially equal access to public education resources for all of the state’s children, regardless of the wealth of the community they live in. That is what Act 60 accomplished. Before Act 60, property-wealthy communities could raise lots of money for their schools with low tax rates, while property-poor communities had high rates and still were not able to raise much.
- [For Reach Up families, basic needs are out of reach](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/for-reach-up-families-basic-needs-are-out-of-reach) - Due to years of underfunding, Reach Up is not fulfilling the state’s fundamental obligation to ensure that families with children can meet basic needs. • Reach Up benefits are not keeping up with the cost of basic needs. • Reach Up leaves families in extreme poverty. • Reach Up assists fewer families in poverty than it used to.
- [Taxes are not the biggest burden](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/taxes-are-not-the-biggest-burden) - Paul Cillo (Nov 1, 2006, Rutland Herald) Is Vermont affordable? The Public Assets Institute calculated expenses for different Vermont families to find out. The answer? For some Vermonters it is, for others it is not.
- [Replacing Act 60 wouldn't be so easy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/replacing-act-60-wouldnt-be-so-easy) - EDITORIAL. Rutland Herald, November 12, 2006
- [Vermont's School Finance Law Is Still the Best](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-school-finance-law-is-still-the-best) - Paul Cillo (Jan 14, 2007, Valley News) Act 68 is fairer and more sustainable than an all-property-tax system. It balances the needs of all of Vermont's children with those of its taxpayers, and it trusts local communities to manage their schools best.
- [School-financing law is working](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-financing-law-is-working) - Paul Cillo (Feb 25, 2007, Burlington Free Press) Ten years ago -- on Feb. 5, 1997, -- the Vermont Supreme Court declared the state's foundation formula for financing education unconstitutional because it failed to provide all Vermont children with equal educational opportunity.
- [No place like dead last](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-place-like-dead-last) - EDITORIAL. Brattleboro Reformer, December 19, 2007
- [Poor towns aren't gaming Act 68 system](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/poor-towns-arent-gaming-act-68-system) - Jack Hoffman (Feb. 24, 2008, Times Argus) How and how much we pay for schools is never far from the top of the list of public policy discussions. That's a good thing.
- [Who really needs the help?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/who-really-needs-the-help) - EDITORIAL. Brattleboro Reformer, February 19, 2008
- [State spending should reflect Vermonters' needs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-spending-should-reflect-vermonters-needs) - Jack Hoffman (Mar. 30, 2008, Times Argus) When the Vermont House starts debating the 2009 state budget this week, wouldn't it be great if most Vermonters knew what they were talking about?
- [Thoughts from inside the box](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/thoughts-from-inside-the-box) - EDITORIAL. Bennington Banner, August 21, 2008
- [State budget cuts will hurt Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-budget-cuts-will-hurt-vermonters) - Paul Cillo (Aug. 17, 2008, Times Argus) On Tuesday, Governor James Douglas will unveil his plan to a legislative committee for $32 million in emergency cuts to the state budget. Legislative leaders seem willing to go along. No hearings are scheduled, no citizens will be heard.
- [The T-word blocks all debate](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-t-word-blocks-all-debate) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (Oct. 15, 2008, Bennington Banner) With a little less than a month to go before the election, it looks like we'll go through another campaign cycle without an honest debate about taxes — in particular, taxes to pay for Vermont's crumbling infrastructure.
- [Voters chose more effective government](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/voters-chose-more-effective-government) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (Nov. 9, 2008, Times Argus) In fulfilling his promise to "revitalize Vermont's economy," the governor must be mindful of the enormous shift in the country's — and the state's — political mood that culminated on Tuesday.
- [Diverting surplus has Ed Fund trade-offs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/diverting-surplus-has-ed-fund-trade-offs) - EDITORIAL. Burlington Free Press, December 5, 2008
- [Sharing the pain as battle lines are drawn](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/sharing-the-pain-as-battle-lines-are-drawn) - OP-ED. Paul Cillo (Dec. 7, 2008, Times Argus) It's been heartening to hear elected officials, editorial writers, and policy makers talking about Vermonters sharing the pain as we address the state's massive revenue shortfall.
- [Everything ought to count in budget crisis](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/everything-ought-to-count-in-budget-crisis) - EDITORIAL. Times Argus, December 14, 2008 When you close down the courts, you are closing down the government. And yet that was the possibility outlined by Chief Justice Paul Reiber as he described ways the state’s judiciary might meet budget-cutting targets proposed by Gov. James Douglas.
- [Health Care Reform: Obama and Vermont Are Moving in the Same Direction](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/health-care-reform-obama-and-vermont-are-moving-in-the-same-direction) - REPORT. Steven Kappel (December 2008) For nearly 20 years, Vermont has been a national leader in health care reform. Further progress in Vermont—especially when it involves integrating Medicare beneficiaries and funds into a new system—will require cooperation from the federal government. The compatibility of Obama's and Vermont's visions greatly improves the odds that cooperation will be forthcoming.
- [Back to the chalk board for Douglas](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/back-to-the-chalk-board-for-douglas) - EDITORIAL. Times Argus, January 18, 2009 A contradiction lies at the heart of the plan of Gov. James Douglas to impose state controls on local education spending. An understanding of that contradiction unmasks the true nature of Douglas's deceptive attack on public education in Vermont.
- [State shouldn't add to joblessness](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-shouldnt-add-to-joblessness) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (Jan. 22, 2009, Rutland Herald) While Congress gets ready to spend hundreds of billions to keep people working, why is Vermont planning to lay off state workers and slash school budgets, sending teachers to the unemployment lines?
- [An irrational fear of taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/an-irrational-fear-of-taxes) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (Feb. 5, 2009, Rutland Herald) The word taxes has become so toxic that it's impairing our ability to talk rationally. Here's an example: According to the governor, some middle-income Vermonters can afford to give up 5 percent of their salaries to help balance the state budget. Meanwhile, he says, asking others with the same income to pay far less than 5 percent in additional taxes would make living in Vermont "unaffordable."
- [Medicaid Math](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/medicaid-math) - ISSUE BRIEF. Steven Kappel (February 2009) When is a dollar only worth 40 cents? When the state cuts Medicaid spending. When does saving 40 cents cost Vermonters a dollar? When the state cuts Medicaid spending.
- [School funding 'fundamentally broken'?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-funding-not-broken) - OP-ED. Paul Cillo (Mar. 8, 2009, Times Argus) Vermont has the most equitable, stable, sustainable, and publicly accountable education funding system in America. Vermonters spend a lower percentage of their income on school property taxes now than they did before Act 60 was enacted in 1997. Yet we hear that Vermont's school funding system is--in the words of one prominent critic--"fundamentally broken and beyond repair." Why?
- [A Capital Idea](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-capital-idea) - REPORT. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, March 2009 At present, nine states – Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin – offer substantial tax breaks for income derived from capital gains.
- [Unemployment Reform: Do the Job Now](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unemployment-reform-do-the-job-now) - REPORT. Jack Hoffman and Reenie De Geus (March 2009) Vermont could get almost $14 million in federal money to help laid-off workers if it reforms its unemployment insurance law to provide new or expanded jobless benefits.
- [Review of S.137](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/s137) - ANALYSIS. April 8, 2009 Tom Kavet's analysis of proposed “Vermont Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” S.137
- [Property Tax Increase - Unnecessary, Unwise, Unfair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/property-tax-increase-unnecessary-unwise-unfair) - OP-ED. Paul Cillo (Apr. 29, 2009) Desperate to fill an estimated $250 million hole in the state's general fund for next year, the Legislature is on the verge of accepting the governor's plan to increase property taxes by $60 million or more.
- [Open government goes beyond access](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/open-government-goes-beyond-access) - EDITORIAL. Burlington Free Press, May 5, 2009. There's little point in opening government records to the public if the information is too difficult to find, sort through or taxes the everyday understanding of the average Vermonter.
- [Kids Count](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/kids-count) - EDITORIAL. Rutland Herald, July 31, 2009. Vermont's commitment to services for children, including education, has to be an important factor in the state's continuing success in discouraging harmful trends such as teenage pregnancy and smoking.
- [Responsible funding begins at home](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/responsible-funding) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (Aug. 4, 2009, Times Argus) If local districts are going to be asked to take on more financial obligations, they need additional revenue. No one wants to shoulder an unfunded mandate, whether it comes from Washington or Montpelier.
- [School taxes may be more complex, less fair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-taxes-may-be-more-complex-less-fair) - OP-ED. Paul Cillo (Mar. 14, 2010, Times Argus) Montpelier's goal this year should be to make the education tax system simpler and fairer for all Vermonters. Instead, in the haste to cut General Fund spending, Gov. James Douglas would make it more complicated and less fair – increasing taxes on middle-income Vermonters and lowering them on those with higher incomes. Sound crazy? It is.
- [Dissing Vermont is Bad for Business](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/dissing-vermont-is-bad-for-business) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (May 30, 2010, Times Argus) For years, the governor has been repeating a mantra: Vermont is bad for business. Its taxes are too high, its environmental regulations too onerous, its schools too expensive, he says.
- [Public investment is key to prosperity](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-investment-is-key-to-prosperity) - By PAUL CILLO - Rutland Herald, August 15, 2010 For 30 years, we’ve been told government is the problem and the best way to help the economy is to reduce taxes for business and get government out of the way. What we’ve been told is wrong. Our economy does better when government plays its rightful
- [All Vermonters should share the risks of health care reform](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/all-vermonters-should-share-the-risks-of-health-care-reform) - By Paul A. Cillo, Vt Digger, April 19, 2011 Governor Shumlin is right. Health care reform is needed—the sooner the better. One big reason: Health care is busting the state budget. But proposed reforms are not likely to produce real budget savings until 2015 at the earliest. And health care costs will continue to balloon
- [The People’s Budget puts Vermonters’ needs first](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-peoples-budget-puts-vermonters-needs-first) - By Paul Cillo, VTDigger.org, April 11, 2012 The Vermont Workers Center has proposed a People’s Budget that would fundamentally change the way Vermont approaches budgeting and begins to address the problems of income disparity, poverty, and the decline of Vermont’s middle class—all but forgotten this legislative session. Vermont’s budget process now starts with a revenue
- [Facts matter in fixing health care system](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/facts-matter-in-fixing-health-care-system) - By Paul Cillo, Burlington Free Press, July 4, 2012 Last year, some of Vermont’s largest employers spent 10 percent of payroll or more on health insurance for their employees. A large majority (95 percent) of these businesses provided coverage equivalent to “gold” or “platinum” plans—that is, plans in which the insurer covers a minimum of
- [The budget’s in the black—but did it do its job?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/budget-in-the-black) - By JACK HOFFMAN, VTDigger.org, July 30, 2012 The Shumlin administration just released the latest revenue figures, and it looks like Vermont finished fiscal 2012 at the end of June with about a $12 million General Fund surplus, which is earmarked for flood repairs at the Waterbury complex. Still, revenues were more than the regular spending
- [Vermont’s Minimum Wage Increase Will Boost Economic Growth and Help Workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-minimum-wage-increase-will-boost-economic-growth-and-help-workers) - By PAUL CILLO, VTDigger.org, January 4, 2013 While stagnant wages and sluggish job growth continue to cloud the post-recession recovery, there’s a bright spot for Vermont: approximately 11,000 of the state’s lowest-paid workers got a raise on January 1st, as the state’s minimum wage increased by 14 cents to $8.60. Thanks to a law signed
- [Putting people’s budget into practice](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/putting-peoples-budget-into-practice) - By Jack Hoffman, Rutland Herald/Times Argus, September 22, 2013 Vermont politics have undergone a profound shift in the last 20 years. During the recession of the early 1990s, it was a Republican governor, Richard Snelling, who insisted that even in difficult times Vermont “cannot and will not set lower standards for the education of our
- [How to look at looming budget cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/how-to-look-at-looming-budget-cuts) - By Paul Cillo, Rutland Herald, October 5, 2014 A month after announcing a 2 percent cut to the current year’s budget, the Shumlin administration is signaling its intention to make additional cuts of as much as 5 percent and possibly more next year (fiscal 2016). For an already anemic state government that is suffering from staffing
- [State policy choices make a difference](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-policy-choices-make-a-difference) - By JACK HOFFMAN, VtDigger, October 17, 2014 Jon Margolis did a nice job of popping some campaign balloons earlier this week with his column about the Vermont economy. Popping campaign balloons, after all, is both the job and the fun of being a political columnist. He set the record straight and
- [Montpelier should trust, work with school districts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/montpelier-should-trust-work-with-school-districts) - By PAUL CILLO, Rutland Herald, May 10, 2015 The Legislature can work with local communities to improve education, or it can push them around. That’s the choice at the heart of the education debate in Montpelier this year. But so far lawmakers are not showing much interest in cooperation. Instead, they are moving ahead with
- [Property Tax Rise: Don’t blame the schools](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/dont-blame-the-schools) - OP-ED. Paul Cillo (Dec. 6, 2009, Times Argus/Rutland Herald) Vermont has a financially sustainable public education system that achieves excellent results. It keeps its education spending flat as a percentage of the economy under hugely trying circumstances. This should be cause for congratulations.
- [Vermonters Are Not Just Taxpayers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-are-not-just-taxpayers) - OP-ED. Jack Hoffman (Jan. 3, 2010, Times Argus/Rutland Herald) Elected officials often speak to voters as if they were taxpayers only. But all Vermonters also rely on the services those taxes pay for: safe food and drinking water, education, health care, highway maintenance, police protection, courts, care for those who are old, sick, or disabled, help for the unemployed, and more.
- [Serving the public](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/serving-the-public) - EDITORIAL. Rutland Herald, January 6, 2010. As legislators gather on Thursday to hear the eighth and final State of the State address from Gov. James Douglas, they ought to be alert to signs that Douglas plans to solve state budget problems by shifting them onto the shoulders of local property tax payers.
- [Prioritizing Approaches to Economic Development in New England: Skills, Infrastructure, and Tax Incentives--By Jeffrey Thompson, Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/prioritizing-approaches) - August 11, 2010 Download the report; the findings in brief The recession has put many Vermonters out of work. So policymakers are looking for an economic boost that will get Vermonters working again and give their families ongoing stability. What’s the best way to do that? Vermont has used tax credits and other incentives
- [Family Median Adjusted Gross Income](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/family-median-adjusted-gross-income) - Vermont has long had a progressive income tax. On the principle that those who benefit most from society should pay more to support it and also that those with greater means can afford to pay more, Vermont taxes higher levels of income at progressively higher rates. The U.S. Census estimates incomes by surveying small samples
- [Marginal income tax rates: rhetoric vs. reality](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/marginal-income-tax-rates-rhetoric-vs-reality) - Taxes pay for public education, health care, roads and bridges, communications systems, and other public structures that make it possible for individuals and businesses to thrive in our society. Making these public investments boosts the economy both in the short term and down the road. Yet we hear some people saying that high marginal tax
- [Getting to the Polls](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/getting-to-the-polls) - Vermont’s voter registration is good: about 90 percent of the voting-age population. But turnout isn’t so hot. In the general election last fall, just 54 percent of registered voters cast ballots, according to data collected by the Secretary of State. In individual towns, the turnout ranged from 33 percent to 76 percent. The latest town2town
- [Guess what? Medicaid does work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/guess-what-medicaid-does-work) - A new Medicaid study out last week is drawing lots of attention. The New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, and others are all writing about it. The authors say it is the first randomized study of its kind in 40 years, and it shows significant and positive benefits from providing public
- [A Bigger Pie Doesn’t Mean a Bigger Slice for All](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-bigger-pie-doesnt-mean-a-bigger-slice-for-all) - One of the justifications for lowering taxes on the rich for the last 30 years has been that their increased wealth would trickle down to the rest of us. We needn’t complain that some are getting bigger slices of pie than others, we’ve been told, because the pie is getting bigger, and we’re all getting
- [Where Vermonters are Working,<br>Where They're Not](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-vermonters-are-working) - Statewide, Vermont’s annual average unemployment rate in 2010 was 6.2 percent. That was the second-lowest rate in New England—just behind New Hampshire—and 3.4 percentage points below the national average last year. But not all Vermont towns are doing as well as the state average. According to data from the Vermont Department of Labor, the average
- [Where the Roads Go](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-the-roads-go) - It’s hard not to be awestruck by the damage Irene did to Vermont’s roads and bridges. It’s also been sobering to see how much disruption the loss of key public infrastructure can wreak in business and everyday life. Vermont has more than 14,000 miles of roads throughout the state. The state highway system comprises about
- [School Taxes Based on Income, 2011](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-taxes-based-on-income-2011) - Since 1998, Vermont residents have had two options for calculating the school taxes on their primary residence. They may base their payment either on the value of their home or on their household income, whichever is less. Over the years, the Legislature has limited eligibility for paying based on income. ((For example, regardless of income,
- [Is Vermont’s declining student enrollment driving up costs?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/is-vermonts-declining-student-enrollment-driving-up-costs) - No. Declining enrollment doesn’t drive up costs. It’s true that Vermont’s student enrollment has been declining at a rate of about 1 percent per year. But, school costs have also been declining for the past two years. If you listen to some who are weighing in on Vermont’s school spending lately, you’d think that a
- [What Families Earned in 2010](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-families-are-earning-now) - The typical Vermont family had less buying power in 2010 than it did a decade earlier, according to the latest data from the Vermont Tax Department. The adjusted gross income for the median family—half of families earn more, half less—was $57,655 in 2010, the data show. In 2000, the department calculated median family income at
- [School budgets: Now it’s up to the voters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-budgets-now-its-up-to-the-voters) - Unless there is an unexpected rash of school budget defeats next week, it looks like Gov. Peter Shumlin won’t get his wish to keep school spending flat next year. Earlier this year, the governor urged local voters to press for no increases in school budgets. He also said he wanted to hold down property taxes.
- [Income disparity was also a Town Meeting topic](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/income-disparity-was-also-a-town-meeting-topic) - Town Meeting put Vermont in the national spotlight again after dozens of communities adopted resolutions calling for a constitutional fix to Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that has opened new rivers of money flowing into political campaigns. But there was another resolution that some towns adopted that also deserves attention. This was a
- [A look at Vermont employers’ health insurance offerings](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-look-at-vermont-employers-health-insurance-offerings) - A new study of employers in the Vermont Business Roundtable shows the vast majority are providing health plans that do not shift a lot of cost onto their employees. Most VBR members offer either “gold” plans, in which employees cover between 10 and 20 percent of their annual health care costs, or “platinum” plans, where
- [While Joblessness Persists, Help for the Unemployed Wanes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/april-2012-jobs-brief) - The number of Vermonters in the labor force—employed and unemployed—decreased last month after rising steadily since last July, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate ticked down in March, even though fewer Vermonters had jobs. Only workers who are actively looking for work or waiting
- [Health care costs: Bending the growth curve is good](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/health-care-costs-bending-the-growth-curve-is-good) - It’s an election year in an era of divisive politics, so the campaign-style attacks on Vermont’s health care reform efforts probably shouldn’t be surprising. And from what we’ve seen on the national political stage, we know that campaign ads don’t have to make sense. Still, why would anyone want to convince Vermonters there was something
- [Joblessness in 2011](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/joblessness-in-2011) - Vermont’s average annual unemployment rate dropped in 2011, to 5.6 percent. The decrease was seen across most of the state. But about a quarter of Vermont towns (23 percent) saw unemployment rise last year. Average rates ranged from 0 percent in Averill and Buel’s Gore to more than 22 percent in Norton, according to the
- [For many, the cupboard is still bare](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cupboard-still-bare) - The number of Vermonters needing help putting food on the table continued to climb in 2011. From December 2010 to December 2011, households participating in Vermont’s 3SquaresVT program increased by 7.4 percent. Since the Great Recession hit in December 2007, the number of households getting food stamps has risen 90 percent. More than 48,000 households,
- [Michael Moore delivers a shot in the arm for Public Assets](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/michael-moore-delivers-a-shot-in-the-arm-for-public-assets) - When Michael Moore set out to make SiCKO, his acclaimed 2007 documentary about the health care industry, he thought he’d focus on some of America’s 50 million uninsured. He put out a call for stories—and received 25,000 emails. He and his staff read them all. What shocked him was not just the quantity of emails,
- [The Monthly Jobs Brief is 3!](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-monthly-jobs-brief-is-3) - Three years ago this month Public Assets Institute published its first monthly Jobs Brief—our one-page update on Vermont’s employment picture, published the same day as the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its monthly data. In 2009, Public Assets got interested in what was behind these numbers. We wanted to find ways to provide context
- [New survey: Americans want fairer wealth distribution](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-survey-americans-want-fairer-wealth-distribution) - Income disparity between those at the top and those at the bottom has been growing in Vermont for over two decades. As we showed in our report earlier this year on the plight of Vermont’s middle class, the share of income that went to the top 1 percent of Vermonters rose from 6 percent in
- [Reduced layoffs—that would be worth celebrating](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/reduced-layoffs-that-would-be-worth-celebrating) - The Labor Day holiday is intended to celebrate working people. But this Labor Day there are still many Vermont workers who are out of work. Between February 2008 and October 2009, Vermont’s private sector employers eliminated more than 14,000 jobs in response to the recession. Since then, they’ve added back about 10,000 jobs, but are
- [Health care reform: New ad, old tricks](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-ad-old-tricks) - By WENDELL POTTER After watching Vermonters for Health Care Freedom’s new commercial, I was reminded of what my former colleagues in the health insurance industry and I used to do to influence public opinion, often using deceptive tactics. I was also reminded of why I left my job as an industry executive and began speaking
- [Census: Still down, but maybe looking up](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/census-still-down-but-maybe-looking-up) - The Vermont Census data released yesterday bring to mind a book title from the 1960s: “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me.” According to the Census, Vermont saw improvement in 2011 in a couple of key indicators, including median household income and poverty. In fact, Vermont had the biggest growth in median
- [Will profit-making be Job One at OneCare?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/onecare) - By WENDELL POTTER When I read that Fletcher Allen Health Care and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center were forming a new for-profit entity to administer Vermonters’ Medicare benefits, one thing leapt off the screen: the term "for-profit." As someone who worked for two of the country’s largest for-profit health insurers over nearly 20 years, I know how
- [What we did on our Summer Speaking Tour](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-we-did-on-our-summer-speaking-tour) - For each of the past five summers, Public Assets’ Jack Hoffman and Paul Cillo have spent a day in each of five Vermont communities speaking to Rotary Clubs, discussing school budgets and taxes with local elected officials and legislators, meeting with area newspaper editors, and visiting with other community leaders. This year’s tour took us
- [Per Pupil Education Spending and Tax Rates, Fiscal 2013](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/per-pupil-spending-2013) - One of the primary goals of Act 60, passed in 1997, was to ensure that Vermont provides substantially equal access to public education resources for all of the state’s children, regardless of the wealth of the community they live in. That is what the Supreme Court had required when it declared the previous financing system
- [Vermont’s Effective Income Tax Rate Dropped in 2010](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-effective-income-tax-rate-dropped-in-2010) - PDF Version In 2010, the latest year for which data are available, Vermont’s effective income tax rate was 3.2 percent —26th nationally when the states were ranked from highest to lowest. That was down from 3.9 percent—23rd nationally—in 2008, as Public Assets Institute showed in a study published in 2010. A state’s effective rate is the
- [Health care reform begins now](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/health-care-reform-begins-now) - Vermont political leaders have a challenge this session: How to move to Obamacare without hurting low- and moderate-income Vermonters who are currently covered through the Vermont Health Access Plan (VHAP) and Catamount Health, two state-supported health care programs. The state plans will be discontinued in 2014, when Obamacare kicks in and requires everyone to have
- [The Earned Income Tax Credit](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-earned-income-tax-credit) - Almost 45,000 Vermont families, with nearly 50,000 children, qualified for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2011, according to the most recent statistics. Like the federal EITC, the Vermont credit is designed to help low-wage workers. National studies have shown the EITC to be one of the most effective anti-poverty programs. The amount
- [Unemployment in 2012](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unemployment-in-2012) - Vermont’s average annual unemployment rate was down to 5 percent in 2012 from 5.6 percent in 2011, and unemployment dropped in more than four out of five Vermont towns. Still, the latest data from the Vermont Department of Labor show 113 towns with unemployment rates higher than the statewide rate in 2012. The lowest town
- [Family Income Rose in 2011](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/family-income-rose-in-2011) - Vermont median family income—half of families earn more than the median and half earn less—rose 2.9 percent in 2011, according to the latest data from the Vermont Tax Department. But the change in median income varied from town to town. In a quarter of Vermont towns, the median family income went down, while three-quarters of
- [Where the licensed child care is—and isn’t—2013](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-the-licensed-child-care-is-and-isnt-2013) - Vermont has about 680 licensed child care providers, but they are not evenly distributed throughout the state. Several communities, especially in the Northeast Kingdom, have none. Vermont does not yet collect data on the number of children enrolled at child care facilities. However, the state does determine the capacity—meaning the size and appropriate setup—of each
- [Smart investments will move Vermont forward](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/smart-investments-will-move-vermont-forward) - "Having to trim budgets is not a tragedy unless it is used as an excuse for turning away from responsibility. We cannot and will not set lower standards for the education of our children, for the health of the population, for assistance to the troubled, jobless or homeless, or for the protection of the environment.”
- [Final Education Debate to be Held at Statehouse in Montpelier](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/final-education-debate-to-be-held-at-statehouse-in-montpelier) - Montpelier, VT—The Ethan Allen Institute (EAI) and the Public Assets Institute (PAI) will face off at the Vermont State House on Tuesday, February 18 in the last of a three-debate series on the proper role of government in education. Moderated by Kristin Carlson, formerly the senior political reporter for WCAX and currently the Director of
- [Statement on Gov. Peter Shumlin’s Jan. 15, 2014, Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-peter-shumlins-jan-15-2014-budget-address) - Gov. Peter Shumlin struck a better chord with his Budget Address than he did last year, when it seemed like he wanted to balance the budget on the backs of poor Vermonters. This year the governor talked about protecting vulnerable Vermonters and making “investments that will enhance Vermonters’ quality of life.” Understanding the details about
- [House-passed budget is little changed from governor’s plan](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-passed-budget-is-little-changed-from-governors-plan) - As with the governor’s proposed budget, the fiscal 2015 appropriations bill approved by the Vermont House concentrates nearly all spending increases in the Agency of Human Services, education, and the state’s transportation system. The House voted for appropriations totaling $5.59 billion for next year. That is a 4.1 percent increase—$221 million—over fiscal 2014 spending. ((Adjusted
- [Streamlining democracy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/streamlining-democracy) - If the Legislature is serious about efficient governance, it might want to look closer to home before trying to streamline and consolidate Vermont’s school system. Vermont has a lot of legislators for such a small state. Perhaps the House and Senate would be more cost effective if they were more like the rest of the
- [Mi escuela es su escuela](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/mi-escuela-es-su-escuela) - There are humanitarian reasons for Gov. Peter Shumlin to answer President Obama’s call for help with the Central American refugees who have flocked to the U.S. in recent months. But taking in school-age children, especially on a long-term basis, also could help him with one of the perceived problems with Vermont’s education system. Our schools
- [Where employment rose—or didn’t,  2007 to 2013](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-employment-rose-or-didnt-2007-to-2013) - In 2013, there were still fewer Vermonters employed than in 2007, before the recession took hold. That’s true in about two-thirds of Vermont towns. But for the residents of the remaining third, employment was higher than in 2007. As the map shows, many of the towns where employment rose were in the northern tier of
- [Rescissions aren’t just about the money](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rescissions-arent-just-about-the-money) - Will Vermonters be better off or worse off if this year’s state budget is reduced by $36 million? That question wasn’t addressed in the documents presented by the Shumlin administration Monday when it unveiled a plan to cut the fiscal 2015 budget. But that’s the question the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee needs to consider as
- [Pies & Charts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/pies-charts) - You’re invited to Pies & Charts! The Public Assets team will be traveling around the state this fall, with tasty pies and enlightening charts. Please join us, enjoy the food, and take home some tools to help you talk with policymakers about economic issues in Vermont. Bring a friend or two. Chat with us. Mingle
- [Per-Pupil Education Spending and Tax Rates, Fiscal 2015](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/per-pupil-education-spending-and-tax-rates-fiscal-2015) - Vermont’s education funding system ensures that all students, regardless of the wealth of their communities, have equal access to money to support their education. The state could simply allocate the same amount of money for every student. But Vermont has a long tradition of local control, which would disappear if spending decisions were dictated from
- [Will the budget do the job? That’s the question](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/will-the-budget-do-the-job-thats-the-question) - Next Tuesday, Vermonters get their first chance to weigh in on the fiscal 2016 state budget, which the governor will present in January and the Legislature will review and revise during the session. Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding and Finance and Management Commissioner Jim Reardon are hosting two public forums this month: Oct. 14, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- [They’re voters’ choices, not crises](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/theyre-voters-choices-not-crises) - Amid all of the speculation about the November election results, one thing seems clear: it was a pretty good year for incumbents. More than 90 percent of current members who ran for the Vermont House or Senate were re-elected. Next year, three out of four seats in the Legislature will be filled by the same
- [Vermont workers are struggling: The Atlantic](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-workers-are-struggling-the-atlantic) - The Legislature took a step in the right direction last session when it raised the minimum wage, although it could have done more to offset the state’s increasing income inequality by pushing the minimum higher and more quickly. As it is, Vermont’s minimum wage won’t reach $10.50 until 2018. And despite the administration’s calls for
- [Paul Cillo’s Rotary Club presentation](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rotary-club-presentation) - Each summer, Public Assets goes on the road with its Summer Speaking Tour. Executive Director Paul Cillo and Senior Analyst Jack Hoffman visit five communities. This summer they visited Essex, Newport, Rutland, St. Albans, and Woodstock. A typical day includes a presentation to the local Rotary Club, an education finance seminar for local school officials
- [Second Decade Campaign charts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/charts) - Vermont’s minimum hourly wage over 40 years ago—almost $9.50 in 1970, in 2012 dollars—was worth a dollar more than the 2012 wage. In 2005, Vermont became one of a few states to tie its minimum wage to inflation.* This policy has helped low-wage workers but has not made up the ground lost in the 1970s
- [Second Decade Campaign kick-off video](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/kick-off-video)
- [New Analysis Finds Vermont Hit Hard by Cuts in President's Budget for 2008](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-analysis-finds-vermont-hit-hard-by-cuts-in-presidents-budget-for-2008) - Feb 22, 2007 release
- [Vermont's Workforce Well-Educated but Underutilized](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-workforce-well-educated-but-underutilized) - Sept 6, 2007 release
- [School-Budget Voters Are Minding Their Own Purse Strings (report release)](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-budget-voters-are-minding-their-own-purse-strings-report-release) - Feb 20, 2008 release
- [Let’s Put All Taxes on the Table, Not Just the Property Tax](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lets-put-all-taxes-on-the-table-not-just-the-property-tax) - PRESS RELEASE. Dec 3, 2008 Taking money from the state Education Fund to help balance the rest of the state budget will drive up property tax rates for Vermonters.
- [Stimulus Package Can Help Vermont Avoid Budget Cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/stimulus-package-can-help-vermont-avoid-budget-cuts) - PRESS RELEASE. Jan 22, 2009 Vermont could receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid in the next two years, according to a new analysis of the economy stimulus package now making its way through the U.S. House.
- [State Can Enact Reforms to Support Unemployed](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-can-enact-reforms-to-support-unemployed) - PRESS RELEASE. March 30, 2009 Both the Legislature and the administration are taking steps to qualify for almost $14 million in federal money to help laid-off workers. At the same time, though, the administration is looking for ways to cut unemployment benefits.
- [New Vermont Government Transparency Site Goes Live](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-vermont-government-transparency-site-goes-live) - PRESS RELEASE. July 2, 2009 Vermonters interested in the workings of their state government now have a powerful new tool: www.vttransparency.org. The new website, a joint venture of Ethan Allen Institute of Kirby and Public Assets Institute of Montpelier, has a wealth of information about state revenues and spending, both current and historical.
- [Vermont's Tax Structure Is Less Regressive than Most, But Still Favors the Wealthy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-tax-structure) - PRESS RELEASE. November 18, 2009 Vermont has done better than many states to tax according to ability to pay, but low- and middle-income Vermonters still pay more of their income in state and local taxes than do those in the highest income brackets.
- [New Study: Funding Public Services is the Best Route to Prosperity](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/pr081110) - August 11, 2010 For Immediate Release MONTPELIER—States, including Vermont, have long viewed economic development and funding for public services as competing interests. That’s a false dichotomy. Indeed, rebuilding neglected infrastructure and improving education will reap economic benefits in Vermont far surpassing those achieved by tax credits and other business giveaways. Those are the conclusions of
- [Vermont Should Reveal More About Business Subsidies](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-should-reveal-more-about-business-subsidies) - New report grades the 50 states on transparency FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2010 MONTPELIER –Over the past decade Vermont has spent tens of millions of dollars in state tax revenue to subsidize businesses—state and local tax breaks, cash grants, government-financed infrastructure, and other help in exchange for job creation. Yet taxpayers do not know
- [New Report: Recession's Toll on Vermont is Worsened by Earlier Policies](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/swvt) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 27, 2010 MONTPELIER- A new report by Public Assets Institute highlights the toll taken by the Great Recession and Vermont's failed efforts at job creation leading up to it. The state's immediate task is to respond to the crushing downturn and provide jobs for thousands of people who are out of work through no fault
- [A Welcome Change](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-welcome-change) - By Jack Hoffman, VtDigger , March 7, 2011 Town Meeting last week marked the second year in a row that Vermont’s education spending has declined. And it happened without the angst we all felt last year. Only three districts rejected their budgets. That’s the fewest in at least 20 years. And based on the anecdotal
- [New Report: Vermont Must Address Both Budget Problems](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-vermont-must-address-both-budget-problems) - MONTPELIER—The promise of health care reform in the future doesn’t compensate Vermonters for the pain of budget cuts today. While they address long-term budget problems, the governor and the Legislature also need to build a bridge to reform by adequately funding the programs and services that citizens need today. That’s the conclusion of a new
- [The Impact of Taxes on Migration in New England](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-impact-of-taxes-on-migration) - By Jeffrey Thompson Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst April 2011 Download the report; the findings in brief (Vermont) Evidence from surveys of migrating households, the existing economic literature, and new analysis using data from the Internal Revenue Service all suggest that taxes do not play any notable role in
- [Facts and myths about taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/facts-and-myths-about-taxes) - By Jack Hoffman, Rutland Herald, August 7, 2011 Do wealthy residents move if they are asked to pay more in taxes? Another reliable report — the fourth this year — says they do not. This latest was from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C. It was both a review of recent
- [Manage government to need, not just money](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/manage-government-to-need-not-just-money) - By Jack Hoffman, VTDigger.org, October 27, 2011 One of the good things to come out of Tropical Storm Irene was seeing the state respond to human needs. Individuals, businesses, government, and other institutions all had a similar reaction to the crisis: they jumped in with both feet and did what they could to help their
- [The Legislature’s budget plan: First steps toward smart investments for Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-legislatures-budget-plan-first-steps-toward-smart-investments-for-vermont) - By Steven Gold, VTDigger.org, March 28, 2013 The budget proposal to be considered this week by the Vermont House of Representatives isn’t perfect. But it begins to move the state in the right direction: toward smart investments that benefit all Vermonters and away from the austerity thinking that will take us nowhere. In January, the
- [New report on working Vermont: Reverse priorities to put people first](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-on-working-vermont-reverse-priorities-to-put-people-first) - MONTPELIER—Three years after the start of the Great Recession, the gap between Vermont’s wealthiest and everyone else had widened, and thousands of Vermonters had sunk into poverty, according to a new report released by Public Assets Institute today. The governor’s goal of rebuilding the middle class is an important start, but Montpelier must begin to
- [Ethan Allen Institute and Public Assets Institute to Hold First Education Debate in Lyndonville](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ethan-allen-institute-and-public-assets-institute-to-hold-first-education-debate-in-lyndonville) - LYNDONVILLE—The Ethan Allen Institute (EAI) and the Public Assets Institute (PAI) will face off this winter in a series of three debates on the proper role of government in education. Lyndon State College will host the opening debate Friday, December 13, 2013, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Burke Mountain Room on the fourth floor of
- [New Report Shows Vermonters Have Not Recovered from the Recession](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-shows-vermonters-have-not-recovered-from-the-recession) - Public Assets Institute releases State of Working Vermont 2013 MONTPELIER – Five years after the start of the Great Recession at the end of 2007, life was not improving for many low- and middle-income Vermonters, says the State of Working Vermont 2013, released today by Public Assets Institute. In 2012 poverty was up, along with
- [Public Assets Institute Launches Second Decade Campaign for a Vermont that works for all](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-institute-launches-second-decade-campaign-for-a-vermont-that-works-for-all) - MONTPELIER, VT -- Public Assets Institute staff, board and strategic partners gathered in the Vermont state house Thursday to launch the group's second decade campaign: for a Vermont that works for all. The group celebrated the achievements of its first ten years and recommitted to developing policy proposals for a Vermont that works for all.
- [Public Assets Institute’s Second Decade](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-institutes-second-decade) - By LARRY MANDELL, VTDigger.org, April 17, 2014 “Inequality for All,” the documentary featuring former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, makes one major point: Income disparity between those at the top and everyone else is killing the middle class. If you’re thinking, “Oh, that’s a problem in the rest of the country, not in Vermont,” think
- [Schools doing more, spending more](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/schools-doing-more-spending-more) - By JACK HOFFMAN, Rutland Herald, December 12, 2014 Exhibit A among current critics of Vermont’s education funding system is some version of a chart showing annual education expenditures going up over time and school enrollment going down. Why are we spending more and more money to educate fewer and fewer kids? The two-day education summit
- [A solution needs a defined problem, like the property tax](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-solution-needs-a-defined-problem-like-the-property-tax) - By JACK HOFFMAN, Vt Biz, November 05, 2014 There wasn’t a lot of substance in this election season. “Where’s the beef?” isn’t a question we hear much during campaigns anymore, as Jon Margolis lamented in his column in vtdigger this week. But while candidates may not need to offer thoughtful, workable proposals or even clearly define problems to
- [Building Vermont's Moral Economy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/building-vermonts-moral-economy) - Please join people of faith and people in our community for a discussion about how we can build a moral economy. Informational presentation, light snacks, engaging community conversation, and steps you can take to get involved. Sponsored by Vermont Interfaith Action and Public Assets Institute, and hosted by local faith communities.
- [Vermont Judiciary](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/judiciary) - CRACKS IN THE PUBLIC STRUCTURES. October 2009 The Judicial Branch (courts) of state government was established under the Constitution to protect individual rights and to ensure everyone their day in court. In addition to providing Vermonters with a place to resolve legal disputes, the Judiciary helps to provide balance of state powers as one of the three co-equal branches of state government: Vermont’s Courts, Governor, and Legislature.
- [No Supper for Schoolchildren](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/supper) - CRACKS IN THE PUBLIC STRUCTURES. December 2009 A year ago the federal government said it would give Vermont funds to serve supper to children from low-income families at after-school programs. But because the state eliminated a key job, those kids will have to wait—indefinitely.
- [Vermont’s Bridges are Going Nowhere Good](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/bridges) - CRACKS IN THE PUBLIC STRUCTURES. February 2010 Failing or closed bridges have come to symbolize our deteriorating public structures. They are the inevitable result of trying to balance a budget with cuts alone. Vermont has now closed 16 bridges to all traffic. Eleven more are closed for the short term, with a temporary bridge in place until the original structure is rehabilitated.
- [A Step Backward for Developmentally Disabled Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/developmentally-disabled-vermonters) - CRACKS IN THE PUBLIC STRUCTURES. April 2010 Challenges for Change, Vermont’s government efficiency plan, has a tough act to follow when it comes to improving services for Vermonters with developmental disabilities—life-long mental impairment that usually makes independent living impossible. In the early 1990s, the annual cost of care, in today’s dollars, was $289,176 per person living at Brandon Training School. Vermont’s community-based system now costs less than one-fifth that amount. More important, because people can now stay in their homes and communities, their quality of life is better.
- [Full-time workers should make enough to live on](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/full-time-workers-should-make-enough-to-live-on) - By Jack Hoffman, Rutland Herald, April 19, 2014 There appears to be a good chance the Legislature will increase the minimum wage this session, but so far it has set its sights too low. The Legislature needs to look beyond the $10.10 an hour that President Obama and Gov. Peter Shumlin have proposed and think
- [House Commerce Committee Testimony](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-commerce-committee-testimony) - Testimony on Vermont Employment Growth Incentive (VEGI) Program State House; February 10, 2012; 10:45 AM Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee My name is Paul Cillo. I’m the President of the Public Assets Institute here in Montpelier. We’re an independent nonprofit that analyzes Vermont’s tax, budget, and economic policies from the perspective of ordinary Vermonters. I’ve
- [House Ways and Means Committee Testimony](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-ways-and-means-committee-testimony) - January 26, 2011 My name is Jack Hoffman. I’m a policy analyst for Public Assets Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan organization in Montpelier that focuses on state fiscal policy. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the report of the Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission. I first want to commend the commission for an excellent
- [Testimony to the Vermont House Human Services Committee](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-the-house-human-services-committee) - January 29, 2013 Good morning, Madam Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Jack Hoffman. I’m senior analyst for Public Assets Institute, a Montpelier-based non-profit, non-partisan, public policy think tank that was established 10 years ago. For those of you who don’t know about Public Assets Institute, we analyze state fiscal policy with the
- [Testimony to House Education Committee - 01/16/15](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-house-education-committee-011615) - January 16, 2015 (On January 29 Paul Cillo presented essentially the same testimony to the Senate Education Committee) Mr. Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Ranking member, members of the committee, my name is Paul Cillo. I’m the president of Public Assets Institute. We’re a nonpartisan, 501c3 nonprofit located here in Montpelier. We provide state tax, budget, and economic analysis
- [House Ways and Means Committee Testimony](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-ways-and-means-committee-testimony-2) - March 19, 2013 Good morning Madam Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Jack Hoffman. I’m senior analyst for Public Assets Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan, public policy think tank in Montpelier. First, I’d like to applaud the Legislature and this committee for recognizing the need for Vermont to make smart investments again. Policies of
- [Testimony to House Commerce Committee - 02/11/15](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-house-commerce-021115) - February 11, 2015 Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Paul Cillo. I’m the president of Public Assets Institute. We’re a Montpelier-based nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy think tank that was established in 2003. For those of you who don’t know about Public Assets Institute, we analyze Vermont fiscal policy—tax, budget, and
- [Testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee - 03/11/14](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-the-house-ways-and-means-committee-031114) - House Ways and Means March 11, 2014 Good afternoon. My name is Jack Hoffman. I’m an analyst with Public Assets Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Montpelier that focuses on state fiscal policy, including education finance. Thank you for the opportunity to be here today. I don’t know how many of you attended the
- [Testimony to Senate Education Committee, January 19, 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-senate-education-committee-january-19-2018) - Good afternoon Mister Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Paul Cillo. I’m the president of Public Assets Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Montpelier that focuses on state fiscal and economic policy including education finance. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk with you today. I was asked to discuss
- [Testimony to Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs, 		January 17, 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-senate-economic-development-housing-general-affairs-january-17-2018) - Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Thank you for having me here today. My name is Stephanie Yu. I’m a policy analyst with Public Assets Institute here in Montpelier. We’re a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy think tank that was established in 2003. For those of you who don’t know about Public Assets Institute,
- [Testimony to House Education Committee, March 12, 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-house-education-committee-march-12-2018) - House Education Committee March 12, 2018 Testimony of Paul A. Cillo, President Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Thank you for inviting me to testify today on H.911, the Ways and Means Committee bill. I am addressing the portions of the bill that relate to education funding. I appreciate that you have a difficult task. I’ve been deeply involved in education funding for 30 years. It’s complicated; not just in Vermont, but everywhere in the country. There are lots of interactive moving parts to the system. For that reason, I’ve found it’s helpful and important to identify the problem you’re trying to solve and understand the cause of the problem.
- [Testimony to Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs, January 24, 2019](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/testimony-to-senate-economic-development-housing-general-affairs-january-24-2019) - Good morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Thank you for having me today. My name is Stephanie Yu. I’m the deputy director of Public Assets Institute here in Montpelier. We’re a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy think tank that was established in 2003. For those of you who don’t know about Public Assets Institute, we
- [New report: The economy is recovering, but many Vermonters have not yet seen the benefits](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-the-economy-is-recovering-but-many-vermonters-have-not-yet-seen-the-benefits) - Public Assets Institute releases State of Working Vermont 2014 MONTPELIER—Vermont’s economy grew faster than most of the other New England states in recent years, but the gains have not reached many working Vermont families. Since the recession officially ended in 2009, there have been positive signs of recovery. At the same time, according to Public
- [Statement on Gov. Peter Shumlin’s Fiscal 2016 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-peter-shumlins-fiscal-2016-budget-address) - Poverty, hunger, and homelessness are on the rise in Vermont. Meanwhile, median household income has been steadily declining since before the recession, and the gap between those at the top and everyone else is getting wider. In his budget address, Gov. Peter Shumlin acknowledged some of these struggles that many Vermonters face, but the real
- [Vermont’s economic growth is not widely shared](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-economic-growth-is-not-widely-shared) - There should be a bright side to Gov. Peter Shumlin's frequent complaint that Vermont business owners have difficulty finding skilled workers. When there is work to be done and not enough workers, wages should go up. That would be a good thing, and something that needs to happen in Vermont. You wouldn’t know it from
- [Public Assets is Hiring](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-is-hiring) - Public Assets Institute is looking for a new Policy Analyst who will become part of our team analyzing a range of Vermont fiscal and economic issues and helping to advance policies that ensure all Vermonters, especially low- and moderate-income residents, have the opportunity to succeed. The position is based in Montpelier, Vermont. If you’re interested
- [Moral Economy Presentation](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/moral-economy-presentation) - View presentation
- [Public Assets Institute Expands Its Staff](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-institute-expands-its-staff) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 2, 2015 MONTPELIER – Public Assets Institute has added a new policy analyst, Stephanie Yu, to its staff. “Stephanie brings a wealth of skills and experience, and we are delighted that she is joining our staff,” Public Assets president and founder Paul Cillo said Wednesday. Yu has worked as both a public
- [Building Vermont's Moral Economy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/building-vermonts-moral-economy-2) - Public Assets Institute and Vermont Interfaith Action share the concern that rapidly increasing income inequality and troubling cuts to state services are reducing opportunities and causing downward mobility for more and more Vermonters. We are jointly sponsoring a series of public discussions, hosted by faith communities around the state, about how Vermont can build a moral economy—one
- [Happy Thanksgiving](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/happy-thanksgiving) - Are you feeling a little tense as you anticipate time with family and friends over the Thanksgiving dinner table? Is it something more than the new turkey recipe that’s making you anxious? Are you worried that when the conversation turns to politics and the economy you won’t have the facts at your command? You’re in
- [Legislature can prevent Town Meeting chaos](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/legislature-can-prevent-town-meeting-chaos) - The Vermont Legislature has an opportunity to show respect to local voters and local school officials by getting two things done before the end of January: Repeal the rigid spending limits that threaten to unnecessarily increase property taxes this year. Set the education tax yields for fiscal 2017 so that voters will know the tax
- [Maybe we should revisit the minimum wage](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/maybe-we-should-revisit-the-minimum-wage) - Income inequality is a serious problem in Vermont that needs to be addressed on several fronts, and paying people more for their labor, especially those at the bottom, should be part of the strategy. Now political leaders and workers’ advocates who support a higher minimum wage may find they have some unexpected allies. The Washington
- [A few springy steps in Vermont’s plodding recovery?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-few-springy-steps-in-vermonts-plodding-recovery) - After shrinking throughout 2015, Vermont’s labor force is growing again. New Vermont Department of Labor numbers show that the labor force grew by 672 in March—the third straight monthly increase. Still, the labor force, which includes employed people and those who are unemployed and actively seeking work, is more than 16,000 workers smaller than it
- [Conditions appear ripe for gains, but wages stay flat](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/conditions-appear-ripe-for-gains-but-wages-stay-flat) - Wages should rise when labor is scarce. But despite Vermont’s enviably low unemployment rate and reduced labor force, pay has stagnated since the recession officially ended in 2009. According to the latest wage data from the Vermont Department of Labor, hourly pay at all levels, after adjusting for inflation, has been essentially flat for the
- [Let’s welcome new Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lets-welcome-new-vermonters) - Welcoming refugees could solve a lot of problems worrying Vermont policy makers. Declining enrollment in schools? Check. Sluggish economic growth? Check. Aging population? Check. Stagnant population growth? Check. Lack of diversity in many Vermont communities? Check. A new report by the Fiscal Policy Institute and the Center for American Progress confirms what many immigrant advocates
- [More are working, but help is short for the jobless](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-are-working-but-help-is-short-for-the-jobless) - The good news: In May Vermont employers created 900 more jobs than were first reported. According to revised figures released this month, there were 317,300 non-farm payroll jobs in May—up about 100 over April. The bad news? Jobs were down in June by about 1,400. Still, preliminary data show nearly 4,000 more jobs this June
- [2016 Vermont Primary Election](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2016-vermont-primary-election) - Tomorrow, August 9, is primary day. Not the presidential primary, which Vermont held on Town Meeting Day in March. It’s the other one—the primary for state offices and the General Assembly. It’s time to choose party candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, and all 180 Vermont House
- [Policy Solutions to Move Vermont Forward](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/policy-solutions-to-move-vermont-forward) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 6, 2016 CONTACT: Sarah Lyons sarah@publicassetdev.wpengine.com 802.223.6677 Public Assets Proposes Policy Solutions to Move Vermont Forward MONTPELIER – With a major turnover in political leadership in Montpelier this January, the new administration and Legislature should zero in on three fundamental initiatives to move the state forward: • Ensure that work pays
- [Meeting our needs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/meeting-our-needs) - Rutland Herald - Editorial September 07, 2016 Does Vermont state government need to retrench or do more? This is the perennial question defining state politics and the roles of the two parties. A new report asks a different question: What is it that the state needs to do? The Public Assets Institute is a policy
- [Vermont poverty and income took a step in the right direction](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/step-in-the-right-direction) - Household income went up and poverty went down in Vermont in 2015, mirroring the improvements at the national level that the U.S. Census reported on Tuesday. The new American Community Survey data from the Census show median household income in Vermont was $56,990 last year. After adjusting for inflation, that represented an increase of nearly $2,800, or 5.1 percent. Vermont’s median household income in 2015 was about $1,200 higher than the national median household income, but the percentage increase was the same.
- [2016 Con Hogan Award selection](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2016-con-hogan-award-selection) - This year’s Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership will go to Michael Monte. Monte serves as Chief Financial and Operating Officer of Champlain Housing Trust. He has more than 30 years of experience in the community and economic development field. The award will be presented at a celebration at Vermont College of Fine
- [Better retirement security](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/better-retirement-security) - The state’s economy would be stronger, and Vermonters would feel more secure financially if we all had retirement nest eggs. According to a 2012 report by the National Institute for Retirement Security, “[l]ess than half of Vermont workers participate in a retirement plan at work.” And those who have defined contribution accounts, the Institute found, the average balance is the lowest in the country—just $19,768. Creating a publicly administered retirement program for all Vermont residents is just one of the recommendations in A Framework for Progress: Investing in Vermont’s people, infrastructure, and good government, the latest Public Assets report. In the last two years, Illinois, Oregon, Maryland, Connecticut, and California have created publicly managed retirement plans for private sector workers, and half of the states of exploring similar plans.
- [Make Vermont family friendly](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/make-vermont-family-friendly) - We all need time off to care for a child, a parent, or ourselves from time to time, and we need to do it without losing income. Times have changed. Increasingly, working parents are the norm, not a rarity. According to 2015 U.S. Census data, 3 out of 4 Vermont children live in families where all parents work. And workers without children get sick or need to take care of elderly parents. However, school schedules, employment policies, and cultural expectations are still based on the past, when most workers (men) had stay-at-home spouses (women). This is no longer reality. State policy needs to change to address the needs of today’s families.
- [Center Names Five Public Policy & Community Research Fellows](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/center-names-five-public-policy-community-research-fellows) - For Immediate Release Contact: Richard Watts, Director Center for Research on Vermont rwatts@uvm.edu 802-373-1131 CENTER NAMES FIVE PUBLIC POLICY & COMMUNITY RESEARCH FELLOWS Five Public Policy and Community Research Fellows were recently named by the Center for Research on Vermont. The Fellows provide an essential link between the Vermont community and University of Vermont students,
- [Stephanie Yu is UVM Fellow](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/stephanie-yu-is-uvm-fellow) - Public Assets Institute is pleased to be making a new connection with the University of Vermont. Policy analyst Stephanie Yu has joined the UVM faculty as a Public Policy and Community Research Fellow at the university’s Center for Research on Vermont. According to the Center’s recent press release, its mission is “to support, foster and
- [Tapping Vermont’s entrepreneurial talent](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tapping-vermonts-entrepreneurial-talent) - Vermont needs to reduce gender disparities in the labor force, and the state needs more jobs. More women-owned businesses could help on both fronts. A new report by Change the Story VT shows the potential of female business ownership. According to the report, there’s already a strong entrepreneurial spirit among Vermont women. The percentage of
- [Fewer are working as the holidays approach](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fewer-are-working-as-the-holidays-approach) - Both the labor force and the number of jobs shrank in October. Vermont lost 2,100 non-farm payroll jobs last month, and ended up with 550 fewer people in the labor force, which includes the self-employed. October was the third straight month that jobs decreased and the fourth that the labor force contracted.
- [New year brings a new opportunity for shared prosperity](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/opportunity-for-shared-prosperity) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 29, 2016 CONTACT: Paul Cillo or Jack Hoffman paul@publicassetdev.wpengine.com jack@publicassetdev.wpengine.com 802.223.6677 New year brings a new opportunity for shared prosperity Public Assets Institute releases State of Working Vermont 2016 MONTPELIER – While Washington and the rest of the nation sort out the meaning of a Donald Trump presidency, new leaders in
- [Repealing Vermont’s Capital Gains Tax Break Would Ease Budget Woes and Improve Tax Fairness](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/capitalgains) - PRESS RELEASE. March 20, 2009 A new report released today by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) finds that Vermont could save upwards of $35 million per year if it were to repeal the tax break the state currently offers for income from capital gains.
- [Act 60 turns 20](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/act-60-turns-20) - The Equal Educational Opportunity Act, better known as Act 60, is 20 years old on Monday. On June 26, 1997, at an outdoor ceremony in Whiting, Gov. Howard Dean signed into law Vermont’s unique and groundbreaking education funding system. As we face tensions over school consolidation and who should determine teachers’ health insurance benefits, it’s worth remembering what Vermont has already achieved in school funding. Vermont has taken a huge step toward solving a problem that still plagues other states: educational disparities between kids born into wealthy communities and those in cities and towns with less wealth and fewer educational resources.
- [The state that loves refugees](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-state-that-loves-refugees) - Despite the recent turmoil in Rutland, Vermont owes it to itself to take a good, hard look at the benefits of welcoming the world’s growing numbers of refugees. We have excess capacity in our schools, and refugees’ families could fill many of the empty classroom seats while bringing diversity to our communities. It’s not just the right thing to do, it would also give a boost to the state’s economy. Vermont should lead the way—like we did with same-sex marriage and equitable education funding.
- [2017 Report Card](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2017-report-card) - Vermont made progress this year making the kinds of investments that can move the state forward and create an economy that works for everyone. The 2017 Report Card is based on a set of policy recommendations published last year called “A Framework for Progress: Investing in Vermont’s people, infrastructure, and good government.” To continue to advance these issues, we compiled this short report card assessing the progress made on each of the recommendations during the 2017 legislative session.
- [US HOUSE TAX PLAN: BENEFIT FOR VERMONTERS AT THE TOP GROWS OVER TIME](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/us-house-tax-plan-benefit-for-vermonters-at-the-top-grows-over-time) - Tax cuts for the top 1 percent are 200 times larger than those for the poorest A 50-state analysis of the House tax plan released this week by the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) reveals that the wealthiest 1 percent of Vermonters would receive the greatest share of the total tax cut in
- [Another hit to Vermont workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/another-hit-to-vermont-workers) - The Congressional tax plans aren’t the only policies in Washington that could make life harder for working families and the middle class. Possible changes to the federal overtime rules may also take money away from thousands of Vermonters. A new analysis by the Economic Policy Institute shows that 19,000 Vermont workers could lose a combined
- [State Senate committee acts to reduce income inequality](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-senate-committee-acts-to-reduce-income-inequality) - The Vermont Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee voted this week to increase the minimum wage. This is a big step forward for thousands of working Vermonters who need a raise and for the Vermont economy that needs a boost. And it’s a concrete action to reduce Vermont’s growing income inequality. The Senate bill would bring the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024. If the full Senate and the House concur, this will put an additional $240 million in the hands of low-wage workers and bring them closer to a livable income. And it will put more money into the Vermont economy as these workers spend this money for their basic needs. By any measure, the buying power of the minimum wage has been decreasing. Minimum wage growth has been less than growth in Vermont’s productivity, overall economic growth, the median wage, the cost of child care or housing, and much less than the growth of wages paid to those in the highest-paying jobs. It’s definitely time for an increase.
- [Raising property taxes won’t lower property taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/raising-property-taxes-wont-lower-property-taxes) - The Legislature is again considering using the property tax as a deterrent against high spending in Vermont schools. Currently, school tax rates go up proportionally with per-pupil spending increases. The bill recently passed by the House would change the education funding system so that tax rates would rise faster than spending increases as a disincentive to higher spending. Legislators say they understand the pressures on property tax payers and want to ease their plight. But in the name of cost containment, they’re proposing to make it more painful for Vermont resident homeowners who want to or have to spend more on their kids’ education. That might make sense if towns were willfully or carelessly spending too much on education. But that doesn’t appear to be the case.
- [What’s the cost of cost containment?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/whats-the-cost-of-cost-containment) - Cost containment is the watchword around public education this legislative session, with a focus on “high spenders.” The assumption seems to be that reining in high-spending school districts will free up lots of money for low-spending districts and also lower property taxes for everyone. No one has defined “high spender” or “low spender,” although for some legislators the terms appear relative to their own towns’ spending. But one way to analyze education spending is to see where the majority of pupils fall and then look at who lies above and below. As the infographic shows, per-pupil spending for two-thirds of Vermont students this year falls between about $14,000 and $16,750. The average is $15,368, so two-thirds of students are within about $1,400—plus or minus—of the average.­
- [Few towns have consistently high per-pupil spending](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/few-towns-have-consistently-high-per-pupil-spending) - Our recent blog about the fluctuations in school spending among high-spending towns prompted questions from curious readers looking for details. In response to those questions, we’re publishing the list of the 65 towns that appeared at least once among the top 25 in education spending per pupil from fiscal 2012 through fiscal 2018. The list below shows the towns, how many years they appear among the top 25, whether they tuition some or all of their students, and the number of equalized pupils in each town. If you want to sort the list, download the spreadsheet.
- [Too little, too late for the governor’s education plan](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/too-little-too-late-for-the-governors-education-plan) - It’s finally spring in Vermont. That means a little lingering snow, the occasional summer-like day, and a last-minute proposal from Governor Scott to slash education spending. In a replay of 2017, just when the Legislature is wrapping up its negotiations on the budget, the education fund and other bills, the governor this week upended the
- [School taxes will increase with governor’s flat rate](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-taxes-will-increase-with-governors-flat-rate) - Vermonters know there’s a difference between taxes and tax rates. Especially when it comes to property taxes, a lower rate doesn’t mean lower taxes if the grand list value of a property goes up. It’s important to distinguish between taxes and rates as the administration and the Legislature seek a compromise on education funding for
- [The property tax is what’s wrong with school taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-property-tax-is-whats-wrong-with-school-taxes) - It was a messy finish to a messy legislative session, but Vermonters can take some comfort that no permanent damage was done to the state education funding system. It’s disappointing that the governor insisted on another year of pretend budgeting—using one-time revenue again to artificially lower property tax rates. But, hey, worse ideas were floated
- [Vermonters want a minimum wage increase](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-want-a-minimum-wage-increase) - Vermonters have spoken. A recent poll commissioned by Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS showed a majority of Vermonters favor going to a $15 minimum wage and over 80 percent support raising it above the current level. In all the chaos of the special session and getting a budget in place before July 1, the
- [2018 Report Card](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2018-report-card) - Vermont made some progress this year making the kinds of investments that can move the state forward and create an economy that works for everyone. The 2018 Report Card is based on a set of policy recommendations published in 2016 called “A Framework for Progress: Investing in Vermont’s people, infrastructure, and good government.” To continue to advance these issues, we compiled this short report card assessing the progress made on each of the recommendations during the 2018 legislative session.
- [21 indicators tell the story of Vermont’s economy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/21-indicators) - Public Assets’ new report, State of Working Vermont 2018, reveals how Vermonters and their families were faring economically at the end of 2017—the latest year for which most data are available—and how conditions have changed, for better or worse, in recent years. Spoiler alert: The economy is improving, but not for most Vermonters. The report
- [Larry Mandell remembered](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/larry-mandell-remembered) - We were shocked and saddened to learn that Public Assets’ board chair, Larry Mandell, died on January 21. It was shocking because he was active and by all appearances healthy. I had spoken with Larry a few days before he died and nothing about that conversation suggested that his symptoms would prove fatal. He was in the hospital for some tests. But it turns out that Larry had a rare and fast-acting disease called amyloidosis that caused his heart to stop suddenly. We were saddened because Larry was a friend and a leader at Public Assets Institute. We miss him. I had known Larry Mandell for decades, though just to say hello and exchange pleasantries. We had never had a conversation—until November 9, 2011.
- [Vermont’s latest health care bill](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-latest-health-care-bill) - When the Vermont Senate voted last week to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024, it was portrayed as an economic boon and a way to narrow the gap between low-income families and the well-to-do. What some senators may not have realized is that they also were passing a health care bill. The New York Times Magazine ran a story last weekend about the various health benefits—both physical and mental—that come from raising the minimum wage. “Dollars on the Margins,” by Matthew Desmond, cites numerous studies that show people sleep better, eat healthier food, are less depressed, and smoke less when they get a raise and can make a decent wage. “Studies have linked higher minimum wages to decreases in low birth-weight babies, lower rates of teen alcohol consumption and declines in teen births,” Desmond wrote. “A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that between roughly 2,800 and 5,500 premature deaths that occurred in New York City from 2008 to 2012 could have been prevented if the city’s minimum wage had been $15 an hour during that time, instead of a little over $7 an hour.”
- [The Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-con-hogan-award) - In 1973, as a UVM student, I had the opportunity to be a University Year for Action intern—similar to AmeriCorps—at the Vermont Department of Corrections. The experience changed my life. And Con Hogan, who was Deputy Commissioner, was a big reason it did. That’s why I’m pleased and honored to have helped create the Con
- [2016 Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2016-con-hogan-award) - There’s still time to submit a nomination for The 2016 Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership. The $15,000 annual award—to be spent however the individual winner chooses—was established in 2015. It intends to encourage and reward mid-career leaders who share Con’s vision of a better Vermont—one that places the highest value on the
- [2017 Con Hogan Community Leadership Award Nomination Deadline is June 29](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2017-con-hogan-community-leadership-award-nomination-deadline-is-june-29) - Middlebury, VT – The Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial Community Leadership continues to seek nominations for its 2017 award. Now in its third year, the annual award is a tribute to Con Hogan’s life’s work and commitment. It’s intended to encourage and reward leaders who share his vision of a better Vermont—one that places
- [Holly Morehouse to Receive the 2017 Con Hogan Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/holly-morehouse-to-receive-the-2017-con-hogan-award) - The Vermont Community Foundation and the organizing committee for the Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial, Community Leadership are pleased to announce that Holly Morehouse, Executive Director of Vermont Afterschool, Inc., will be honored with this year’s award. The $15,000 award, to be used however the recipient chooses, will be presented to Morehouse at a reception on October 4th at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier.
- [Nominations are Open for 2018 Con Hogan Community Leadership Award](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/nominations-are-open-for-2018-con-hogan-community-leadership-award) - Winner to Receive $15,000 Cash Prize Nominations are now being accepted for the $15,000 Con Hogan Award for Creative, Entrepreneurial Community Leadership. Initiated in 2015, the annual award is a tribute to Con Hogan’s life’s work and commitment to public service. The goal of the award is to encourage and reward leaders who share Con’s
- [In the lead, Vermont women still catching up](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/in-the-lead-vermont-women-still-catching-up) - In many ways, Vermont women are stuck. Stuck in the same professions as 40 years ago. Stuck with higher rates of poverty, both for single mothers with young children and for the elderly. Stuck with wages persistently below men’s. Stuck with limited opportunities for leadership and lower rates of business ownership.
- [Lawmakers can slow Vermont’s worsening income inequality](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lawmakers-can-slow-vermonts-worsening-income-inequality) - Last December, Washington passed a giant tax cut that mostly benefits corporations and those at the top—in Vermont they will see a $350 million federal tax reduction in 2018 alone. This new federal law will increase Vermont’s income inequality, which slows economic growth, increases poverty, and reduces upward mobility. The Legislature is contemplating two measures that would slow this worsening income inequality by giving working Vermonters a bigger slice of the pie: a minimum wage increase and paid family and medical leave.
- [Reach Up has fallen down](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/reach-up-has-fallen-down) - Reach Up is failing to meet its own statutory goal “to improve the well-being of children by providing for their immediate basic needs, including food, housing, and clothing.” In a report issued last week, Public Assets found that Vermont is not coming close to meeting children’s basic needs. Reach Up is the state’s primary cash assistance program and provides monthly grants to eligible families with children. A family of four with no other monthly income receives $726 in Reach Up benefits. This is the same amount a family of four received fifteen years ago—not the inflation-adjusted amount, but the exact same amount of money—while the cost of essentials has increased by 44 percent. It was not enough money in 2004 for a family to cover basic expenses, and it is certainly not enough in 2019. Fifteen years ago the benefit covered slightly less than half of a family’s estimated needs; today it covers 34 percent.
- [It’s past time for paid family and medical leave](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-past-time-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave) - Washington State is better than Vermont. Well, on one measure anyway: paid family and medical leave. This month Washington became the fifth state to enact a paid family and medical leave program, offering up to 12 weeks of time off to care for a new child or a sick family member, or to take care of personal health issues. The program is paid for through an insurance program funded by both employees and employers. Washington’s program is similar to the one proposed by the Family and Medical Leave Coalition in Vermont last session.
- [On the Trail to Recovery—With More Hills to Climb](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/may2010) - There were mixed signals again in Vermont’s employment and jobs figures released today. The unemployment rate ticked down slightly, and more people reported they were employed. But according to the survey of Vermont employers, almost 2,000 jobs were eliminated last month.
- [No More January Surprises](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-more-january-surprises) - The purpose of the state budget is to improve the well-being of the people of the state. That’s what the Legislature declared last year for the first time. The Legislature also demanded greater accountability, so the average person can see whether Vermonters’ health, economic security, education, and quality of life are improving or getting worse,
- [Rejecting False Choices to Protect Vermont’s EITC](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rejecting-false-choices-to-protect-vermonts-eitc) - By Jack Hoffman. This piece first appeared October 29, 2013 in Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. In two short sentences earlier this year, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin turned high hopes into bitter disappointment. During the governor’s second inaugural address, optimism rose with his bold announcement that he would “make the largest single investment in early
- [For Vermont job-seekers 2015 is off to a promising start](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/for-vermont-job-seekers-2015-is-off-to-a-promising-start) - More than 1,200 Vermonters left the unemployment lines so far this year, but they didn’t all go back to work. In the first three months of 2015, employment—including self-employment—rose by 687, to 335,006. Meanwhile, the labor force—people working or seeking work—shrank by 577. During the same period, Vermont employers reported adding 1,900 non-farm payroll jobs.
- [The fight we should be having](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-fight-we-should-be-having) - In case you missed it, the governor and the Legislature are in a showdown over the budget. Or unions. Or both, depending on whom you ask. But no matter how you see it, it’s the wrong fight. Instead, the Legislature should be taking significant steps to make life more affordable for Vermonters. Fighting about $26 million in teachers’ health insurance savings, which will probably show up without the governor’s involvement, is not one of those significant steps. Governor Scott says Vermont has an affordability problem. But it’s not state taxes that are causing the squeeze for low and moderate income Vermonters. It’s stagnant wages and rising costs for essentials.
- [Vermont Employment Climbs Another Rung](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-employment-climbs-another-rung) - Unemployment dropped in Vermont and 42 other states in November. Vermont’s seasonally adjusted rate went from 5.6 percent in October to 5.3 percent last month, which the U.S. Labor Department called a statistically significant change. The number of unemployed Vermonters dropped from 20,320 in October to 19,074 in November. Meanwhile, 1,645 more Vermonters were working
- [For Vermont Workers Signs Still Point the Wrong Way](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/for-vermont-workers-signs-still-point-the-wrong-way) - All of Vermont’s employment indicators moved in the wrong direction in August. The overall labor force shrank, unemployment was up. Employment was down and so was the number of jobs. While figures for a single month should be viewed with caution, Vermont has been trending negatively since early in the year. Employment has declined for
- [A Little Holiday Cheer in Vermont’s Employment Numbers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/holiday-cheer) - After rising since the spring, Vermont’s jobless rate dropped in November, to 5.2 percent from 5.5 percent the previous month. More Vermonters were working in November, and Vermont’s private employers added 2,400 non-farm jobs, seasonally adjusted. According to the monthly survey of Vermont households, 18,764 people were unemployed and actively looking for work in November—a
- [State of Working Vermont 2012](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2012) - New Decade, New Thinking By Jack Hoffman & Paul Cillo PDF Version In the midst of a slow recovery from the Great Recession, talk about the economy inevitably focuses on jobs. But before state policymakers chase jobs the old-fashioned way—with tax credits, relaxed regulations, and tax cuts for the “job creators”—they should ask two
- [The Atlantic: more tales of Vermont workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-atlantic-more-tales-of-vermont-workers) - Alana Semuels documented the struggles of low-wage Vermont workers in an article earlier this week in The Atlantic. Now she has painted another, more hopeful picture. “A New Business Strategy: Treating Employees Well” focuses on employees at King Arthur Flour in Norwich. What Semuels describes will seem like a flashback to people of a certain
- [Vermont doesn’t need more low-wage jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-doesnt-need-more-low-wage-jobs) - Thousands of Vermonters work at jobs that don’t pay enough to meet their families’ basic needs. That leaves Vermont taxpayers paying tens of millions of dollars to pick up the slack left by employers who pay so little that hard working men and women have to turn to public assistance. So, before the Legislature approves
- [Finally, a pay raise](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/finally-a-pay-raise) - In 2016, Vermont’s lowest-paid workers saw the biggest wage gains of any group: 4 percent. When unemployment is low, workers are in short supply, so wages should increase. But Vermont’s low jobless rate—5 percent or less since 2012—was having little effect, especially at the low end. For those workers wages increased less than 2 percent a year from 2009 to 2014. Last year’s gains were due in part to Vermont’s minimum wage increase of 45 cents an hour.
- [Vermont’s labor force hits a 15-year low](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-labor-force-hits-a-15-year-low) - Even while the workforce shrank, employers added 2,800 jobs in thefirst seven months of this year. The latest annual data show Vermont among the three New England states—behind Massachusetts and New Hampshire—with more non-farm payroll jobs in 2016 than in 2007, before the Great Recession. Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island still have not recovered all
- [The cost of inaction](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-cost-of-inaction) - Since July, the Minimum Wage Study Committee has spent a lot of time discussing the possible effects of raising the minimum wage. Their time might be better spent discussing the effects of not raising it.
- [Timing is everything](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/timing-is-everything) - It’s understandable. The Fight for 15 has a certain alliterative ring to it. But ultimately, the number itself matters less than the timing. The debate about raising the minimum wage in Vermont has clearly been influenced by the national push for a $15 an hour minimum wage and actions taken in other states. But when will Vermont get to $15? That is the critical question in this discussion. The current $10 minimum wage is slated to go to $10.50 next year and grow with inflation after that. It would reach $15 by about 2034.
- [Vermont employment is at a five-year peak](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-employment-is-at-a-five-year-peak) - The unemployment rate often tops the headlines, but it’s the number of people working that counts. In January in Vermont that number reached its highest point in five years. Employment exceeded 335,200 for the first time since March 2013. While still below the 2006 pre-recession peak, employment has been trending upward over the last year.
- [Women worked 100 days more to equal men’s earnings](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/women-worked-100-days-more-to-equal-mens-earnings) - Happy Equal Pay Day! On April 10 U.S. women caught up with men’s 2017 earnings. That’s 100 days more work for the same annual paycheck. Nationally men outearn women at every wage level. In Vermont the overall gender wage gap has shrunk over 30 years, but progress is uneven. High-paid women face a larger gap than their low-paid counterparts. In the lowest 10th percentile women made less per hour in 2017, adjusted for inflation, than men did in 1987. And the smaller gap hides bad news for men: Except at the top, their wages haven’t yet returned to pre-recession levels.
- [Vermont to Increase Minimum Wage on New Year’s Day](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/minimum-wage) - Raise Will Benefit 11,000 Low-Wage Workers and Boost Consumer Spending by $1.4 million Montpelier, VT – On January 1st, Vermont’s minimum wage will increase by 14 cents to $8.60 an hour, raising wages for an estimated 11,000 low-wage workers in the state. Vermont’s minimum wage increase means an extra $240 per year in wages for
- [<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">Raising</span> Restoring the Minimum Wage](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/raising-restoring-the-minimum-wage) - The Vermont Legislature is getting—and taking—credit for raising the state minimum wage this session. It’s true that over the next four years, the rate will gradually rise to $10.50 an hour, $1 an hour more than the rate was projected to rise if the Legislature had done nothing. Nevertheless, it’s more accurate to describe what
- [A minimum wage increase will help, not hurt, Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-minimum-wage-increase-will-help-not-hurt-vermont) - “The vast majority of the most rigorous modern research on the impact of higher minimum wages—including robust increases to $13 or more—shows that these policies boost worker earnings with little to no adverse impact on employment.” Testimony to the Minimum Wage Study Committee from Yannet Lathrop of the National Employment Law Project on November 21, 2017. In other words, there is no credible evidence that minimum wage increases cause significant job loss.
- [Employment is iffy, but the state tax system is improving](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/employment-is-iffy-but-the-state-tax-system-is-improving) - After growing steadily for the first half of the year, Vermont employment has fallen for the last three months. The number of Vermonters working, including the self-employed, rose to almost 340,000 in June—an increase of more than 4,600 since December 2017. Since then, however, employment declined by nearly 2,300, erasing half of the 2018 gains. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed Vermonters has been ticking up since March, although it remains below 2017 levels.
- [US Senate tax plan is a bad deal for most Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/us-senate-tax-plan-is-a-bad-deal-for-most-vermonters) - Income inequality is already growing in Vermont. And if Congress has its way on tax reform, that problem will get worse. Analysis released yesterday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy shows that, like the House plan from earlier this month, the newly released U.S. Senate’s tax plan helps Vermonters at the top the most. Nationally, the plan is heavily tilted in favor of upper-income households and profitable corporations. The top 1 percent gets around one-fourth of the total tax cuts and the top 5 percent receive half of the tax cuts. In Vermont, 60 percent of the benefits go to the top 20 percent of taxpayers. Under the Senate plan, the top 1 percent of Vermont taxpayers would on average get a tax cut of $21,910, growing to $29,820 by 2027. Meanwhile, the bottom 20 percent of taxpayers would save an average of $100 in 2019 and $200 in 2027.
- [A few steps forward—and back](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-few-steps-forward-and-back) - It should be clear by now that Washington is committed to a lopsided economy that keeps concentrating money in the hands of fewer and fewer people. But in some state capitals, including Montpelier, elected officials are beginning to recognize that smarter tax policies are aimed at helping working families. There has been bipartisan support for
- [A Citizen's Guide to School Funding: Vermont's Act 68](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-citizens-guide-to-school-funding-vermonts-act-68) - Paul Cillo (3rd Ed., February 2006) An understandable 24-page guide to Vermont's school funding system. This booklet also describes how to pay school taxes based on income, and how to calculate homestead tax rates.
- [School-Budget Voters Are Minding Their Own Purse Strings](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-budget-voters-are-minding-their-own-purse-strings-2) - Deb Brighton and Jack Hoffman (February 2008) Vermont's 10-year-old school funding system has helped to reduce disparities between property-rich and property-poor towns, and it has done so without encouraging the overspending that had been predicted.
- [Vermont education study: all schools have equal access to revenue](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-education-study-all-schools-have-equal-access-to-revenue) - This post is an edited version of Paul Cillo’s testimony to the Vermont House Education Committee in January 2012. The comprehensive study of Vermont’s school funding system released last month should be welcome news to Vermonters, who have invested significant effort over the past fifteen years to reform the system. The study’s conclusion: “the
- [Happy Birthday Act 60](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/happy-birthday-act-60) - Act 60 celebrates its 15th birthday this month, which makes it Vermont’s most durable education financing system in the last 50 years. Prior to Act 60, there was the Foundation Plan for state aid to education, the Morse-Giuliani formula, the Miller formula, and the Hunt-Simpson formula. The longest lived of those was the Miller formula,
- [Cost shift is not cost control](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cost-shift-is-not-cost-control) - A bill being headlined as an effort to control school costs includes provisions that simply shift costs from upper-income Vermonters and second home owners onto low- and moderate-income Vermonters. The Legislature should re-think these provisions. H.538 contains a number of provisions that would affect school spending and taxes in fiscal 2015. While some provisions of
- [Vermont could avoid the Jeremy Dodge problem in the future](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-could-avoid-the-jeremy-dodge-problem-in-the-future) - The controversial land deal between Governor Shumlin and his East Montpelier neighbor Jeremy Dodge raises a fundamental tax policy question: Why is Dodge, or any Vermont homeowner, being asked to pay property taxes on his home to fund schools? The short answer: Because the property tax has always funded local public services. Property taxes go
- [Are your school taxes a problem?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/are-your-school-taxes-a-problem) - There is serious talk in the Legislature about changing how we govern and fund public education in Vermont. And proposed changes could have a dramatic effect on Vermonters’ control over their schools, on who pays the bill, and on the quality of education available to our children. At the vtdigger school funding panel discussion in
- [Vermont House should repeal unfair school penalties](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-house-should-repeal-unfair-school-penalties) - The Vermont General Assembly has a chance this week to walk back from the destructive changes it made last spring to the state’s education funding system. The Senate appears poised to vote to repeal the tax penalties that will hit school districts that exceed arbitrary spending limits set by the Legislature. The House should do
- [It’s the property tax that’s unfair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-the-property-tax-thats-unfair) - Economist Art Woolf wrote recently that Vermont spends too much on education because taxes are too low for many residents. Woolf was referring specifically to resident homeowners who qualify to pay school taxes as a percentage of their income rather than on the value of their property. According to Woolf, because their income-based taxes are less than their property taxes would be, these homeowners feel like education in Vermont is on sale, so they’re buying more of it. One problem with Woolf’s hypothesis is that it assumes that the value of a primary residence is a fair and rational indicator of how much each Vermonter should be contributing to the education of our children. It may have been 200 years ago, when the value of a person’s property and possessions was the best measure of his ability to pay. But that isn’t true today, and the system should be brought up to date with today’s economy.
- [The Mystery Is Why, Not How](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-mystery-is-why-not-how) - On Town Meeting Day, voters in many Vermont communities are confronting school tax increases that are bigger than the increase in overall school spending or the increase in per pupil spending. One explanation from critics of Vermont's education funding system is: Well, that's Act 60 for you. They're happy to have most people believe that
- [Legislature’s solution to high property taxes? Raise property taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/legislatures-solution-to-high-property-taxes-raise-property-taxes) - Desperate to find a way to reduce property taxes, the Legislature’s latest idea is to increase property taxes in scores of communities. Huh? Seriously. The plan is to impose property tax penalties on districts with per-pupil spending that is higher than the Legislature thinks it should be. Each school district will have its own assigned
- [At best, the new education tax law is unfair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/at-best-the-new-education-tax-law-is-unfair) - In addition to pushing up property taxes in many towns, the education reform bill passed in the closing days of the session violates a fundamental principle of fairness in Vermont’s education funding system: towns with the same education spending per pupil have the same homestead tax rates. Before Gov. Peter Shumlin decides to sign the
- [Vermont school enrollment: Equalized pupils 2003-2013](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-school-enrollment-equalized-pupils-2003-2013) - The amount that a school district spends per pupil determines its school tax rates. School districts with the same per pupil spending have the same tax rates. That is why an independent analysis concluded last January that Vermont’s school financing system “has achieved a high degree of equity.” When calculating spending per student, Vermont uses
- [Perennial budget gaps mean our policies aren't working](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/perennial-budget-gaps-mean-our-policies-arent-working) - Paul Cillo testified before the Senate Finance Committee yesterday and suggested two things we need to do to bring Vermont's tax and budget policies into the 21st Century: 1. Acknowledge that what we’ve been doing isn’t working. We started the 21st Century with massive federal tax cuts that were supposed to stimulate the economy, create jobs and bring prosperity to
- [New data show Vermont’s problem is revenue, not spending](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-data-show-vermonts-problem-is-revenue-not-spending) - All we’ve heard from Montpelier this year, from the governor to legislative leaders, is that Vermont has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. A new analysis by the Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) shows this conventional wisdom is wrong. The JFO data show state spending has gone down as a percentage of the economy over
- [So far this century, Vermonters’ fortunes are stuck](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/so-far-this-century-vermonters-fortunes-are-stuck) - If a lot of Vermonters feel they’re not getting ahead, they’re right. New Census data show that median household income in 2014 inched up to $54,166. But after adjusting for inflation, that’s 5 percent lower than before the recession. The buying power of the median Vermont household—half have incomes below the median and half have
- [The state’s recovery is eluding many Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-states-recovery-is-eluding-many-vermonters) - New employment numbers out for September show virtually no growth in 2015. Total employment, which includes the self-employed along with payroll employees, dropped for the second month in a row. There were 2,500 fewer Vermonters working in September than in July. Meanwhile, Vermont unemployment fell from 4.1 percent in January to 3.7 percent last month.
- [Vermont’s real budget problem](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-real-budget-problem) - Vermont has a budget problem: the state budget is not meeting Vermont’s needs. The major indicators of Vermonters’ economic wellbeing are moving in the wrong direction. Median household income is falling, poverty and homelessness are rising, and one in eight Vermonters needs food stamps to have enough to eat. This is not the state that we
- [New report: Recovery is not benefitting all Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-recovery-is-not-benefitting-all-vermonters) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 31, 2015 CONTACT: Paul Cillo paul@publicassetdev.wpengine.com 802.223.6677 New report: Recovery is not benefitting all Vermonters Public Assets Institute releases State of Working Vermont 2015 MONTPELIER – Since the end of the Great Recession, life has actually gotten harder for many Vermonters, says the State of Working Vermont 2015, released today by
- [5 Things to Look for in the Governor’s 2017 Budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/5-things-to-look-for-in-the-governors-2017-budget) - Governor Shumlin will present his fiscal 2017 budget to the Legislature on Thursday, January 21 at 2:00 PM. Here are a few of the things we’ll be looking for. 1. How well does the state budget meet the needs of Vermonters and advance their economic well-being? The purpose of government spending is to better the
- [Not-so-Equal Pay Day](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/not-so-equal-pay-day) - Today is Equal Pay Day, the anti-holiday that advocates mark to remind us that women have to work almost 16 months to earn what men do in 12. The gap has persisted despite the attention and lip service paid to equality, despite women’s gains in the workplace and public sphere. In Vermont in 2014, women
- [Workers and families saw solid gains in 2015](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/workers-and-families-saw-solid-gains-in-2015) - After years of stagnant or falling incomes, Vermonters across the board enjoyed income gains in 2015, according to new U.S. Census data released last week. Median household income rose 5.1 percent last year. But low-income households made even more progress, with average income for the bottom 20 percent of households rising 8.5 percent. While the news was good, this was just one year of data, and median household income in 2015 remained slightly lower than it was in 2007, before the Great Recession.
- [Child nutrition key to achievement](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/child-nutrition-key-to-achievement) - Poverty and hunger hinder children’s opportunities to succeed in school. A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) in Washington, D.C., highlights the role of the country’s largest child nutrition program in improving educational outcomes for kids from low-income households, including nearly 32,000 children in Vermont. The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, goes by the name 3SquaresVT in Vermont. The federally funded program is available to low-income households that meet certain eligibility requirements. Benefits vary with income and family size, with the maximum benefit going to households with no net income. One out of every four children in Vermont receives benefits under 3SquaresVT, which is about the same as the national average.
- [Jobs increase, but educational and digital divides persist](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-increase-but-divides-persist) - Unemployment rates in New England are mostly lower than in the U.S. as a whole. But job growth in the region is mixed. This year through September, Vermont saw a 1.2 percent increase in private sector jobs—the same as the national average. Massachusetts and New Hampshire have been adding jobs faster than the U.S. And the remaining New England states have lagged behind the national rate. Poverty and schooling Education plays a big role in the likelihood of being poor. Income and Internet Vermont has an ambitious goal to provide high-speed Internet service everywhere in the state by 2024.
- [At year-end for workers, it’s ho ho ho hum](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ho-ho-ho-hum) - Nonfarm payroll jobs decreased in November to 315,000—a drop of more than 1,000 jobs since January. But the total number of employed Vermonters, both payroll workers and those who are self-employed, has held steady for most of 2016, up less than 1 percent since the start the year. Race matters Newly released U.S. Census data show that nearly a quarter of black Vermonters live in poverty, as do 20 percent of those who check two or more races on the Census form.
- [State can help Vermonters save for retirement](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/save-for-retirement) - Most Vermonters do not have a big enough nest egg for retirement. In fact, for many, the nest has no egg at all. And the problem is worst for women and people of color. These were just some of the findings in a report released earlier this year by the Vermont Public Retirement Study Committee.
- [Budget numbers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/budget-numbers) - 143 to 1. That was the headline last week. The House budget plan that closed a $70 million gap without raising revenue had near-unanimous support. The House’s version of the budget cobbled together $48 million in transfers, $17 million in savings and cuts, and $5 million in enhanced tax collections to create a budget that virtually everyone could agree on. While the plan appears to be popular inside the Statehouse, this budget does little to address the real issues Vermonters are facing outside. Here are some other Vermont numbers worth thinking about: 47%: the share of single mothers with young children living in poverty 12%: the amount the middle class has shrunk since 1980 $304,465: the difference in income between a Vermont family in the bottom 20% and one in the top 5%
- [Meeting Vermonters’ needs in Fiscal 2018 and beyond](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/meeting-vermonters-needs) - Vermont’s elected leaders are facing a projected budget gap of about $70 million for fiscal 2018. They have an opportunity to balance the budget, begin to make smart investments that address Vermonters’ needs, and modernize the tax system to better respond to Vermont’s 21st century economy. The plan described in this report would do three things: 1. Fund the governor’s proposed investments without reducing funding for public education. 2. Solve the budget gap without additional harmful cuts. 3. Eliminate income tax loopholes for upper-income Vermonters while lowering tax rates for everyone.
- [Letter to Legislative Leaders](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/letter-to-legislative-leaders) - Dear Speaker Johnson and President Pro Tempore Ashe, We’re writing with a plea for bold action. Last fall’s election demonstrated one thing loudly and clearly: people want political leaders to act, to address the problems that are all around us. Across the political spectrum, people feel ignored by government and left behind by an economy that rewards those at the top. Vermonters want a vision for what the state can be in five or 10 or 20 years and a path to a more prosperous future. The state budget should be part of that vision, but for over a decade Montpelier has focused on immediate, yearly budget gaps...
- [Act 60 created new opportunity for kids](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/act-60-created-new-opportunity-kids) - As students across Vermont start the 2017-18 school year it’s worth reflecting on what happened 20 years ago. In 1997 the Vermont Supreme Court’s Brigham decision forced policymakers to develop a more equitable funding system. That system, established by Act 60, created a statewide school tax and gave students from all over the state more
- [A better outlook for jobseekers, but not for the poor](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-better-outlook-for-jobseekers-but-not-for-the-poor) - In August the number of Vermonters officially unemployed dropped to its lowest level in more than 16 years: 10,445, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s the first time since March 2001 that the number has dipped below 10,500. Only people who are jobless and actively seeking work are counted as “unemployed.” Low unemployment means a shortage of workers, which should push up wages. Poverty up In the latest Census data, released this week, Vermont was the only state to show an increase in poverty. The number of Vermonters in poverty last year rose by 10,000, to just over 71,000. In 2015, poverty fell by almost 12,000, a sharp drop that does not fit Vermont’s pattern of recent years. Since before the start of the recession nearly 10 years ago, the state’s poverty rate has trended upward.
- [Backwards budgeting](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/backwards-budgeting) - Gov. Phil Scott sets out some priorities in the fiscal 2019 State Budget Overview released Thursday. He doesn’t spell out goals per se; they’re more like areas of concern. Still, the budget process just seems backwards, especially when the stated goal of the budget, at least according to statute, is to address the needs of Vermonters. The Budget Overview says the administration will measure progress by: “Growing the Economy,” “Making Vermont More Affordable,” and “Protecting the Vulnerable.” These are laudable goals, but there are no defined targets. For example, one metric is “[p]ercent of population living below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).” But there’s no indication of what the percentage ought to be or what might be done to reduce poverty. “Wage growth—by region” is another metric, but again, no goal, no 5-year target.
- [To boost the state’s economy, flip our thinking](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/to-boost-the-states-economy-flip-our-thinking) - Public Assets Institute releases State of Working Vermont 2017 MONTPELIER—Even before Congressional Republicans passed the tax overhaul this month that promises to widen the worst income gap between rich and poor since before the Great Depression, there was ample evidence that the economy was leaving too many Vermonters behind. Now, as the President prepares to sign the bill, the task for Vermont’s leaders and policymakers grows urgently clear: They must focus on raising the incomes of low- and moderate-income Vermonters, challenging the message from Washington that wages will rise and prosperity will spread as soon as the economy improves.
- [Behind the budget drama](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/behind-the-budget-drama) - There’s a case to be made that this year’s budget showdown in Montpelier was lot of high drama with little substance. After all the drama, the budget that was finally approved created one problem that the Legislature will have to address next year and ignored another that should have been addressed long ago.
- [Unlike most states, incomes fell in Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unlike-most-states-incomes-fell-in-vermont) - Median household income in Vermont, after adjusting for inflation, fell 2.4 percent last year to $57,513, according to new U.S. Census figures released today. It was Vermont’s second decline in two years for this key economic indicator, although the drop in 2016 was negligible. Only Alaska, where median household income fell 6.3 percent, saw a
- [Some encouraging signs, but household income is down](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/some-encouraging-signs-but-household-income-is-down) - Falling income Vermont was one of 10 states where median household income fell last year. After adjusting for inflation, median household income dropped 2.4 in 2017. Only Alaska had a bigger decrease. Vermont median household income, after accounting for inflation, was nearly $1,500 less than it was in 2007, before the start of the recession.
- [A Framework for Progress - 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-framework-for-progress-2018) - With 25 percent more Vermonters living in poverty than in the early 2000s, median household income stagnant, and high-quality child care still not affordable or even available to many Vermont families, the state’s elected officials need to focus on addressing these and other foundational issues in the next biennium. To move Vermont forward, policy makers need to zero in on three fundamental initiatives: • Make work pay and ensure that all Vermonters can meet basic needs. • Make smart, evidence-based investments in programs and infrastructure. • Make state government more effective by increasing public engagement, fairness, and transparency.
- [Public Assets recommends 2019-20 state initiatives](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-recommends-2019-20-state-initiatives) - MONTPELIER – With 25 percent more Vermonters living in poverty than in the early 2000s, median household income stagnant, and high-quality child care still not affordable or even available to many Vermont families, the state’s elected officials need to focus on addressing these and other foundational issues in the next biennium. To move Vermont forward,
- [A fairer tax system would help working families](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-fairer-tax-system-would-help-working-families) - Vermont has a fairer tax system than most states, but we still have work to do. That’s the message from “Who Pays?” released by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) in October. The report looks at how well states distribute taxes based on family incomes. In most states lower-income families pay a higher percentage of their income in state and local taxes than those at the top. That’s the definition of a regressive tax system. Vermont’s is one of the least regressive in the country. Why is this significant? Because how Vermont collects taxes can improve our lopsided income distribution or make it worse.
- [Vermont’s persistent problem](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-persistent-problem) - MONTPELIER – Many Vermonters are not benefiting from the state’s economic growth. That’s the central message of State of Working Vermont 2018, released today by Public Assets Institute. The data are new. But the message was similar in the 2017 report—and the year before that, and the year before that. State of Working Vermont, based
- [More poverty than we thought](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-poverty-than-we-thought) - Critics of anti-poverty programs have complained for years that poverty measures are flawed because they don’t take into account the effects of these programs in mitigating poverty. They have a point. There is no before and after measurement. The state looks at income to determine whether people are poor enough to qualify for food stamps,
- [That’s right: Some anti-poverty programs aren’t working](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/thats-right-some-anti-poverty-programs-arent-working) - Human Services Secretary Doug Racine has offered a discouraging assessment of what Vermont can do to address poverty, especially among young children. In an interview published last weekend, Racine described what he called “an evolution in my thinking.” He seems to have given up on reducing childhood poverty, and now says the best the state
- [Poverty-fighting programs work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/poverty-fighting-programs-work) - Vermont made headlines last week when the U.S. Census released its latest statistics for 2016: We were the only state to show an increase in the poverty rate. That may have been an artifact of the Census survey sample. The poverty rate showed an unusual drop in 2015, and 2016 looks more like a return
- [Where They Come From; Where They Go](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-they-come-from-where-they-go) - Jack Hoffman (December 2007) According to the latest information published by the IRS, more people moved out of Vermont in 2006 than moved in. However, the new arrivals had more income than those who left — on average about 15 percent more per exemption.
- [2008 Update: Where They Come From, Where They Go](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2008-update-where-they-come-from-where-they-go) - ISSUE BRIEF. Jack Hoffman (October 2008) Families who moved to Vermont last year earned more than those who left. For the latest details on people leaving and coming to Vermont in 2007, read our issue brief.
- [Can’t Beat Florida’s Weather—But Property Taxes Are Another Matter](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/florida) - Vermonters usually cite two reasons for moving to Florida: weather and taxes. For those who want to avoid snow and cold, the Sunshine State is the clear choice. For those looking to reduce their taxes, Florida may not be the haven it seems.
- [Florida’s Weather Harder to Beat Than the Taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/floridas-weather-harder-to-beat-than-the-taxes) - PRESS RELEASE. June 18, 2009 Weather and taxes are the reasons Vermonters often give for moving to Florida. But the key to lower property taxes in the Sunshine State is owning a less expensive home.
- [Migrants to Vermont Have More Income Than Those Who Leave](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/migrants-to-vermont-have-more-income-than-those-who-leave) - Fewer people moved into Vermont than out in 2008, but those who moved in had more income per person than those who left the state or stayed put. This has been the trend in Vermont for the last 15 years.
- [Fun with data: see where Americans are moving](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fun-with-data) - Forbes Magazine has a new interactive map on its website that has been getting a certain amount of attention. The map shows all of the counties in the United States, and it’s linked to IRS migration data. Every year, the IRS tracks where people file their tax returns. There are some limitations to the data,
- [More dirt in the grave of the tax flight myth](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-dirt-in-the-grave-of-the-tax-flight-myth) - Public Assets Institute has said for years that there’s no economic evidence for the idea that the wealthy are leaving Vermont because of high taxes—or that higher taxes would send them off in droves, to the detriment of the state’s finances. We’ve pointed—as has Vermont’s Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission—to IRS data showing that people
- [Florida is a leader in the race to the bottom](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/florida-is-a-leader-in-the-race-to-the-bottom) - Despite research that contradicts the claim that people move to other states when taxes are increased, stories of tax flight persist. It seems that every purveyor of the tax flight legend knows someone—or at least knows someone who knows someone—who left Vermont to settle in Florida because Florida has no personal income tax. There’s no
- [Another Report Debunks Tax Flight Myth](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/another-report-debunks-tax-flight-myth) - MONTPELIER— A new report, this one by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., provides more evidence to refute the claim that wealthy residents will move if they are asked to pay higher taxes. Warnings about tax flight are often used to oppose tax increases. Governor Douglas made the claim to fight
- [Fewer Newcomers Call Vermont Home](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fewer-newcomers-call-vermont-home) - Since the early 1990s, when the IRS started tracking migration and income, people moving to Vermont have consistently reported higher average annual incomes than the Vermont residents who were leaving. (( The IRS reports the number of income tax returns filed each year and the number of exemptions, including dependents, that are taken on those returns. The number of exemptions is
- [Tax mythology shouldn’t guide policy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tax-mythology-shouldnt-guide-policy) - Tax increases don’t cause people to flee the state. Progressive taxes don’t damage the economy. Cutting state taxes doesn’t boost the economy and generate more tax revenue. These are the conclusions of a report just released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., that debunks the anti-tax arguments made by the
- [Speaking with one voice on health care](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/speaking-with-one-voice-on-health-care) - Vermont is lucky. Even with divided state government and occasional partisan spats, our leaders on both sides of the aisle can agree that taking health care away from millions of Americans is a bad idea. At a conference I attended in Boise, Idaho last week, state-level policy leaders from around the country discussed the potential
- [Attracting new Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/attracting-new-vermonters) - Vermont is # 1 in people moving here! But wait, aren’t we losing people at an alarming rate? Those were the dueling narratives just in the past week or so in the governor’s inaugural address and in the news from the 2018 National Mover’s Study by United Van Lines. If you listened to the governor
- [‘The good’ of Vermont is in its community schools](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-good-of-vermont-is-in-its-community-schools) - In his Inaugural Address, Gov. Phil Scott described a state of 251 towns, cities, and villages, where “the good” of Vermont “lives in each and every one of our communities.” But the administration also released this month a vision for the future of education in Vermont: one Greatly Simplified School District (GSSD) that would abolish local school boards and districts and run the education system out of Montpelier. Apparently, the people in those towns and villages are not good enough to run their schools. The governor hit a lot of the right notes in his speech. He identified the challenges the state faces: an aging population, a smaller labor force, declining student enrollment, the imbalance of economic opportunities between Chittenden County and the rest of the state. And while he didn’t explain how to do it, he said one key to Vermont’s future was to build on its strengths.
- [Fear of flight—tax flight](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fear-of-flight-tax-flight) - The fear that rich people will leave the state has been driving Vermont tax policy for years. The idea is that the state’s taxes should be competitive with other states’ so that taxpayers, especially those at the top, don’t leave. But this worry is unfounded, and the result is that low- and moderate-income Vermonters pay higher taxes than they should and the state’s revenues are inadequate to meet the state’s needs. The latest proposal that relies on this fear involves Vermont’s estate tax. As part of his fiscal 2020 budget proposal, Governor Scott proposed raising the threshold for Vermont’s estate tax, a change that would cost Vermont as much as $10 million a year in state revenues. As it stands now, the 16 percent tax kicks in for every dollar over $2.75 million in an estate—very few estates pay the tax (typically around 1 percent of estates per year). But Governor Scott would like the tax to apply to even fewer—only estates above $5.75 million.
- [New Study: Jobs—Not Taxes—Stimulate Migration](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-study-jobs-not-taxes-stimulate-migration) - MONTPELIER—Vermont shouldn’t worry that higher taxes will drive people away, but how it spends its tax revenue appears to affect the likelihood that people will move here. Employment opportunities, a low incidence of crime, and affordable housing go hand in hand with greater inward migration. Those were among the key findings of a new migration
- [Migration Update: Most Vermonters Stay Put](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/migration-update) - Conventional wisdom holds that Vermont is losing people it wants to keep. In fact, young people are not abandoning the state. And higher earners are staying in—or moving to—Vermont.
- [10 states account for most Vermont migration](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/10-states-account-for-most-vermont-migration) - In the last two decades most of the people moving to and from Vermont have followed the same paths. Between 1993 and 2014, the top 10 destinations for people moving away were New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, California, North Carolina, Connecticut, Maine, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Nine of those states—all but North Carolina—were also among the top 10 states of origin for Vermont’s new arrivals.
- [Perception and reality about Vermont migration](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/perception-and-reality-about-vermont-migration) - Young people and rich people are moving to Vermont. If this surprises you, you aren’t alone. You’re more likely to hear that the young and the wealthy are fleeing Vermont for better opportunities. Your neighbors bought a condo and moved to Florida. Your daughter got a good job and took off for Chicago. So yes,
- [Analyzing Health Care Reform's Impact on Working Households: A New Methodology](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/analyzing-health-care-reforms-impact-on-working-households-a-new-methodology) - Deb Brighton and Paul Cillo (December 2006) This report unveils a new methodology to evaluate the impact of any new health insurance plan on the economic momentum of low-income working households. It then uses this new analytical tool to evaluate Catamount Health, the health insurance plan included in Vermont's Health Care Affordability Act of 2006, on households that are eligible for this plan.
- [Federal Tax Cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/federalcuts) - REPORT. Jack Hoffman (April 2009) Vermonters will save more than $490 million in federal taxes in the next two years through the economic stimulus provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- [Governor would take from the poor<br>to give to the poor](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/governor-would-take-from-the-poorto-give-to-the-poor) - For the second time in recent weeks, Gov. Peter Shumlin has proposed balancing the state budget on the backs of some of Vermont’s poorest citizens. With the latest move, the governor who says he’s adamantly opposed to raising broad-based taxes would effectively raise income taxes on those in the lowest income brackets. Vermonters shouldn’t stand
- [Governor proposes tax increase on the working poor](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/governor-proposes-tax-increase-on-working-poor) - Gov. Peter Shumlin drew cheers and then sighs in Montpelier last week when he called for a major expansion of child care subsidies for Vermont families but proposed paying for the expansion by cutting earned income tax credits for working families. About 44,000 families qualified for the Vermont earned income credit in 2011 and would
- [Statement on Gov. Peter Shumlin's Jan. 24, 2013 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-peter-shumlins-jan-24-2013-budget-address) - In his Budget Address today, Gov. Peter Shumlin focused on several key areas important to job creation and Vermont’s economic future: education, child care, health care, energy, and transportation. Since government can do little to actually create jobs, we applaud the governor for speaking to these critical areas where the state can invest in making
- [Vermont Has a Fairer Tax System Thanks to EITC](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-has-a-fairer-tax-system-thanks-to-eitc) - MONTPELIER—Almost all state tax systems are tilted heavily in favor of the wealthy, but Vermont has one of the least unfair systems, in part because of the earned income tax credit it offers to low-wage workers. That was one of the findings of a new study released today by the Washington, D.C.-based Institute on Taxation
- [The bottom line vs. Vermonters’ well-being](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-bottom-line-vs-vermonters-well-being) - Vermont political leaders are showing renewed interest in measuring government performance. But as history has shown, the state’s bottom line isn’t the most important indicator. Twenty-five years ago, human services budget discussions focused on caseloads: Were they up or down? But it wasn’t clear if a higher caseload was good or bad. Was it a
- [New State Revenue for Smart Investments](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-state-revenue-for-smart-investments) - MONTPELIER—The state has sensible options to pay for childcare expansion and other smart investments while making Vermont’s tax system more equitable. That’s the focus of a new report released by Public Assets Institute. Most agree that expanding childcare is a good idea: good for children, workers, and the economy. The report identifies five options that
- [Vermont’s Earned Income Tax Credit is Not Too Generous](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-earned-income-tax-credit-is-not-too-generous) - The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a proven and effective tool for helping low- and moderate-income families make ends meet and for reducing poverty, particularly among children. In 2011, the Vermont EITC let about 45,000 working households keep more of what they earned. These households included more than 100,000 individuals, about half of them children. Claiming that Vermont’s EITC is too generous, Gov. Peter Shumlin proposed cutting the $26 million tax expenditure (see table below) by about two-thirds. But his claim is simply untrue. Combined with the federal credit, what working Vermonters receive in EITC is just average. Read more
- [New Report: Vermont EITC Not Too Generous](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-report-vermont-eitc-not-too-generous) - April 11, 2013 MONTPELIER— New data from the IRS show that Vermont’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is not overly generous. In fact, the amount working Vermonters receive is only average. According to a new report released today by Public Assets Institute, Vermont ranked 25th among the states and the District of Columbia in combined
- [New EITC plan still takes from the working poor](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-eitc-plan-still-takes-from-the-working-poor) - The Shumlin administration’s new plan for cutting the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to fund child care expansion doesn’t change one simple fact: the governor’s plan takes money from the lowest income working Vermonters. The administration has cut back its child care initiative. It now requires $12 million instead of $17 million. But, as Secretary
- [Better jobs would help the state budget, too](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/better-jobs-would-help-the-state-budget-too) - Underlying the political fight last session over the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was the fact that thousands of Vermonters work at jobs that don’t pay enough for them to meet their families’ basic needs. Gov. Peter Shumlin tried last winter to cut Vermont’s EITC, complaining that it cost too much money. But the administration
- [Jobs inch up and low-income parents get a boost](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-inch-up-and-low-income-parents-get-a-boost) - Some parents with low-wage jobs could get as much as $250 more in tax savings, thanks to changes in Vermont’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The tax credits vary according to income and family size, with families earning from about $14,000 to $25,000 qualifying for the largest credits. Vermont had been offering a state tax
- [Child care déjà vu](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/child-care-deja-vu) - Here we go again. As his predecessor did six years ago, Gov. Phil Scott has proposed more money to help low-income families pay for high quality child care. It's a worthy investment, as it would have been in 2013. But repeating the mistake his predecessor made, Governor Scott wants to pay for his proposal by taking from Peter to pay Paul. The governor's budget for fiscal 2020 calls for about $11–13 million in new taxes, including a $7 million increase Vermont could get by changing the way it taxes certain internet sales. But sales taxes, as a result of a major reshuffle the Legislature approved last year, are now dedicated exclusively to the Education Fund. So while raising the additional revenue makes sense, and would help to level the playing field for Vermont retailers, skimming money from the Education Fund shifts costs onto the property tax.
- [The path to the Blueprint](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-path-to-the-blueprint) - Gov. Phil Scott has initially distanced himself from a plan to abolish local school boards and replace them with a single entity run from Montpelier. But the Greatly Simplified School District (GSSD), as it’s dubbed, is clearly the next logical step for an administration that is determined to drive down education spending and doesn’t trust local school boards to do the job. “I don’t think we’re ready for anything like that at this point,” Scott told vtdigger reporter Lola Duffort, who first reported on the administration’s plan: “Designing our Future: A Blueprint for Transforming Vermont’s Education System.” The idea of one state school district, with four administrative regions, stood in stark contrast to the image of Vermont the governor evoked in his Inaugural Address earlier this month. He described a state of “251 towns, cities, and villages,” where “the good … lives in each and every one of our communities.” But since taking office two years ago, the Scott administration has pushed to reduce the role of local school boards and local voters and give Montpelier greater control over education, especially over education spending.
- [Vermont's 2009 Budget: The State Should Step In, Not Step Back](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-2009-budget-the-state-should-step-in-not-step-back) - Jack Hoffman and Paul Cillo (March 2008) The state budget is more than a list of spending priorities for the ensuing year. It's a critical policy document that shapes where Vermont will be next year, the year after, and five or 10 years from now. The state's political leaders have a responsibility to recast the budget debate so that average Vermonters — and even lawmakers who are not on the Legislature's Appropriations Committees — can join the discussion about where the state is headed, how it should treat its citizens, and what kinds of services it should provide.
- [2009 Budget: Election-Year Caution Postpones Facing Trouble Ahead](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2009-budget-election-year-caution-postpones-facing-trouble-ahead) - Jack Hoffman (June 2008) According to the latest projections, the Legislature appropriated about $13 million more than the state is expected to collect in General Fund taxes and other revenues next year. In the scheme of things, the shortfall is small — 1 percent of General Fund spending. And a small surplus at the end of the current year is expected to cover that deficit. But the deficit is a sign of troubles to come if Vermont continues on its current path.
- [Beyond Belt-Tightening](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/beyond-belt-tightening) - Jack Hoffman (August 2008) If the administration and the Legislature stick to the fiscal policy they have followed in recent years, Vermonters will be forced to forgo more than $100 million in government services next year. The public won't know the details until the budget reaches the Legislature at the start of the next session. But one thing is certain: $100 million is not the kind of gap that can be closed with a little "belt-tightening."
- [Recessions Past: What Worked Then Can Work Again](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/recessions-past-what-worked-then-can-work-again) - REPORT. Jack Hoffman (December 2008) Major recessions like the one we're in demand wrenching decisions: how to balance maintaining needed government services, especially for the most vulnerable, against taxpayers' ability to support those services. The country has faced two other big recessions in the last 25 years—in the early 1980s and in the early 1990s—and Vermont's response to those downturns is instructive about what the state can do this time.
- [A Balanced Way to Balance the Budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-balanced-way-to-balance-the-budget) - In the end, the Vermont Legislature found a balanced solution to balancing the state budget for fiscal year 2010, which begins July 1. After a gubernatorial veto-the first budget veto in the state's history-and a dramatic override in a special session on June 2, lawmakers put in place a budget that uses a combination of cuts and taxes to cover part of the drop in revenues.
- [Reducing State Services: The Wrong Fix](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-wrong-fix) - Vermont has a revenue problem. The recession has meant less economic activity: Vermonters and Vermont businesses are earning and buying less. This has significantly reduced the amount the state collects, but it has not reduced Vermonters’ need for the court system, highways, schools, food inspections, and other state-funded services.
- [He had it right the first time](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/he-had-it-right-the-first-time-2) - In his State of the State Address in January 2008, Gov. Jim Douglas made a persuasive argument for changing Vermont's policy of excluding 40 percent of capital gains from state income taxes: "Today, I am proposing to close another tax loophole—one that penalizes working Vermonters. "Our current tax structure taxes earned income—that is, your hourly
- [Let's hear the alternatives](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lets-hear-the-alternatives) - Voters in Oregon bucked conventional wisdom last month and chose to raise taxes rather than accept deeper and more damaging cuts to the state budget. The Legislature had approved the package of tax increases on corporations and on households with personal income of $250,000 or more ($125,000 for individuals). Opponents thought they could defeat the
- [Where to find $195 million](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-to-find-195-million) - A sales tax on household services in Vermont could generate up to $195 million in revenue. That’s according to testimony given by phone by Michael Mazerov, Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, at the March 16 meeting of the Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission in Montpelier. He was talking about the
- [2011 Budget: Cutting the Commitment to Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2011-budget-cutting-the-commitment-to-vermonters) - As they wrestle with the recession, Vermont’s elected leaders are backing away from their commitment to citizens. This change in public policy is reflected in their language and in their budgets.
- [Cutting our commitment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cutting-our-commitment) - The message couldn’t have been clearer this week from three former officials of the Vermont Agency of Human Services. They said budgets proposed by both the administration and the Legislature would result in cuts to services for many of the state’s most vulnerable citizens. They also called on political leaders to restore the commitment to
- [Legislature should get a second opinion](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/legislature-should-a-get-second-opinion) - The version of the fiscal 2011 budget approved by the Vermont House late last month sets aside $62 million in a reserve fund, which might be used to help close part of the budget gap projected for fiscal 2012. But legislators might want to check with federal officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
- [The People vs. the Bean Counters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-people-vs-the-bean-counters) - Balancing the 2012 budget will be tougher than anything the administration has had to deal with during this recession. If Montpelier uses the same “manage to the money” approach it’s been following so far, however, Vermonters will be out of luck. The official state projection of the fiscal 2012 budget deficit is $112 million, about
- [Statement on Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission Report](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-blue-ribbon-tax-structure-commission-report) - Vermont’s tax structure has had serious problems for a long time that have made the impact of the recession on Vermonters worse than it needed to be. Sales tax revenue has not kept pace with economic growth for decades. And while Vermont’s effective income tax rate—the taxes that Vermonters actually pay—puts the state in the
- [Statement on Gov. Peter Shumlin’s Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-budget-address) - Governor Shumlin has rightly focused on two major structural problems that must be addressed if Vermont is going to develop a sustainable fiscal policy: the rising costs of health care and corrections. His commitment to a single-payer health care system is an important first step to both cost reductions and needed reforms. And we agree
- [Statement on Legislators’ Proposal to Recoup Tax Cut Revenue](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-legislators-proposal-to-recoup-tax-cut-revenue) - Vermont cannot continue to cut its way out of its budget problems. The Legislature needs to include new revenue as part of a balanced approach to balancing the budget. One obvious place to look is in the federal income tax savings Congress recently extended to the top 5 percent of Vermont taxpayers. They are saving
- [New budget thinking](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-budget-thinking) - The Legislature adopted three new provisions in this year’s appropriations bill that should move us all to start thinking differently about the budget and working together to re-shape state fiscal policy. First, at the urging of the Vermont Workers’ Center, there is now a clear statement in law that the purpose of the Vermont budget
- [VTrans maps a sensible route to budgeting](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vtrans-maps-a-sensible-route-to-budgeting) - Vermont’s transportation infrastructure is falling into disrepair, and the state needs to spend a quarter of a billion dollars this year alone to keep it from getting worse. So says vtdigger.com in a story about a draft report accepted last Friday by the Transportation Finance Committee. The final report will be released next month. Actually,
- [FY2015 Budget Sources and Uses](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fy2015) - Gov. Peter Shumlin's proposed budget for fiscal 2015 calls for spending $5.6 billion next year, an increase of $288 million over the budget passed for fiscal 2014. The lion’s share of the new spending—62 percent—will be for human services, which is the largest component of Vermont’s budget. Education, the second biggest component of the budget, will
- [FY2015 Vermont State Budget Chartbook](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fy2015-budget-chartbook) - A series of charts depicting proposed spending for fiscal 2015 as the annual appropriations bill makes its way through the Vermont General Assembly, from the governor’s recommendation in early January to the final House and Senate compromise passed on the last day of the session.
- [What is a budget gap anyway](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-is-a-budget-gap-anyway) - Closing the budget gap is the Legislature’s focus again this year as it has been for the past eight sessions. What is a budget gap? It’s the difference between projected state revenue and … well, it’s actually hard to say. The administration and the Legislature start the budget gap calculation with a revenue estimate for
- [Final fiscal 2017 budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/final-fiscal-2017-budget) - The legislature passed the final fiscal 2017 budget along with tax and fee bills raising approximately $49.0 million in new revenue. ((The bills are H.571 (driver restoration), H.872 (fees), H.873 (tax changes), H.875 (appropriations), and H.877 (transportation funding).)) At $5.8 billion the new budget is $133.9 million (2.4 percent) above the current year with much of the growth
- [General fund budget gap? What gap?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/general-fund-budget-gap-what-gap) - On one level, Gov. Phil Scott’s first budget proposal provides a useful lesson. He showed it’s relatively easy to reduce or eliminate a state budget “gap,” at least on paper. You just move the problem into a different account. But it also could be a useful service if it shifts the budget conversation in Montpelier
- [State budget rescissions](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-budget-rescissions) - The governor’s office and the Legislature agreed in mid-August on how to close a $12.6 million budget gap that came to light after the Legislature adjourned its 2017 session. The gap surfaced last month when economists for the Legislature and the administration lowered their estimate of how much revenue the state can expect to collect
- [Reverse Robin Hood](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/reverse-robin-hood) - While state leaders work on neutralizing a $30 million state income tax increase that would result from federal tax reform, there has been not a word about the much bigger state impact of that reform: the $500 million tax cut mostly for those at the top and the likely cuts in federal support for state services.
- [No New Taxes, but...](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-new-taxes-but) - Jack Hoffman (June 2008) Despite a pattern of declining state revenues, the administration and the Legislature managed to avoid raising taxes in an election year — at least taxes that are likely to affect a broad range of voters. That won't mean, though, that some people won't be paying more for certain government services. General Fund revenues are expected to increase nearly $10 million as a result of actions by the Legislature.
- [Press Release: Vermonters Would Pay More with Governor’s Budget Cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-would-pay-more-with-governors-budget-cuts) - PRESS RELEASE. May 28, 2009 Vermont would lose millions of dollars in federal funding, more costs would be shifted onto the property tax, and vulnerable Vermonters would be squeezed even harder under the Douglas administration's latest budget proposal.
- [It's Raining Hard: Tap the Fund](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-raining-hard) - More than 20 years ago, Vermont had the foresight to establish a rainy day fund to help the state through hard economic times. Today, the Legislature could spare Vermonters additional painful budget cuts and give the state economy a boost if it stopped hoarding this money and used these reserve funds as intended.
- [Federal Tax Cuts Can Help Close Vermont’s Budget Gap](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/federal-tax-cuts-can-help-close-vermonts-budget-gap) - PDF Version Vermont’s wealthiest taxpayers will save $190 million this year, thanks to Congress’s decision last month to extend the Bush tax cuts. According to an analysis prepared for Public Assets Institute by the Washington-based nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), the tax cut extension will save the top 1 percent of the
- [Vermont Must Address Both Budget Problems](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-must-address-both-budget-problems) - By Jack Hoffman and Paul Cillo April 2011 PDF Version Vermont faces two fiscal problems. One is temporary, brought on by the recession: Tax receipts are down, Vermonters’ need for state services is up, and the state doesn’t have enough money to provide those services. The other problem—papered over for years—is structural. Parts of the
- [As General Fund support drops, school taxes rise](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/as-general-fund-support-drops-school-taxes-rise) - Unlike his predecessor, who used to rail at local school officials, Gov. Peter Shumlin sent out a letter to all school board members last week thanking them for their service and for working to hold down education costs. “The fact that overall school spending increases have been basically zero over the past two years proves
- [The 2013 Budget: Is it Adequate?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-2013-budget-is-it-adequate) - By Jack Hoffman PDF Version The fiscal 2013 budget adopted by the Vermont House last month would increase state spending by about 6 percent over the current budget year. That may sound like a lot, compared to inflation, say. But Vermont’s General Fund budget was cut by 6.6 percent in fiscal 2012 ((Includes American Recovery
- [Governor prepares for 2016 cuts to state services](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/governor-prepares-for-2016-cuts-to-state-services) - A month after announcing a 2 percent cut to the current year’s budget, the Shumlin Administration is signaling its intention to make additional cuts of as much as 5 percent and possibly more next year (fiscal 2016). For an already anemic state government that is suffering from staffing shortages and struggling to meet its obligations
- [How to Close the Budget Gap—Fiscal 2016 and Beyond](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/how-to-close-the-budget-gap) - PDF Version Vermont’s elected leaders face another projected budget gap as they work to fund state services for fiscal 2016. They blame the gap on structural problems: a mismatch between the growth in revenues and the growth in spending. The prevailing response has been more budget cuts, which is mostly how they’ve addressed budget gaps
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 24, 2017, Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-24-2017-budget-address) - In his first budget speech today, Gov. Phil Scott proposed to address what he calls Vermont’s affordability crisis by curbing state spending. But he didn’t have much to say about the main reason many Vermont families are having trouble making ends meet: While the economy is growing, most Vermonters aren’t benefitting. Their incomes have been
- [Spending caps undermine the state budget’s purpose](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/spending-caps-undermine-the-state-budgets-purpose) - Tying public spending to any measure of economic growth is a double whammy for Vermonters in bad times: When the economy slows, it takes state spending down with it. So Vermonters not only have to deal with job and income losses during a recession, they also get hurt by a reduction in state services just
- [More state control is not the answer](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-state-control-is-not-the-answer) - Two years ago, I wrote an op-ed that opened: “The Legislature can work with local communities to improve education, or it can push them around.” This is the fundamental choice that the governor and lawmakers continue to wrestle with this session. In 2015, the debate was over school district consolidation. This year, the discussion hinges on savings from lower premiums for teachers’ health insurance, which have already been set for 2018. Both issues involve the state imposing control over local school management, and both have profound implications for communities.
- [Is the state budget meeting Vermonters’ needs?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/is-the-state-budget-meeting-vermonters-needs) - ‘Vermont’s budget process has become an exercise in making the numbers work.’ MONTPELIER—Vermont needs a better budgeting process, one that starts with a goal of meeting Vermonters’ needs rather than making the numbers work. That’s the conclusion of a new report that raises questions about the “manage-to-the-money” approach to budgeting that Vermont has been following
- [The budget’s in the black—but did it do its job?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-budgets-in-the-black-but-did-it-do-its-job) - The Shumlin administration just released the latest revenue figures, and it looks like Vermont finished fiscal 2012 at the end of June with about a $12 million General Fund surplus, which is earmarked for flood repairs at the Waterbury complex. Still, revenues were more than the regular spending approved by the Legislature. That’s good news,
- [The clock is ticking for public input in the budget process](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-clock-is-ticking-for-public-input-in-the-budget-process) - Vermont’s fiscal 2014 budget development process is officially under way. And in what has become the new normal, the Shumlin administration is asking its agency managers to cut their budgets. Fiscal 2014 begins on July 1, 2013; this budget will occupy the Legislature’s attention beginning in January. Under instructions issued two weeks ago, state managers
- [Make the most of the Public Budget Forums](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/make-the-most-of-the-public-budget-forums) - The Shumlin administration’s scheduled Public Budget Forums—today and Monday—provide an important new opportunity for citizen participation in the state budget process. Until today, there has been no way for Vermonters to weigh in on the development of the governor’s budget proposal. Now there is. Why is this important? Vermont will spend $5 billion this year
- [Governor is stuck in manage-to-the-money ditch](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/governor-stuck-in-the-manage-to-the-money-ditch) - It’s been barely a week since the administration held its public budget hearings, and there has been no analysis yet of what is needed to “address the needs of the people of Vermont” for the coming year. Nevertheless, Gov. Peter Shumlin said in a Vermont Public Radio interview this week that new taxes were off
- [More daylight in the state budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-daylight-in-the-state-budget) - On January 24, Gov. Peter Shumlin will make public his proposed fiscal 2014 budget in an address to the Legislature. Many things are sure to be familiar: the ceremony of the joint session of the House and Senate, the governor explaining his plan to address the projected $50 million to $75 million deficit without raising
- [Spend wisely, tax fairly](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/spend-wisely-tax-fairly) - The governor made a compelling case in his Inaugural Address last week that Vermont needs to strengthen its education system—starting with early education and continuing right through college—in order to strengthen the economy and build a better future for all Vermonters. We’re all better off when all our children are well educated and have the
- [People’s Budget: A New Animated Short Film](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/peoples-budget-a-new-animated-short-film) - The subject of a little-noticed provision in the state budget last year is getting national attention today, with a short, lively animation released by the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative and the Vermont Workers’ Center. To shift the focus of Vermont’s budget process from money to people, the Vermont Workers’ Center has been promoting
- [Who knows better?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/who-knows-better) - Who knows better the needs of a community than the people who live in that community? It’s a good question. This short video about participatory budgeting in New York City asks that question directly and discusses how some communities are beginning to participate in their city’s budget process. In Vermont, town meeting gives citizens a
- [Your two cents](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/your-two-cents) - The Shumlin Administration will hold two Public Budget Forums—Wednesday, October 23 and Tuesday, November 5—to receive public comments on development of the fiscal 2015 state budget. The forums will be held via interactive television like two giant town meetings from locations around the state. The administration is in the middle of preparing next year’s budget,
- [Budget forums: a chance to speak and listen](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/budget-forums-a-chance-to-speak-and-listen) - The second annual public budget forums are scheduled to begin this week at various interactive television sites around the state. Forums will be held on October 23 and November 5. Check here for times, locations, and on-line streaming. The forums mark an important change from the budget process Vermont followed for decades. Typically, administration officials
- [Letter to Legislative Leaders: Budget Cuts Unnecessary](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/letter-to-legislative-leaders-budget-cuts-unnecessary) - PDF Version March 16, 2015 The Honorable Shap Smith, Speaker of the House The Honorable John Campbell, President Pro Tempore of the Senate State House 115 State Street Montpelier, VT 05633 Dear Speaker Smith and President Pro Tempore Campbell, We’re writing with concern about the current budget situation and with a proposal for a possible
- [Let Vermonters weigh the budget options](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/let-vermonters-weigh-the-budget-options) - The state’s 2018 fiscal year hasn’t started yet, and already the administration is considering cuts. Vermonters deserve to know what’s at stake and have a chance to consider alternatives. Vermont’s 2017 fiscal year ends on June 30. Technically, because of a gubernatorial veto, the state doesn’t have a budget yet for next year, but should have one in place after the June 21 special legislative session and before the end of the month. Nevertheless, Gov. Phil Scott’s administration is making contingency plans to cut spending for fiscal 2018, which will start on July 1. At this point, it appears the administration is being cautious. Both the administration and the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office anticipate that the economists who forecast state revenues will lower their estimates for the coming year. Late last month, the commissioner of finance and management asked various agencies and departments in state government to develop plans for absorbing cuts of 2 to 4 percent.
- [A chance to talk about the child-care gap](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/talk-about-the-child-care-gap) - High-quality child care in Vermont is too expensive, too hard to find, too far away from too many families, and pays workers far too little. At least that’s what a new report by Let’s Grow Kids found. The supply is particularly bad for infants and toddlers. For the nearly 13,000 of them likely to need
- [For Vermont workers and families, geography matters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/for-vermont-workers-and-families-geography-matters) - Employment grew in April for the fourth straight month, adding more than 1,000 people to the ranks of working Vermonters. But from 2012 to 2017 the total number of people employed in the state shrank by nearly 3,000, or about one percent. The losses have not been evenly distributed. Only four counties—Addison, Chittenden, Lamoille, and Washington—saw employment gains, which totaled more than 2,000 over the five-year period.
- [For jobs, a year of gains, losses, and a final net loss](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/for-jobs-a-year-of-gains-losses-and-a-final-net-loss) - Women workers Vermont women have consistently participated in the labor force at higher rates than women in New England and the U.S. as a whole. Labor force participation is the percentage of women age 16 and older who are working or actively looking for work. But after a high of nearly 69 percent in 2009 (still lower than male participation rates in Vermont and the U.S. over the last 30 years), the percentage of Vermont women who are in the workforce has declined.
- [A Citizen's Guide to the CLA: Vermont's Common Level of Appraisal Adjustment for School Taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-citizens-guide-to-the-cla-vermonts-common-level-of-appraisal-adjustment-for-school-taxes) - Paul Cillo (2006) An 8-page booklet explaining how the CLA adjustment helps to make the property tax system more fair. This booklet also describes how school taxes can go up even when a town's school budget doesn't.
- [Vermonters' Incomes Outpaced School Taxes (1996-2006)](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-incomes-outpaced-school-taxes-1996-2006) - Paul Cillo and Jack Hoffman (December 2007) Even before the Legislature passed a law last session designed to pressure communities to curb the growth of education spending, Vermonters had started to act on their own. Data from the Vermont Education Department show that school spending growth has been slowing for the past four years.
- [Rescissions: More Information Required](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rescissions) - The Legislature's Joint Fiscal Committee can and should insist that the administration provide a real assessment of the impact of proposed budget cuts on services to Vermonters. Until they have that assessment, which is required by law, the legislators should refuse to give the plan the go-ahead.
- [The governor’s ‘tax relief’ sleight-of-hand](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-governors-tax-relief-sleight-of-hand) - Ever hear of the con game pulled on bartenders in busy pubs? A guy strikes up a conversation with a bartender at one end of the bar and says he can make a $100 bill disappear and reappear. He asks the bartender to take $100 bill out of the cash register. The guy marks the
- [2011 state budget plans raise property taxes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2011-state-budget-plans-raise-property-taxes) - Vermont property taxpayers will be taking it on the chin this year. Given the rhetoric they’ve been hearing all year from Montpelier, they have reason to be upset. First, the governor repeated his (erroneous) claim that education spending was out of control, and proposed a plan he said would reduce property taxes. What he didn’t
- [Vermont Education Spending: The Facts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ed-facts) - PDF Version Education spending is not out of control. Education spending as a percentage of the Vermont economy (gross state product) has remained essentially flat since the early 1990s. Contrast that with health care, which has been growing much faster than the underlying economy. Should the education line trend down because Vermont’s enrollment is declining
- [End of ARRA shouldn’t mean another cost shift to schools](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/end-of-arra) - A story by the Associated Press last month carries a warning for Vermont. It describes cuts to education that many states are preparing to make after federal stimulus money runs out. We’re in a similar boat here. We used funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to avoid making harmful cuts during the
- [The vote: 138 to 0](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-vote-138-to-0) - It was an easy vote in the Vermont House on Friday. Fifteen years ago, it would not have been so. Without a single nay, the House voted to use future budget surpluses to restore General Fund support for education. For the last three years, the Legislature has cut the annual transfer from the General Fund
- [Rebates again?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rebates-again) - As the Legislature pushes to pass bills before adjournment, it’s easy to enact a “quick little fix” that will turn into a major headache later on. The Vermont Senate still has a chance to avoid such a misstep and drop the idea of sending out budget-surplus, property-tax rebate checks at the end of each fiscal
- [Schools are doing more, and spending more](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/schools-are-doing-more-and-spending-more) - Exhibit A among current critics of Vermont’s education funding system is some version of a chart showing annual education expenditures going up over time and school enrollment going down. Why are we spending more and more money to educate fewer and fewer kids? The two-day education summit last week in Burlington went a long way
- [Reduce school tax volatility](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/reduce-school-tax-volatility) - While press and public attention focused last week on the feud over who should negotiate teacher health insurance benefits, the Legislature was making more consequential changes to education funding that will affect schools and taxpayers in the 2018-2019 school year. It’s not clear yet how to mitigate these shortsighted changes next session. But there is an obvious step that needs to be taken to ensure the Education Fund is thoughtfully managed in the future. We need a formal body, similar to the Emergency Board (which determines the consensus revenue forecasts) or the Debt Affordability Advisory Committee, to recommend education tax rates and use of Education Fund reserves. An Education Fund Stabilization Advisory Committee could help to ensure the long-term fiscal health of Vermont’s education finance system and avoid dramatic school tax increases like we can expect to see next year. The health care feud ended up being a fight over $13 million, spread over two years. That’s not to be ignored. But out of total school tax collections of more than $2 billion over the next two years, the savings will be barely noticeable.
- [New plan would cement property tax frustration](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-plan-would-cement-property-tax-frustration) - In his annual letter to the Legislature the tax commissioner announced that a projected 3.9 percent increase in per-pupil spending next year was going to result in a 6.2 percent increase in the average homestead property tax rate. This is the kind of disconnect that really irks local voters and school officials alike. There are reasons for next year’s big tax rate jump—more on that later. But here’s the thing: The education funding proposal being developed in the Vermont House would not end the frustration from modest spending increases that result in disproportionately larger property tax increases. In fact, these would become a permanent feature.
- [Letter to House Ways & Means, Feb. 15, 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/letter-to-house-ways-means-2-15-18) - Dear Representative Ancel, I’m writing about the Ways and Means Committee’s work this session on education funding. I understand the challenges the committee faces in making changes to the system, and it appears that there is a lot about the plan that has not yet been worked out. Nevertheless, I want to share some thoughts about the plan so far based on Public Assets Institute’s analysis of the information the committee has posted on the Legislature’s website. Income taxes: The plan proposes to replace Vermonters’ current option of paying school taxes on their primary residence based on household income with a statewide progressive income tax. The latest Tax Department data show that Vermonters paying school taxes based on income had household income of just under $7 billion in 2017...
- [Who wins and who loses under the new school tax plan?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/who-wins-and-who-loses-under-the-new-school-tax-plan) - Before Vermonters can assess the new education funding bill emerging in the Vermont House, they need to see a thorough analysis of winners and losers. The plan is being touted as a major shift from property taxes to income taxes to pay for education. But looking at the proposed education revenue numbers, there isn’t much of a shift. In fact, there will be slightly less in income taxes and slightly more in property taxes going into the Education Fund than under the current system. But individual Vermonters will see a change. Upper income Vermonters who now pay only property taxes would pay both property taxes and a new education income tax. Depending on the value of their homes, they could see a reduction in their school taxes overall. But without more data from the Ways and Means Committee, we can’t know how many of these upper income taxpayers will be better off and how much they would save.
- [Education funding can be fairer—and simpler](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/education-funding-can-be-fairer-and-simpler) - A fair school funding system doesn’t need to be more complex than the current system. The Legislature could make the funding system much simpler for voters by doing away completely with school property taxes on a primary residence and up to two acres of land. All we need to do is extend the current income-based homestead tax to all residents, regardless of income. It would be easy for everyone to understand, and all Vermonters would be contributing to the support of our schools based on their ability to pay. What could be simpler or fairer?
- [Letter to House Education, Mar. 9, 2018](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/letter-to-house-education-mar-9-2018) - March 9, 2018 The Honorable David Sharpe, Chair House Education Committee Vermont State House 115 State Street Montpelier, VT 05633 Dear Representative Sharpe, As you know, Public Assets has been following the House’s work this session on education funding. I’m writing today about the Ways and Means Committee bill, H.911, which is now in the Education Committee. This letter addresses the “Education Financing Changes” portion of bill that begins with Sec. 7.
- [There’s no Education Fund deficit](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/theres-no-education-fund-deficit) - Pssst. Did you hear about the $60 million deficit in the Education Fund? Guess what. It’s not true. Given the headlines and news stories in recent weeks, Vermonters may be surprised to hear there is no deficit in the Education Fund. That’s because funding for schools—like funding for municipalities—doesn’t work like the state budget, and never has. Citizens vote directly on their school and municipal budgets. Their elected representatives vote on the state budget. That makes a big difference.
- [Governor’s plan would raid the Education Fund](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/governors-plan-would-raid-the-education-fund) - Public education—pre-k through 12—has become a coveted source of revenue in recent years. People look at the $1.7 billion Education Fund and imagine how some efficiencies here, a little school consolidation there, could free up hundreds of millions of dollars. Now Gov. Phil Scott has proposed his “Five-Year Education Revitalization, Tax Stabilization, and Investment Act.” It dangles the prospect of improving education, but the real aim appears to be a raid on the Education Fund.
- [Vermont Is Getting Its Money's Worth](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-is-getting-its-moneys-worth) - This piece originally appeared in the Vermont School Boards Association's October 2013 newsletter. Last year brought good news for Vermont’s 15-year-old school funding system. An extensive study for the Legislature by Lawrence O. Picus and Associates concluded that Vermont provides “equal access to all towns for raising revenues for pre-K-12 education.” Further, the study found,
- [Ethan Allen Institute and Public Assets Institute  to Hold Second Education Debate in Manchester](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/ethan-allen-institute-and-public-assets-institute-to-hold-second-education-debate-in-manchester) - Manchester, VT—The Ethan Allen Institute (EAI) and the Public Assets Institute (PAI) are facing off this winter in three debates around the state on the proper role of government in education. The second debate in this series, moderated by Andrew McKeever, editor of the Manchester Journal, will take place on Tuesday, January 14 from 7:00 to
- [The real problem: We need more kids](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-real-problem-we-need-more-kids) - Gov. Peter Shumlin pointed to enrollment recently as the education funding problem Vermont faces. “We’re spending too much money for the number of kids we have,” the governor said on Vermont Public Radio. Policy makers in Montpelier have struggled for years with the decline in the state’s school-age population. But so far all of the
- [A solution needs a defined problem](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/solution-needs-problem) - There wasn’t a lot of substance in this election season. “Where’s the beef?” isn’t a question we hear much during campaigns anymore, as Jon Margolis lamented in his column in vtdigger this week. But while candidates may not need to offer thoughtful, workable proposals or even clearly define problems to get elected, they will need
- [Just Say No to Election-Year Temptation](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/election-year-temptation) - On opening day of the 2016 legislative session, House Speaker Shap Smith had this advice for his colleagues: “There will be those who suggest that because this is an election year, that we will focus on politics rather than the people’s business. I reject that premise. I know each and every one of you and
- [Vermont needs to make higher education more affordable](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-needs-to-make-higher-education-more-affordable) - A college degree can be the ticket to more job options and higher pay. And a well-educated workforce is critical to strong communities and a growing economy. But as a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows, Vermont is one of only three states that has cut per-student public spending on
- [A Framework for Progress](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/framework) - With a major turnover in political leadership in Montpelier this January, the new administration and Legislature should zero in on three fundamental initiatives to move the state forward: • Ensure that work pays and all Vermont families can meet their basic needs. • Make smart, evidence-based investments in programs and infrastructure. • Restore public confidence in state government by improving and promoting good governance, including efficacy, fairness, and transparency. Those are the recommendations contained in A Framework for Progress: Investing in Vermont’s people, infrastructure, and good government.
- [Another attempt to lower property taxes by raising them](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/another-attempt-to-lower-property-taxes-by-raising-them) - It should be obvious by now: You can’t provide property tax relief by raising property taxes. In fact, it should have been obvious long before now. Yet that is exactly what the Legislature included in Act 46, the school consolidation bill, in 2015. (It then repealed that provision in 2016.) And that is exactly what the House Education Committee is proposing again this year. The committee voted on Friday to introduce a committee bill (H.509). This latest attempt at property tax relief would increase taxes for about half of Vermont towns—the half that has the highest property taxes already—and lower taxes for the towns that have the lowest property taxes. Seriously. I’m not making this up.
- [House committee wants to scrap income sensitivity](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-committee-wants-to-scrap-income-sensitivity) - A new education funding plan taking shape in the House Ways and Means Committee is being billed as a move toward simplicity and greater reliance on the income tax to support education. In fact, the plan appears to make the connection between school spending and taxes less transparent, and it will take Vermont back to the days when only wealthy communities could afford to pay the property taxes necessary to support a good education. Currently, about two-thirds of Vermont resident homeowners pay income-based school taxes. Tax rates vary from town to town, depending on the education spending per pupil. But there is a direct relationship between the income-based tax rates and local spending.
- [Employer health insurance is employee compensation](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/employer-health-insurance-is-employee-compensation) - Employer-sponsored health insurance is a misnomer. Money that an employer putatively “contributes” to a company health insurance plan is simply employee compensation in another form. The point is driven home in a recent column in the American Prospect by Paul Waldman about the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case. Understanding that health
- [Vermont Moves Closer to Health Insurance for All](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/closer-to-health-insurance-for-all) - For all of the problems and criticism swirling around the state’s health insurance exchange, Vermont is getting results where it counts. New Census data released today show Vermont tied with the District of Columbia for having the second lowest percentage of residents without health insurance. According to the Census, in 2015 just 3.8 percent of Vermonters were uninsured. Massachusetts was ranked first, with 2.8 percent with no health care coverage. Alaska was last; 14.9 percent of residents there were uninsured last year. Starting in the fall of 2013, people in Vermont and across the country began signing up for the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. Some states, like Vermont, set up their own online exchanges for people to purchase health insurance. Other states opted to let the federal government run the exchanges.
- [Don’t mess with success](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/dont-mess-with-success) - The Legislature postponed its planned adjournment last week ostensibly over a disagreement with the governor about health care for Vermont’s local teachers. A lot of numbers have been thrown around—and I’ll get to those in the minute—but the crux of the dispute is that the governor claims he can drive a better bargain with the teachers than local school boards can. He’s not trying to make himself out to be Donald “Art of the Deal” Trump, but he says he has a plan to save $26 million. The thing is, the plan the governor is promoting is a variation of one already underway.
- [Setting 2019-20 legislative priorities](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/setting-2019-20-legislative-priorities) - We ask a lot of our legislators. They’re part-time, have little staff, often have other jobs, and have to confront hundreds of issues every year. As they head back to work next week, they’ll be trying to figure out how to tackle all the issues in front of them. Prioritizing the state’s challenges is hard. There are immediate issues facing the state, but long-term investments are important too. When children, the mental health care system, the environment, and workers all need attention, it can be difficult to know where to start. Public Assets’ two recent reports try to help policymakers and citizens make sense of these competing issues and suggest practical, workable solutions to top the list this biennium.
- [Data can't be a matter of opinion](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/data-cant-be-a-matter-of-opinion) - Readers of vtdigger, Vermont’s online news organization, were probably surprised to read over the weekend that the Legislature “forced nearly $100 million in new property taxes on Vermonters” to pay for education next year. Unfortunately, the editors were not surprised. If they had been, they might have done some fact checking to make sure the
- [State Parks Division](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-parks-division) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Aug 2007 In 2006 the State Parks Division managed 2292 campsites (in 41 campgrounds), 29 beaches, 38 picnic areas, 27 cabins, and 9 housekeeping cottages.
- [Vermont Department of Libraries](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-department-of-libraries) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. OCT 2007 Within a few months of Vermont's joining the Union in 1791, the state's first library was organized in Brookfield. Now, 61% of Vermonters have a library card at one or more of the state's 180 public libraries.
- [Consumer Protection Section](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/consumer-protection-section) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. DEC 2007 Vermonters have relied on the state's weights and measures program to protect them from fraud for over 200 years. In its early days the program checked retail farm products - such as fluid milk, meat or wool - for fair measure. Now the Consumer Protection Section also regulates propane meters, gas pumps, heavy duty scales and laser scanners.
- [Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHCs)](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/federally-qualified-health-care-centers-fqhcs) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. March 2008 Doctors rarely make house calls these days, but half of Vermonters have access to the next best thing: affordable community health care. An FQHC is a community-operated nonprofit providing comprehensive primary care - including medical, dental, and behavioral care, and affordable prescription drugs - to anyone in the community who wants it.
- [Office of the Defender General](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/office-of-the-defender-general) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Jun 2008 For at least 135 years Vermont has recognized that equality is crucial to criminal justice and provided legal counsel to the indigent. In 1972 a statewide system of public defense was created: the Office of the Defender General.
- [Office of Home Heating Fuel](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/office-of-home-heating-fuel) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Oct 2008 Vermont’s Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program helps pay for home heating fuel—oil, gas, kerosene, electricity, or wood—for households at or below 125 percent of poverty, with funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- [Immunization Program](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/immunization-program) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Dec 2008 The nation’s first polio outbreak was in the Rutland area in 1894. Sixty years later a nationwide immunization program was in place. The widespread use of the polio vaccine has all but eradicated the disease in the U.S.; the last known Vermont case was in 1963.
- [Community High School of Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/chsvt) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Feb 2009 The Community High School of Vermont (CHSVT) is the state's largest high school. It operates within the Department of Corrections. The students are either serving prison sentences in Vermont or living in the community on probation or parole.
- [Banking Division](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/banking-division) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. Apr 2009 When a few predatory lenders struck Vermont in the mid-1990s, the legislature stepped in to protect consumers. New laws placed fiduciary responsibilities on mortgage brokers and required lenders to provide detailed disclosures. Those laws have been on the books since, and the Banking Division ensures they're followed. Good regulation may have saved Vermont from the worst of the national mortgage crisis.
- [Meat Inspection Section](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/meat-inspection-section) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. June 2009 Meats bound for market get the highest level of scrutiny from meat inspectors. But whether the meats are for sale or personal use, their slaughter, processing and sale are licensed and inspected to ensure proper animal treatment and food safety.
- [Office of Child Support](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/child-support) - PUBLIC STRUCTURES SPOTLIGHT. August 2009 The mission of the Office of Child Support (OSC), created in 1990, is to improve the economic wellbeing of children, under 18 or still in high school, from split homes.
- [The State of Working Vermont 2007](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-state-of-working-vermont-2007) - Paul Cillo and Doug Hoffer (September 2007) An issue brief highlighting Vermont employment, wages, and workforce trends, drawn from 2006 government data. It is produced in cooperation with the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).
- [The Governor's Budget Release: Earlier is Better](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-governors-budget-release-earlier-is-better) - Paul Cillo and Jack Hoffman (December 2007) Everyone who is part of the state budgeting process needs timely information. The Vermont Legislature can gain precious time for itself — and for the public — by moving up the deadline for the annual release of the governor's budget.
- [Economic Stimulus Needs New Money, Fast](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/economic-stimulus-needs-new-money-fast) - Jack Hoffman (May 2008) An analysis of the governor's "economic stimulus" plan reveals that there is little new money in the proposal, and many of the business breaks are unlikely to produce the increase in demand that is needed right now.
- [Measuring Economic Development: What Do Subsidies Buy?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/measuring-economic-development-what-do-subsidies-buy) - by Jack Hoffman (June 2008) The Vermont Legislature is taking another run at figuring out what the state is getting for all of its economic development efforts. Existing laws that would enable evaluation have been ignored for years.
- [Rising Energy Costs Plague State Government, Too](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rising-energy-costs-plague-state-government-too) - Paul Cillo and Doug Hoffer (August 2008) Like families and businesses, Vermont's state government uses energy to heat and light buildings and fuel vehicles and equipment. And each year the cost of energy is taking a bigger bite out of the budget.
- [Medicaid Woes Highlight Budget's Pre-Existing Condition](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/medicaid-woes-highlight-budgets-pre-existing-condition) - REPORT. Steven Kappel and Paul Cillo (October 2008) With Vermont health care costs growing at about 8 percent each year and state revenues growing at less than 3 percent, the state cannot come close to paying for current services in the short term without severe cuts to Medicaid, cuts to other areas of the state budget, or new revenue. In the long term, the state needs to enact system reform that can slow health care cost growth rates.
- [The Stimulus Package: Fixing Problems Now Can Help Vermont Face its Bigger Problems](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/stimulus-package) - REPORT. Jack Hoffman (February 2009) The federal aid won’t solve the budget problems that have been dogging Vermont for nearly two decades. To make the best use of this one-time money, elected officials need to incorporate these hundreds of millions of federal dollars into a five-year plan to restore fiscal stability to the state. And they need to be thinking even longer-term than that.
- [Keeping an Eye on Vermont’s Stimulus Funds](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/stimulusfunds) - REPORT. Reenie De Geus (April 2009) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)--the federal stimulus plan--is intended to kick-start job growth in the short term while building the foundation for future economic prosperity. Since the plan involves a large sum of federal money distributed in a short period of time--Vermont will receive more than $1.2 billion over the next two years--it will be a test of democracy, transparency, and accountability.
- [Vermonters Would Pay More with Governor’s Budget Cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-would-pay-more) - In proposing his latest budget to the Legislature, Governor Douglas says he will show a balanced state budget with a minimal increase in taxes. But his plan is obsessively focused on reducing the General Fund bottom line, the most visible part of state spending, while hiding other costs-and ignoring other needs-of Vermonters.
- [Vermont Modernizes its Unemployment Insurance](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-modernizes-its-unemployment-insurance) - Governor Douglas signed Act 54 on June 1, 2009. Vermont joins 24 other states to date that have made legislative changes to modernize their UI programs.
- [Public employees are workers, too](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-employees) - It’s unfortunate, but the recession means that state and local governments have less money to pay for services just as citizens have greater need for those services. And when government cuts services, it isn’t only turning its back on its citizens; it’s also slowing economic recovery. An excellent National Public Radio report this morning makes this
- [Better results from public services – or just more cuts?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/better-results-from-public-services-or-just-more-cuts) - It was good to see this week’s government efficiency report focusing on better outcomes from essential public services. Challenges for Change: Results for Vermonters held out the promise of saving $38 million in fiscal 2011 and nearly twice that much in fiscal 2012—all while delivering "the same or better result." If it comes to pass,
- [Is the governor’s budget adequate? Who knows](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/is-the-governors-budget-adequate-who-knows) - Gov. Jim Douglas will present his eighth and final budget request to the Legislature next week. Unfortunately, Vermonters won't have the information they need to determine whether the governor's proposal is good or bad, adequate or inadequate. That's because Vermont doesn't prepare annual estimates of the cost of providing the services and programs that it's
- [STATEMENT: Public Assets Institute on Governor Douglas's Budget Address, Jan. 19, 2010](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-public-assets-institute-on-governor-douglass-budget-address-jan-19-2010) - There are two parts to Vermont's current budget problems. One, which the governor accurately described in his budget address today, is the temporary problem of declining revenue brought on by the recession. We need a balanced approach to address this temporary problem. The Legislature already has made cuts, and now we need to use our
- [Tax cuts are a zero-sum game](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/zero-sum-game) - A new report challenges the conventional wisdom that states can stimulate their local economies by cutting taxes. "The Zero-Sum Game," from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., explains that the effects of broad tax cuts are generally cancelled out by the reduction in state spending and layoffs of public employees that
- [Challenges for Change: Keep the process open](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/challenges-for-change) - Challenges for Change—the new government efficiency plan passed by the Legislature just before the Town Meeting Day recess—is getting off to a bad start. The Education Design Team, which has a little more than two weeks to come up with plans for pretty sweeping changes affecting how schools are run, held its first meeting on
- [Becoming Arizona](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/becoming-arizona) - All eyes have been on Washington for the last few days as the U.S. finally took a step toward creating a health care system than any civilized country ought to provide. There is still a long way to go, but at least it’s a start. While proponents of health care reform cheered, the cause of
- [Savings could mean more cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/savings-could-mean-more-cuts) - Vermonters who rely on services from the Agency of Human Services got a reprieve last week when the Vermont House passed its version of the fiscal 2011 budget. But they shouldn’t relax just yet. The Challenges for Change bill still holds the potential to take back what the House restored. Challenges for Change is a
- [Let’s back the Challenges promise with reserve funds](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lets-back-the-challenges-promise-with-reserve-funds) - If Legislative leaders and the administration believe in Challenges for Change, the government reform plan that promises better services for less money, they should be willing to guarantee that promise with the state’s reserve funds. Many legislators are leery of Challenges because they fear the administration is more interested in cutting the budget than improving
- [One budget cut the governor opposes](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/one-budget-cut-the-governor-opposes) - The Vermont Legislature gets kudos this week for voting to postpone the increase in the domestic production deduction, an obscure federal business tax break that passes through to Vermont corporations. Vermont’s tax structure is tied to the federal system, which is boosting this tax break by 50 percent this year. This tax expenditure increase would
- [Where do you see cracks?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-do-you-see-cracks) - Cracks in the Public Structures Vermont is a great place to live and work and an attractive place to do business because of the investments we’ve made over the years in our public structures like parks, courts, schools, and environmental protections. With state budget cuts and state employee layoffs for the past several years, we
- [Challenges for Change has a familiar ring](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/challenges-for-change-has-a-familiar-ring) - After the early fanfare for Challenges for Change, the government reform plan proposed last session, legislators quickly discovered that the devil, indeed, was lurking in the details. The premise of Challenges was something everyone could support: government services delivered more effectively and at less cost. The devilish part came in measuring government output. How do
- [Budget cuts should start with what’s not working](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/budget-cuts-should-start-with-whats-not-working) - One criticism of the budget-cutting Vermont has done in recent years is that money and personnel have been reduced, but the mission has remained largely the same. There are fewer state employees, who have less money to spend, but they’re expected to do the same job. That’s not good management. You can’t give people 75
- [Cutting school budgets could get expensive](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cutting-school-budgets-could-get-expensive) - As the opening day of school approaches, local school officials gear up for the next budget season, and some campaigning politicians continue to insist that education is a luxury we can no longer afford, Vermont parents and others might like to get a glimpse of the future by reading a recent New York Times article.
- [Did tax cuts really help create jobs?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/did-tax-cuts-really-help-create-jobs) - As Congress debates the extension of the Bush tax cuts, it’s a good time to look at what we got for the money we gave away. It’s a lot: an estimated $2.5 trillion by the time the cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, according to Citizens for Tax Justice. Those
- [Increasing Pre-K Enrollment: Small  Investment, Big Benefits](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/increasing-pre-k-enrollment) - Investment in pre-kindergarten is good for the economy in both the short and long term. Expanding early education creates jobs right away, and investment in education can increase a region’s income and employment over time.
- [State of Working Vermont 2010](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2010) - The last decade’s policies have not led to needed job creation. It’s time for a new strategy By Jack Hoffman PDF Version The Great Recession tightened its grip on Vermont in 2009. For the first year of the crisis, 2008, the state’s private employers shed jobs at an average rate of 475 a month. In
- [Federal Tax Cuts Offer New Option](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/federal-tax-cuts-offer-new-option) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2011 MONTPELIER – The extension of the Bush tax cuts passed recently by Congress gives Governor Shumlin and the Legislature another option for balancing the state budget in fiscal 2012 and 2013. A new analysis shows that the top 5 percent of Vermont taxpayers will save $190 million as a
- [More Vermonters Are Relying on 3SquaresVT](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/3squaresvt) - The number of Vermonters relying on foods stamps has more than doubled in the last six years. Some of the increase was due to a change in rules that allowed more people to qualify for 3SquaresVT, Vermont’s food stamp program. But the recession also has been a big factor in the increase. In December 2007,
- [Time to Rethink the Rainy Day Funds](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/time-to-rethink-the-rainy-day-funds) - In his budget address in January, Gov. Peter Shumlin urged the Legislature to increase the state’s reserves as soon as the economy improves and Vermont can start saving again. He’s on the right track. This recent recession has shown that Vermont’s rainy day funds are not adequate to respond to a serious economic collapse. But
- [Federal Stimulus Money at Work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/arra) - Vermont has been awarded $991 million in contracts, grants, and loans since February 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly known as federal stimulus funding. According to the latest information from Recovery.gov, the official website for tracking ARRA funds, nearly sixty percent of the Vermont awards had been paid out by the
- [Public Assets weighs in on the state budget in the Sunday New York Times](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/sunday-new-york-times) - As the only state in the union that does not require lawmakers to balance its budget, Vermont caught the interest of the New York Times this Sunday. In the piece, Public Assets Institute senior analyst Jack Hoffman comments on the governor’s use of deficit spending in the serious recession 20 years ago, which helped get
- [The Governor got most of what he asked for](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/most-of-what-he-asked-for) - The fiscal 2012 budget Gov. Peter Shumlin proposed in January made its way through the Legislature largely unscathed. The majority Democratic House and Senate increased the governor’s budget by just 0.1 percent—or $5.6 million on total spending of $4.8 billion. That's not surprising. Legislatures rarely make big changes to what a governor proposes. The fights
- [What kind of society do we want?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-kind-of-society-do-we-want) - That was the question posed by Columbia University economist Joseph Stiglitz, former chairman of Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers and winner of the Nobel prize in a recent interview on NPR’s Morning Edition. Now that deficit reduction has been become the crisis du jour, most of the current reporting and discussion are focused on
- [‘Level funding’ is rarely level](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/level-funding-is-rarely-level) - “(Governor) Shumlin says he plans to present a level-funded budget to the Legislature in January,” Bob Kinzel reported on Vermont Public Radio last week. Level funding: The words suggest two things: no cuts, no increases. For that reason, politicians love to use them. But what does level funding really mean? Any one of three different
- [Just In: The Latest Damage Report](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/just-in-the-latest-damage-report) - The damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene is clearly evident to anyone driving even a few miles in south-central Vermont. The damage from economic policies of the last 30 years has been harder to spot, but it’s becoming visible in statistics like those released on Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. In Vermont, between 2008 and
- [Lessons from ’27: Crisis as Opportunity](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lessons-from-27) - By Jack Hoffman September 2011 PDF Version On Nov. 30, 1927, a little less than a month after floods ravaged the state, Vermont Gov. John Weeks opened an emergency session of the General Assembly with a summary of the damage that had been done to the highway system. “Approximately 1,258 bridges were destroyed or severely
- [Job cuts create jobs?  I don’t think so](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/job-cuts-create-jobs-i-dont-think-so) - “[B]usiness is run for the benefit of its owners, its shareholders, its customers and its employees. It's not run for the benefit of the country.” That’s according to venture capitalist and Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Bill Frezza in an NPR interview on Tuesday. His point, which he laid out in a blog post a
- [Vermont Education Spending: The Facts (2011 Update)*](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-education-spending-the-facts-2011-update) - PDF Version Education spending is not out of control. Education spending as a percentage of the Vermont economy (gross state product) has remained remarkably steady since the early 1990s. Contrast that with health care, which has been growing much faster than the underlying economy. Should the education line trend down because Vermont’s enrollment is declining
- [Education spending: Just the updated facts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/education-spending-just-the-updated-facts) - Providing a good education for each of its citizens is one of the most important jobs of state government. So it should come as no surprise that we spend a significant amount of money, about 5 to 6 percent of the state’s gross state product, on public education. But with all the talk about skyrocketing
- [Let’s not lose the spirit of Irene](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/lets-not-lose-the-spirit-of-irene) - One of the good things to come out of Tropical Storm Irene was seeing the state respond to human needs. Individuals, businesses, government, and other institutions all had a similar reaction to the crisis: they jumped in with both feet and did what they could to help their fellow Vermonters. The moment, unfortunately, was fleeting.
- [Measuring will help the state manage](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/measuring-will-help-the-state-manage-2) - Recently released Census data are both a wake-up call and a gift for the Shumlin administration and the Legislature. A wake-up call because the statistics show that middle-income Vermonters are earning less and more of them are slipping into poverty—evidence that things are moving in the wrong direction for Vermonters. Our political leaders need to
- [What happened to putting people first?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-happened-to-putting-people-first) - In an insightful and intelligent VTDigger.org commentary yesterday, John Margolis put his finger on an important public policy struggle going on in Vermont: people vs. money. While he doesn’t frame it that way, Margolis points out that Gov. Peter Shumlin, in a speech at the University of Vermont last week, urged the school to focus
- [We can’t wait for Congress](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/we-cant-wait-for-congress) - Except as further evidence of Congress’s dysfunction, we shouldn’t mourn last week’s failure of the so-called Super Committee. Newt Gingrich’s critique was right on the money: Such a committee never should have been created in the first place. Addressing the country’s fiscal problems is the responsibility of the existing committees of Congress, and the job
- [Where there’s a will there’s a way](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/where-theres-a-will-theres-a-way) - What’s the lesson learned from the clean up after Tropical Storm Irene? Deputy Transportation Secretary Sue Minter summed it up best in a New York Times story last week. The Shumlin administration received well-deserved front-page kudos for getting the state’s highways and bridges fixed and functioning in record time. “The attitude,” said Minter, “was, ‘We’ll
- [Statement on LIHEAP funding](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-liheap-funding) - Even if President Obama and some members of Congress don’t get it, Gov. Peter Shumlin understands that people can freeze to death in the winter if they don’t have heat. That’s why he announced Tuesday that the state was going to supplement the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) after Congress failed to adequately
- [Vermont's Middle Class: The Facts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-middle-class-the-facts) - PDF Version We typically think of a middle-class family as owning a home, having health insurance, a decent car, and a college degree (or aspiring for their children to gain one), and earning a reliable income that’s good enough to support a yearly vacation and a secure retirement. Polls tell us that most people consider
- [The middle class needs the governor’s attention](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-middle-class-needs-the-governors-attention) - Gov. Peter Shumlin mentioned the middle class in his State of the State speech last week—once. That’s exactly the same number of times he mentioned the middle class in his inaugural speech last year; and exactly one time more than he mentioned them in his 2011 Budget Address. The governor has the opportunity tomorrow when
- [Legislature should be debating all expenditures](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/legislature-should-be-debating-all-expenditures) - When the Vermont House takes up the fiscal 2013 budget this week, the focus will be on the money appropriated for all of the functions of state government—operating the courts, educating our children, protecting the environment, promoting tourism, maintaining the transportation network, and more. If the debate follows the usual pattern, there will be no
- [What About the Taxes We Don’t Collect](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/what-about-the-taxes-we-dont-collect) - April 17th is Tax Day, for the IRS and many states, including Vermont. So we should expect stories about who pays, how much, and what we get for our taxes. But here’s something from the other side of the coin: The Pew Center on the States’ new study on the taxes people and businesses are
- [We don’t need more SLOPs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/we-dont-need-more-slops) - Campaign for Vermont took a wrong turn this week when it released the results of its first website visitor survey. “Citizens Want Property Tax Accountability” the press release asserted. “88% think $27 million should be restored to Education Fund.” To try to give the findings legitimacy, the press release compared the “poll” to similar surveys
- [There’s still a chance to help the middle class](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/theres-still-a-chance-to-help-the-middle-class) - The Legislature is missing an opportunity this year to undo changes to Vermont’s school tax system that have made it harder for some middle-class Vermonters, including those who are retired, to stay in their homes. They’re also missing a chance to repeal a provision that punishes certain homeowners who pay school taxes based on their
- [Putting away money for a rainy day](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/putting-away-money-for-a-rainy-day) - The Legislature has passed five budgets since the start of the Great Recession in fiscal 2008, and it didn’t use the pot of money set aside for just such a crisis: the state’s rainy day funds. The $50 million-$60 million in reserves in just the General Fund could have helped the state through difficult times,
- [Clouded judgment on the sales tax](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/clouded-judgment-on-the-sales-tax) - The Vermont business community missed an opportunity this week to make a positive difference, serving not just the public good but their own good as well. Instead, the business representatives on the Sales and Use Tax Study Committee did the predictable thing: they voted to oppose a tax. In a narrow sense, opposing a tax—in
- [Planning for the next rainy days](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/planning-for-the-next-rainy-days) - Vermont, along with many other states, still hasn’t recovered from the Great Recession, but it’s not too soon to start preparing for the next slump. The problem in the last recession—as in the recessions of 1981, 1990, and 2001—was that the economy slowed and tax revenues fell at the same time Vermonters were turning to
- [Inequality is a social ill](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/inequality-is-a-social-ill) - We know that the percentage of income that went to the top 1 percent of Vermonters tripled in 25 years — from 5.9 percent in 1981 to 19.1 percent in 2005. Public Assets published that fact a year ago in a report about the decline of Vermont’s middle class. What we didn’t discuss in that
- [Vermont Has Options to Raise Revenue for Smart Investments](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-has-options-to-raise-revenue-for-smart-investments) - Gov. Peter Shumlin has the right idea when he says we should invest in expanding the availability of child care for working Vermonters. However, it just doesn’t make sense to take money from low-wage working families to pay for this initiative. Other changes to Vermont’s income tax code could produce about as much revenue as the governor is seeking—or more—and make the state’s tax system more equitable. Currently, Vermont allows taxpayers two options for subtracting certain kinds of expenses from their income. They can take a standard, lump-sum deduction that covers things like health care, state and local taxes, and mortgage interest. Or they can list each of these expenses and take a larger deduction if the itemized expenses are greater than the standard deduction. Vermont could change the way it treats itemized deductions or it could modify or eliminate certain deductions. Read more
- [New Nonprofit Will Promote State Fiscal Transparency](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-nonprofit-will-promote-state-fiscal-transparency) - April 2, 2013 MONTPELIER—The leaders of the Public Assets Institute and the Ethan Allen Institute announced today that they have formed a new nonprofit, Vermont Transparency, Inc., to advance their work to make state and local government fiscal information easily accessible to citizens. The two organizations, who have distinctly different views on the role of
- [Why Vermont’s Child-Care Subsidy Needs Fixing](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/why-vermonts-child-care-subsidy-needs-fixing) - Expanding access to quality child care has been the hot-button issue of the 2013 legislative session, and nearly all the fuss has swirled around the source of funding. Gov. Peter Shumlin wants to pay for more child care by taking money from low-wage working families that receive the state Earned Income Tax Credit. So far, the Legislature has rejected that idea. But many Vermonters, especially those who aren’t familiar with the state’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP), may wonder why funding for child-care services needs expanding at all. Read more
- [Roads Aren’t the Only Smart Investments](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/roads-arent-the-only-smart-investments) - The governor and legislative leaders announced a deal this week that will mean no new taxes beyond the gas tax for the coming year. While a lot of people—legislators included—welcome the agreement as a sign that the session is nearing a close, it also ends, at least for this year, the Legislature’s efforts to push
- [Vermonters are poorer. Does Montpelier care?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-are-poorer-does-montpelier-care) - The Census released new information Thursday—pooled from surveys taken during 2010, 2011, and 2012—that paints a discouraging picture about Vermonters’ economic well-being five years after the Great Recession hit. Key Census indicators related to employment, income, and poverty are all worse than they were before the recession. Comparing the 2010-12 estimates with the 2005-07 estimates—the
- [Using reserves, not filling them, is the hard part](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/using-reserves-not-filling-them-is-the-hard-part) - Based on the statute they enacted in 2012, the Vermont Legislature is now supposed to weigh budget decisions by how they affect Vermonters and how well they meet people’s basic needs for things like food, shelter, health, education, and a job that pays a meaningful wage. Lawmakers should apply similar principles to the use of
- [A new year starts in July](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-new-year-starts-in-july) - July 1 marks the beginning of Vermont’s fiscal year, and our FY2015 Vermont State Budget Chartbook shows the milestones in the development of the budget for the new fiscal year. The final $5.59 billion appropriations bill for this year represents a 4.1 percent increase ($222 million) over adjusted spending for fiscal 2014. (Midway through each
- [2016 state budget: Cuts won’t fix the problem](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2016-state-budget-cuts-wont-fix-the-problem) - Montpelier is struggling to plug a state budget gap again this year—$113 million. As in the past, the preferred option is cutting Vermont’s already slashed-to-slivers state services. While austerity proponents love it, this strategy will make Vermonters more miserable, especially those who’ve seen their real incomes decline for a decade. Cuts also dampen the state’s
- [Vermonters need a more transparent budget process](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonters-need-a-more-transparent-budget-process) - The need for a more open and transparent budget process became clear last week with the news that the state is on the hook for an extra $18 million in Medicaid payments this year. The payments weren’t factored in last spring when the administration and the Legislature put together the state budget, so now policymakers
- [Fiscal 2017 Budget Forum Webinars](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fiscal-2017-budget-forum-webinars) - The Shumlin Administration will hold two public budget forums via webinar on Monday, November 23, 2015. For details about how to participate, go to: http://finance.vermont.gov/Event/publicbudgetforums. Citizens can also weigh in on the budget process through an online survey. These are new strategies for gathering public input and we hope they will allow more Vermonters to
- [Governor’s fiscal 2017 budget proposal](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/govs-2017-budget) - PDF Version Health care costs account for almost half of the increase from the fiscal 2016 budget passed by the Legislature last spring to Gov. Peter Shumlin’s proposed 2017 budget. The governor’s total proposed increase is 3.8 percent, or a little more than $213 million, which includes an adjustment to the current fiscal year’s budget
- [House fiscal 2017 budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/house-fiscal-2017-budget) - The House passed its fiscal 2017 budget along with tax and fee bills raising approximately $49 million in new revenue to support it. ((The House bills are H.571 (driver restoration), H.872 (fees), H.873 (tax changes), H.875 (appropriations), and H.877 (transportation funding).)) The House budget came in at $5.81 billion, approximately $1 million above the governor’s
- [Senate version of the fiscal 2017 budget](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/senate-version-of-the-fiscal-2017-budget) - The fiscal 2017 budget made its way through the Vermont Senate this week along with tax and fee bills raising approximately $47.1 million in new revenue to support it. ((The bills are H.571 (driver restoration), H.872 (fees), H.873 (tax changes), H.875 (appropriations), and H.877 (transportation funding).)) At $5.80 billion, the Senate’s version of the budget
- [The budget gap solution](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-budget-gap-solution) - “Vermonters need to smoke more.” That was the eye-catching headline to a recent column by Jon Margolis on vtdigger.org. It was a great way to explain Vermont’s chronic budget gaps without putting everyone to sleep talking about “structural revenue problems.” Margolis was right. Part of Vermont’s budget problems are due to the state’s reliance on revenue that is tied to an ever-shrinking tax base.
- [No homeowner tax relief in governor’s school budget cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-homeowner-tax-relief-in-governors-school-budget-cuts) - Gov. Phil Scott said this week that property taxes were one of the biggest contributors to what he calls the state’s “affordability crisis,” and he called on local school boards to cut more than $50 million from the budgets they’ve prepared for next year. But if schools make the cuts the governor has asked for,
- [We can’t afford more giveaways to high-income Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/giveaways-to-high-income-vermonters) - Each year the governor and Legislature go through the handwringing exercise of closing a projected state budget gap. The projected General Fund gap for fiscal 2018 is about $70 million. As usual, much of the conversation has been about reducing spending to get the budget to balance. This year the governor wanted school districts across
- [Vermont’s a great place to raise kids – for now](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-a-great-place) - A new study ranked Vermont the #1 state to raise healthy kids. That’s the good news. Vermont often ranks high on quality of life surveys. The question is: Can Vermont stay on top if it continues to cut state services and postpone investments? The study looked at three broad categories: 1) kids’ health and access to health care; 2) kids’ nutrition, physical activity and obesity; and 3) kids’ oral health. Vermont ranked #1, #1 and #5 respectively. Vermont made the choice to invest in children’s health, and it’s paid off – both in terms of the impact on kids’ actual health and on Vermont’s reputation for citizens’ well-being. There’s a lesson here.
- [Stay out of the swamp](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/stay-out-of-the-swamp) - For the most part, Vermont has been spared the kind of the political dysfunction that has paralyzed Washington for an embarrassingly long time. But Montpelier is at risk of sliding in that direction if the current dispute between the governor and the Legislature ultimately leads to a veto. A gubernatorial veto is a legitimate political tool, although it is rarely used. Both sides try to avoid a veto showdown because the loser usually comes out looking weaker, and who the winner will be is never a sure thing. In the past, governors have used the veto to prevent a legislative action they didn’t like from becoming law. In the extremely rare cases of an appropriations bill veto, governors were trying to force some cuts when they thought the Legislature wanted to spend too much.
- [Cuts loom without additional revenue](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cuts-loom-without-additional-revenue) - This is the 11th year in a row that Montpelier has projected spending obligations will exceed state revenue projections going into the start of the legislative session. Maybe it’s time to acknowledge that the state’s revenue system isn’t keeping up with even modest budget growth. Projected General Fund revenue for next year is $1,591 million.
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 23, 2018 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-23-2018-budget-address) - Gov. Phil Scott laid out an ambitious agenda for state government in his second budget address. He outlined many problems facing Vermonters today, and for the most part his assessment was accurate. The state does need to address drug addiction, retirement security, environmental protection, mental illness, affordable housing, energy efficiency, job creation, equal educational opportunities, and the many other issues he cited. It is hard to see how he can achieve all this with a spending formula that ties the growth in the state budget to Vermonters’ wages. And while we applaud his proposal to try to recruit young families to settle in here, we have to wonder how many young parents are eager to move to a state where the governor says we’re spending too much on education and wants to reduce staffing in schools. Along with the problems Governor Scott cited, Vermont—like the rest of the nation—also has a problem with income inequality. Wage growth has been stubbornly slow, while incomes for the wealthy have grown much faster. Linking state spending to wage growth can only exacerbate the problem. When wages aren’t keeping pace with basic living expenses, Vermonters need more support from their government, not less.
- [‘Tis the season](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tis-the-season) - There’s snow in Montpelier. The menorah and Christmas tree are up at the Statehouse. And it’s time for a lesser-known Vermont tradition: Public input on the state budget. If you haven’t heard of this tradition, you’re not alone. Last year, fewer than 500 Vermonters filled out the public survey or submitted online comments. The governor is required by law to solicit public feedback on the budget before submitting it to the Legislature in January. Over the years, this has taken the form of regional meetings, webinars, and most recently, an online survey and public comments online or by mail. It’s worth taking a little time out of your holiday preparations and celebrations now to weigh in on how the state will invest public dollars beginning July 1 next year.
- [Statement on Gov. Phil Scott’s Jan. 24, 2019 Budget Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-24-2019-budget-address) - Repeating a theme from his Inaugural Address two weeks ago, in his Budget Address today Gov. Phil Scott outlined items in his fiscal 2020 budget intended to attract young families—and new taxpayers—to the Green Mountain State. It was heartening to hear the governor acknowledge the importance of state services that help to improve Vermonters’ lives.
- [Vermont Household Budget Affordability Analysis](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-household-budget-affordability-analysis) - Douglas Hoffer and Paul Cillo (October 2006) An issue brief comparing median and upper income Vermont household expenditures. For the median household, transportation, food, housing, and health care consume over half of the budget. For the upper income household, forty percent of income is left over for discretionary spending.
- [Some Necessities Cost More, Others Don't](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/some-necessities-cost-more-others-dont) - Paul Cillo and Doug Hoffer (May 2008) Vermonters' median income kept ahead of inflation during the decade from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. That should have produced more buying power for the average person. But the cost of big ticket items — health insurance, gasoline, heating fuel, and housing — all rose faster than Vermonters' incomes.
- [Simple and fair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/simpler-and-fairer) - Montpelier should be trying to make the education tax system simpler and fairer. But Republican Gov. Jim Douglas is proposing changes that would make the system more complicated and less fair: He’d increase taxes on middle-income Vermonters and lower them on wealthier ones. Sound crazy? Then how about this: The Democratic-controlled House appears to be
- [The Census stopped using its state tax rankings. Why don't we?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/census-rankings) - Now that the governor is in the middle of another stand-off with the Legislature over the budget, his press office has pounced on the latest story that purports to show that Vermont’s taxes are too high. The article appears this week in Vermont Business Magazine. Unfortunately, the magazine arrived at its conclusion using two pieces
- [Per capita, Vermonters have a lot of fun](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/per-capita-vermonters-have-a-lot-of-fun) - According to the latest report from the Vermont Ski Areas Association, everybody in Vermont spent nearly a week on the slopes last winter. Or at least that’s how the information would have been cast if the subject had been taxes instead of skier visits.
- [2010 middle-class property tax hike](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2010-middle-class-property-tax-hike) - Despite professions of heart-felt concern for Vermont property taxpayers, the Legislature raised property taxes this year on a lot of middle-income Vermonters—resident homeowners with incomes less than $90,000. Lawmakers had solid information from the Tax Department showing that Vermonters with incomes over $1 million pay about 0.5 percent of their income to support public schools,
- [Fiscal Facts: A Key to Better Policy Debates](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fiscal-facts-a-key-to-better-policy-debates) - It may be too late for this year’s August primary elections, but for the general elections, Vermont’s political parties might want to collaborate to create fiscal fact kits for all of their candidates. It could help voters become better informed, and perhaps prevent candidates from making promises they can’t or shouldn’t keep. The fact kits
- [As Job-Seekers Lose Steam, So Does the Recovery](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/august2010) - For the fourth straight month, Vermonters have dropped out of the labor force. According to figures released today, the number of people working or looking for work dipped to 356,700 in July. That’s the smallest labor force in more than two years—only slightly larger than it was at the start of the recession in December
- [Effective State Income Tax Map](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/income-tax-map) - Vermont has a progressive income tax system: the tax rate increases as income increases. For example, income up to $56,700 is taxed at 3.55 percent, but income between $56,700 and $137,050 is taxed at a higher rate. There are three more rates for income in higher tiers. These rates apply to taxable income—that is, after
- [Vermont’s Income Taxes Are Lower than Many Other States](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-income-taxes-are-lower-than-many-other-states) - By Jack Hoffman (September 2010) PDF Version Tax rates tell only part of the story when comparing state tax policies. To determine what people actually pay, you also need to know what the rates are applied to. Vermont has a progressive income tax system. There are five tax rates—3.55 percent to 8.95 percent—with higher rates
- [Income Taxes: Vermont is in the Middle of the Pack](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/income-taxes-vermont-is-in-the-middle-of-the-pack) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2010 A new fifty-state analysis of state income taxes by Public Assets Institute shows that Vermont ranks in the middle of states in the rest of the country. While much has been made of Vermont’s high tax rates, the amount taxpayers actually pay in Vermont is lower than in many
- [Income-based School Tax Map](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-tax-map) - Many Vermonters have a choice when it comes to calculating their school taxes. For the taxes on their primary residence and up to two acres of land, they can either pay a property tax based on the tax rate for their school district or pay a percentage of their household income. While all school taxes
- [Vermont Property Tax Ranking: Mystery Solved](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-property-tax-ranking-mystery-solved) - You may have heard it said recently that Vermont has the highest property taxes in the country. The source of the information was Northern Economic Consulting, which seems to be the only organization that gives Vermont this dubious distinction. Not even the anti-tax Tax Foundation, which does three different calculations, puts Vermont at the top
- [Yes, let's get the facts straight](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/yes-lets-get-the-facts-straight) - It’s not clear why former Vermont Commerce Secretary Kevin Dorn wants to run from the notion that Vermont offers tax credits to businesses that create new jobs. In a recent letter to the Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, Dorn criticized both the newspapers and Public Assets Institute for saying Vermont had a tax credit
- [When is a broad-based tax not a broad-based tax?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/when-is-a-broad-based-tax-not-a-broad-based-tax) - Gov. Peter Shumlin has been clear in saying he doesn’t want to raise broad-based taxes, and for the most part Democratic leaders in the Legislature have supported him. But in light of some of the bills passed by the Vermont House recently, it’s understandable if a lot of people are confused. At the governor’s urging,
- [No New Life in Springtime Employment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-new-life) - Vermont experienced a sharp drop of 2,200 non-farm jobs in April, according to preliminary figures released Friday by the Vermont Department of Labor. Most of the losses—1,900—were in the private sector, which had been gaining jobs since late last summer. Meanwhile, Vermont’s unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged. It inched down to 5.3 percent last month
- [Study what?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/study-what) - It appears there will be two new studies of Vermont’s education funding system. The Legislature has commissioned one—and a California-based consultant recently won the contract. In addition, two communities in southern Vermont—Dover and Wilmington—have decided to pay for their own study of how their local economies might have been affected by Acts 60 and 68.
- [How about trusting voters with health care?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/how-about-trusting-voters-with-health-care) - Despite the national publicity Vermont received when Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the new Green Mountain Care bill into law, there is still a lot to be done if universal health care is to become a reality here. Funding is one of the biggest unknowns, and that won’t start to take shape for another 18 months
- [Reforming how we pay for health care](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/reforming-how-we-pay-for-health-care) - The Shumlin Administration announced this week that they will hold a series of “listening sessions” on how the state should finance Green Mountain Care, Vermont’s soon-be-be reformed health care system. Since individuals, employers, and the state and federal government are already paying the $5 billion annual cost of Vermont’s health care system, this financing exercise
- [Statement on Gov. Peter Shumlin's 2012 State of the State Address](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-peter-shumlins-2012-state-of-the-state-address) - Governor Shumlin is rightly proud of the leadership this administration provided in the clean up after Tropical Storm Irene last summer. He inspired Vermonters to rise to their best during one of the worst disasters in the state’s history. And he is correct in making job creation the state’s top priority and in recognizing that
- ["Per-capita tax burden" is misleading](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/per-capita-tax-burden-is-misleading) - Is Vermont a high-tax state? It depends on whether you look at the taxes Vermonters pay, or the taxes the state collects? There’s a difference, which we should keep in mind when we see information like a recent item in the Burlington Free Press “Innovate” section. The article cited 2009 Census data, the latest available,
- [Shouldn’t we review existing tax breaks first?](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/shouldnt-we-review-existing-tax-breaks-first) - Caught in the legislative logjam lawmakers are trying to clear before the end of the 2012 session are several bills containing tax breaks for individuals and businesses. The fate of the bills is still up in the air, but it’s safe to assume that many of the breaks will survive. This means another year of
- [School Taxes Based on Income, 2012](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/school-taxes-based-on-income-2012) - Since the passage of Act 60 in 1997, Vermont residents have had two options for calculating their school taxes. On their primary residence and up to two acres of land, the school tax can be based on the property value or on their household income. While the Legislature has made changes over the years and
- [Governor’s new tax math has promise](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/governors-new-tax-math-has-promise) - Gov. Peter Shumlin has called for a cut in the state earned income tax credit to fund his proposal to expand child care for low-income families. Vermont’s earned income credit is piggy-backed onto the federal Earned Income Tax Credit: the state credit is 32 percent of the federal. Both are aimed at helping poor Vermonters
- [Fleeting tax arguments](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/fleeting-tax-arguments) - Gov. Peter Shumlin made it clear that he didn’t like the tax package passed by the Vermont House this week. But his reasons for opposing the House bill are getting shakier and shakier. To provide needed revenue, the House plan would raise about $23 million for fiscal 2014, and slightly more the next year mainly
- [A new tune from some Vermont business leaders](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-new-tune-from-some-vermont-business-leaders) - For years we’ve heard the same refrain from much of the Vermont business community: Taxes are too high, and there’s too much regulation. They’ve chided the Legislature about the state’s poor business climate and called for austerity. Politicians were quick to parrot the message or risk rebuke as taxers and spenders. The problem is that
- [A thumb on the tax scale](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-thumb-on-the-tax-scale) - It’s not unusual to hear exaggerated claims about Vermont’s taxes, and some people have come to believe them. Fortunately, not everyone has bought into the myths. If they did, places like Stratton, Winhall, Killington, Stowe, Dover, Ludlow and others would be ghost towns. One prominent myth—a favorite in the governor’s office—is that high taxes scare
- [The 47 (now 43) percent](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-47-now-43-percent) - Mitt Romney was famously recorded last year assaulting the character of 47 percent of Americans for not paying taxes. He might not have known it, but he was referring to the percentage of Americans who did not pay federal income taxes in 2010. The public discussion that followed the release of the secretly recorded comments
- [All taxes are ‘income taxes’](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/all-taxes-are-income-taxes) - In the wake of the defeat of 34 school budgets on Town Meeting Day, the Legislature has been reexamining how the state collects revenue for public education. One change lawmakers are considering is to have more residents pay school taxes based on income rather than the value of their primary residence. This is a good
- [Paul Cillo: Opening Remarks, vtdigger School Funding Panel](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/paul-cillo-opening-remarks-vtdigger-school-funding-panel) - December 11, 2014, Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier Opening remarks Vtdigger asked the members of this panel to propose solutions to the “K-12 education affordability crisis.” I want to focus the limited time in my opening remarks on one question: What crisis? The so-called crisis is remarkable for the stunning lack of information to confirm that
- [Vermont’s Tax System Is Still Unfair](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tax-system-unfair) - MONTPELIER—Vermont taxes are higher, as a percentage of income, on the poor and those in the middle than they are on the 1 percent at the top, according to the new study Who Pays? released Wednesday by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). Vermont is not alone; the wealthiest pay less than everyone
- [Vermont Has the Capacity to Avoid 2016 Budget Cuts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-has-the-capacity-to-avoid-2016-budget-cuts) - PDF Version Vermont’s income tax is among the lowest in the country: 2.7 percent of the state’s total personal income. (( “Total personal income” is a broad measure of income used by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP). It is based on filers under age 65 and includes adjusted gross income, which is
- [Job creation financial incentives: An outdated strategy](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/outdated-strategy) - New evidence finds that public investments that help build a skilled workforce and improve the quality of life for local residents are more likely to create jobs and build a strong economy than tax cuts and attempts to lure businesses with financial incentives. In State Job Creation Strategies Often Off Base, a new report from
- [Everyone loves the property tax](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/everyone-loves-the-property-tax) - For all of their public hand-wringing over property taxes, legislators and even the governor seem almost cavalier in their willingness to ask property owners to pay more. - The tax incentives proffered by Act 46 to induce school districts to merge are being funded by higher property taxes. - The Legislature imposed property tax penalties last year in an effort to reduce property taxes. - In January, the governor declared property taxes “one of the biggest contributors” to what he called Vermont’s “crisis of affordability.” He then made a proposal that would have shifted $50 million in additional costs onto the property tax.
- [Vermont Unemployment: Five Months Over 7 Percent](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-unemployment-five-months-over-7-percent) - June marked the fifth straight month that Vermont's unemployment rate has been above 7 percent, the longest stretch in more than a quarter century.
- [Stimulus Helps Public Job Growth; Private Sector Still Lags](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/august-2009) - The public sector added 1,700* jobs in July, many of them youth services jobs paid for with federal stimulus funds. Meanwhile, the private sector reported more job losses last month.
- [Vermont’s Unemployment Rate Still High, But Lowest in Northeast](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/sept-2009) - Vermont’s unemployment rate remained at 6.8 percent in August, the seventh month at this level or higher and the longest stretch since the early 1980’s. As bad as it is for Vermonters, workers elsewhere in the Northeast have it worse.
- [Vermont's Labor Force Is Shrinking](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/october2009) - The Vermont labor force continued to shrink in September as 1,900 more unemployed Vermonters stopped looking for work. In May, the labor force reached a peak of 361,000, but has been falling since then. Last month it stood at 356,900.
- [No Bad News Is Good](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/november2009) - That there was no bad news was good news on the Vermont unemployment front in October. The official unemployment rate dropped slightly—to 6.5 percent from 6.7 percent—but the change is not statistically significant. Still, the fact that the unemployment rate did not go up meant Vermont fared better than much of the rest of the country.
- [Signs Are Good...if They Hold](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/december2009) - Vermont’s preliminary November employment statistics, released Friday, were all moving in the right direction: increased labor force, increased employment, and a drop in unemployment.A good month—but it’ll be several months before we know whether we’re on the road to economic recovery.
- [Hard Times Get Harder; Government Gives Relief](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/january2010) - After six months of gradual decline, the number of unemployed Vermont workers shot up by 1,600 in December. That was a statistically significant jump from November and the largest monthly increase since last January.
- [New Numbers, Same Story: Jobs and Unemployment Remain Steady](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/march102010) - State and federal officials released revised labor statistics today showing that Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate and the number of seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs were largely unchanged in January.
- [Unemployment is Static—But Things Get Worse for Workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/march262010) - Unemployment was essentially unchanged in Vermont and most other states in February. According to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only seven states and Washington, D.C., had monthly changes in their unemployment rates that were statistically significant. Vermont’s wasn’t one of them. Its February was 6.6 percent; January’s was 6.7 percent—among the lowest in the country.
- [Vermont’s Workers May Not Be Sharing the Nation’s Recent Good Fortune](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/april2010) - Vermont may not have been part of the big surge in new jobs that President Obama touted earlier this month. He announced that employers added more than 160,000 jobs in March. Meanwhile, preliminary figures show Vermont lost 1,900 non-farm jobs last month. That was one of the biggest percentage declines in the country and Vermont’s fourth-biggest monthly loss since the start of the recession. But the decline also may be a statistical anomaly.
- [A Bit of A Breather in the Labor Market and at Home](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/june2010) - Unemployed Vermonters may be finding less competition for available jobs this spring.
- [New Hope for Unemployed Vermonters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/july2010) - Congress is poised to give a temporary reprieve to thousands of Vermonters who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits and depend on emergency benefits from the federal government.
- [The Recession is Officially Over. Tell That to the Jobless](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/september2010) - The National Bureau of Economic Research announced this week that the recession officially ended in June 2009. Still, jobs losses in Vermont and other states have continued. According to the latest figures, released today, Vermont gained 800 private sector jobs last month. However, the total number was down 1,600 from June 2009, when the recession
- [Jobs Losses Don’t Tell the Full Story](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/october2010) - The latest Department of Labor figures confirm that Vermont is still struggling to restore the jobs lost in this recession. Non-farm jobs in September were down almost 15,000 from the start of the recession and have hovered there for more than a year. Meanwhile, the working-age population has grown. To keep pace with the workers
- [Glimpses of Good News Through the Gloom](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/november2010) - New figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show Vermont employers added 1,800 non-farm jobs last month—the first increase this year that the Bureau deems statistically significant. The Bureau also revised Vermont’sfigure for September. Instead of losing 300 jobs that month, the state gained 100. Despite this recent good news, Vermont is still
- [Improvements in the Labor Market are Slow but Steady](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/december2010) - Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November remained at 5.7 percent, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national rate inched up in November, to 9.8 percent. With a declining trend in the unemployment rate since June 2009, Vermont continues to have the second-lowest rate in New England, after New
- [An Uptick in Unemployment Could Be a Good Sign](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/an-uptick-in-unemployment-could-be-a-good-sign) - Vermont’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly—to 5.8 percent in December from 5.7 percent in November. In reality, joblessness was unchanged; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics did not consider the rise statistically significant. Still, the new numbers may mean things are looking up. The rate increased, in part, because more Vermonters moved into the labor
- [Vermont Leads the Nation as Jobs Return](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-leads-the-nation-as-jobs-return) - Vermont’s job growth in January was the best in the nation, according to numbers released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Seasonally adjusted, non-farm jobs rose 1.8 percent from December 2010 to January 2011. The state also had the second biggest 12-month increase in the country: 2.7 percent. Vermont had 5,300 more
- [Vermont’s Employment Picks Up as the Jobs Landscape Shifts](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-employment-picks-up) - Vermont’s annual unemployment rate was the second lowest in New England in 2010. New Hampshire’s was one-tenth of a percentage point lower, but given the margin of error in the data, Vermont may actually have been lowest. Vermont also showed the region’s greatest unemployment rate decline. The state’s average annual rate dropped from 6.9 percent
- [The Job Recovery is More Than Halfway There](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/job-recovery-more-than-halfway) - Vermont’s private-sector employers have added nearly 10,000 jobs since the depths of the recession, with almost two-thirds of that growth in just the last four months. But Vermont still needs 4,100 more jobs to get the private sector back to where it was before the start of the recession. In the meantime, the working-age population
- [Tougher Job Market for Vermont’s Unemployed](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tougher-job-market-for-vermonts-unemployed) - Vermont’s big winter job gains were offset by spring losses, according to figures released today. Vermont lost 3,500 seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs in May—on top of 1,800 in April. That was the biggest two-month loss since 1990. Jobs created last January and February also set a record—the best two-month gain in two decades. While the
- [Small Gains Struggle Against a Stubborn Jobs Trend](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/small-gains-struggle-against-a-stubborn-jobs-trend) - Vermont gained jobs again in June, making up for much of the loss in May. Vermont added 2,800 non-farm jobs and was one of only a dozen states that had statistically significant growth last month. Despite this growth, however, Vermont’s unemployment rate rose slightly for the second month in row, to 5.5 percent in June
- [If It’s a Trend, It Doesn’t Look Good for Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/if-its-a-trend-it-doesnt-look-good-for-vermont) - Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose in July—the third month in a row. Jobs and employment data come from surveys, so changes in a single month are imprecise. But the three-month rise is cause for worry that Vermont’s recovery is stalling. The number of employed Vermonters dropped in July, and the number of unemployed rose;
- [Vermont Jobs: More is Still Not Enough](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-is-still-not-enough) - Vermont added 1,400 seasonally adjusted non-farm jobs in August, according to data released by the Vermont Department of Labor today. At the same time the state’s unemployment rate ticked up for the fourth month in a row, to 5.9 percent in August from 5.7 percent in July. “While Vermont is continuing to show job growth,
- [Vermont Slogs Through the Slowest Recovery<br>in 40 Years](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-slogs-through-the-slowest-recoveryin-40-years) - Almost four years after the start of the last recession, the number of non-farm jobs is still 6,600 below Vermont’s 2007 peak. That makes this the slowest recovery of the last five recessions, dating back to the early 1970s. Officially, the recession that started in December 2007 ended in June 2009. But Vermont employers still
- [Vermont Takes A Small Optimistic Turn in Employment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-takes-a-small-optimistic-turn-in-employment) - Vermont’s private employers are again creating more jobs than they’re eliminating. That’s according to the latest figures from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, which cover the 12 months between March 2010 and March 2011. Most of the new jobs come from expanding businesses rather than startups. In 2008 and 2009, employers cut more jobs
- [For Vermonters, It’s Still Cold Outside](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/november-24-2012-jobs-brief) - In spite of a slight rise in manufacturing jobs last year, Vermont lost more than 28 percent of the jobs in this sector in the past decade. One reason: competition from abroad. According to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest international survey of manufacturing wages, Vermont’s average manufacturing wage was lower than
- [Jobs: Better, But a Bit Less Better Than Reported](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-better-but-a-bit-less-better-than-reported) - Vermont didn’t experience the same job growth in January that was seen at the national level. But the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate did tick down to 5 percent, and 717 more Vermonters were working than in the previous month. Still, more than 18,000 people were counted as unemployed, which didn’t include those who stopped
- [Joblessness Dips Below 5 Percent, But Many Still Want Work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/joblessness-dips-below-5-percent) - Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched down again in February—to below 5 percent. That makes two full years with no increase in the rate and the biggest number of Vermonters employed in five years—342,900. While this employment level doesn’t account for the increase in population over that period, it’s welcome news: Vermont appears to be
- [Progress is Sputtering for Vermont’s Jobless](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/may-2012) - Vermont’s labor force continued to shrink in April. While there were fewer people officially unemployed—which helped to push down the unemployment rate—the number of Vermonters who had jobs also decreased. Seasonally adjusted employment in April was down slightly from January, but up about 3,500 from April 2011. More big layoffs last
- [Fewer Vermonters are Working or Seeking Work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/june-2012) - Both the labor force and the number of Vermonters working decreased for the third consecutive month in May. The official unemployment rate remained unchanged because the number of unemployed workers declined along with the overall labor force. At the same time, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a net increase of 3,300 jobs in
- [Employment Down, Wages Flat, Help Waning](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/july-2012) - Although Vermont’s unemployment rate remains relatively low, the slow but steady drop in the number of Vermonters working continued for the fourth consecutive month. In June, the number of employed fell by 450; since February, that number has dropped by more than 1,700. June’s unemployment rate ticked up to 4.7 percent from 4.6 percent in
- [Vermont Jobs: Confusing Signs May Suggest Change](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-jobs-confusing-signs-may-suggest-change) - Vermont’s unemployment rate—derived from a survey of workers—took a jump last month, from 4.7 percent in June to 5.0 percent in July. Coupled with the decline for the fifth consecutive month in the number of Vermonters working, that’s cause for worry. But the monthly survey of Vermont businesses tells a different story. It shows an
- [Vermont’s Joblessness Didn’t Drop with U.S., but Remains Low](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/october-2012) - Vermont was not among the states that pushed the national unemployment rate below 8 percent last month. Here the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up to 5.4 percent. That’s partly because more people are looking for work—a fact that also increased the number of people who are employed. Vermont reported a slight increase in the
- [Vermont’s Job Growth: A Tortoise, Not a Hare](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/november-2012) - The numbers both of employed Vermonters and those who are unemployed rose in October, as more Vermonters entered the labor force. That’s an encouraging sign, even though the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.5 percent. The state also saw a drop of 1,000 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs last month, a little dip in a slow,
- [More payroll jobs, yes. Economic security, not so much](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/economic-security-not-so-much) - Vermont’s employment picture brightened little during 2012. The December unemployment rate, 5.1 percent, was exactly what it had been in January 2012. There was good news: The monthly survey of employers showed nearly 4,000 new private sector jobs over the year. And bad news: The monthly household survey showed 3,200 fewer Vermonters, including the self-employed,
- [A Lower Jobless Rate, but Little Change for Jobseekers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/a-lower-jobless-rate-but-little-change-for-jobseekers) - Vermont’s unemployment rate dropped in 2012, from 5.6 percent the year before to 5.0 percent—the fourth-lowest annual average unemployment rate in the country. But the unemployment rate didn’t come down because more people were working; over 2,000 jobless workers simply left the labor force. Average annual employment for 2012 was the same as the previous
- [More Jobs, Fewer Vermonters Working](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-jobs-fewer-vermonters-working) - Two regular monthly surveys by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continue to send mixed signals about Vermont’s employment picture. The survey of employers shows a slow but steady rise in the number of non-farm payroll jobs over the last 12 months. But in the monthly survey of households, fewer Vermonters say they are employed—working
- [Fewer Vermonters Are on the Job or Unemployment Line](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/april-2013) - Vermont’s labor force shrank by another 1,650 people in March. Even as the economy appears to be slowly improving, the number of Vermonters working has steadily declined. In March 2009, 15 months into the recession, there were almost 362,000 people in the Vermont labor force, either employed or unemployed and seeking work. Last month, the
- [Same Same: Unemployment Rate Down. Employment Too](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/same-same) - Vermont’s employment picture was essentially unchanged from March to April. The unemployment rate, labor force, and non-farm jobs all ticked down, but only slightly. Comparing this April to the same month in previous years, the recent trend shows a steady decline in the number of Vermonters who report having jobs, even while the unemployment rate
- [Job Growth Inches Upward](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/june-2013) - Despite an apparent drop last month, the trend in Vermont job growth has continued in the right direction. As of May, employers had added almost 10,000 jobs since the recession’s lowest point, although Vermont needs another 4,000 to get back to the high reached in April 2008. Meanwhile, Vermont’s unemployment rate—which is based on a
- [Unemployment rate: An uptick in a down trend](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/july-2013) - Vermont’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up in June for the second consecutive month, to 4.4 percent. Still,Vermont’s rate remains the fourth lowest in the nation and the lowest in New England. Despite the low unemployment rate, the number of Vermonters who report being employed has been trending down since last December, and in June was lower than it was in March 2010.
- [A Cloudy Summer for Vermont’s Jobless](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/cloudy-summe) - Vermont’s unemployment rate rose in July for the third month in a row. Vermont was one of 38 states where the jobless rate rose last month, but only in eight—including Vermont—was the rise deemed statistically significant. Here the rate moved from 4.4 percent in June to 4.6 percent in July. Meanwhile, the number of employed
- [No Summer’s End Celebration for Vermont Workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-summers-end-celebration-for-vermont-workers) - The August employment figures released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics don’t give Vermont much to celebrate. While the labor force inched up from July, the number of employed Vermonters inched down. Employers reported a net of only 300 new private-sector jobs, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 4.6 percent. Some
- [Recovery? More for High Earners](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/recovery-more-for-high-earners) - New employment statistics, the first in two months, show employment in Vermont remains below its January 2013 level. September data, released this month because of the federal government shutdown in October, showed a small increase over August. But then employment declined; 3,000 fewer Vermonters were working in October than in January. Meanwhile, unemployment stood at
- [More Jobs, Clustered in Low-Wage Sectors](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/dec-20-2013) - As during much of 2013, Vermont’s November employment numbers released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provide a mixed message. The unemployment rate inched down to 4.4 percent, mainly because fewer Vermonters are looking for work. At the same time, employers reported 2,200 more Vermonters on the job than in October, with most
- [An Up-and-Down Year Finishes on the Upside](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/january-2014) - After a roller coaster year, Vermont employers ended 2013 with 3,000 more payroll jobs than they had at the end of 2012. The latest figures released today showed no new jobs created in December, following a big jump of 2,100 payroll jobs in November. Meanwhile, Vermont’s labor force shrank by 950 workers, which led to
- [2014 is Off to a Heartening Start](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2014-is-off-to-a-heartening-start) - Vermont didn’t create as many new jobs in 2013 as reported earlier, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Each February, the BLS revises its data, which are based on statistical surveys. The new numbers show Vermont ended 2013 with 306,300 non-farm payroll jobs. That was nearly 3,000 fewer than originally reported and
- [More Left the Unemployment Line, But Few Found Work](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-left-the-unemployment-line-but-few-found-work) - In the depths of the recession, Vermont unemployment peaked at 26,200. Since that point, in May 2009, it has steadily declined; by February 2014, more than 13,000 Vermonters had left the unemployment lines. Not all of those people found work, however. Between May 2009 and February 2014, employment in Vermont rose by just 2,750.
- [More Vermonters Have Jobs, but Income Inequality Persists](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/more-vermonters-have-jobs-but-income-inequality-persists) - In what may be an encouraging trend, March data released today show that the number of working Vermonters, including those who are self-employed, increased for the sixth consecutive month. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent, a low not seen since 2005. At the same time, Vermont private sector employers reported 800 new non-farm payroll
- [Vermont Jobs are Back to Pre-Recession Levels](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-jobs-back) - April 2008 was the high-water mark for payroll jobs in Vermont before the recession forced layoffs. This year, the number of jobs has rebounded. Employers reported 308,900 non-farm payroll jobs last month, just 200 fewer than in April 2008. Also in April, the number of unemployed dropped by 600, and the employed rose by 650—either
- [Chittenden County is Pulling the Recovery’s Slow Train](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/chittenden-county-pulling-recoverys-slow-train) - Chittenden County employers provided almost a third of Vermont’s jobs in 2013, with a countywide average annual wage of just over $49,000. That helped to lift the state’s average to a bit above $42,000 a year. In most other counties the annual wage was less than $40,000. The annual wage data, just released by the
- [Jobs Return, With Inequality in Tow](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-return-with-inequality-in-tow) - The number of non-farm payroll jobs in Vermont is inching back to pre-recession levels. But the mix has changed in the last seven years. The latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show service sector jobs have grown, while goods-producing jobs have decreased. New data also show that the number of unemployed Vermonters
- [Despite Clouds, Signs of Improving Economic Weather](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/despite-clouds-signs-of-improving-economic-weather) - Notwithstanding a spike in unemployment in July, the Vermont labor force has shown largely positive signs this year. After falling for 25 straight months, the labor force increased in five of the first seven months of 2014. The labor force includes people employed as well as those out of work but actively seeking jobs. In
- [Rises and Dips for Workers, But Little Headway](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/rises-and-dips-little-headway) - Vermont saw the second-biggest jump in unemployment among the states in August—to 4.1 percent from 3.7 percent in July. Longer unemployment lines aren’t necessarily a bad sign, if they mean more people are returning to the labor force and looking for work. But the number in Vermont’s labor force fell in August, as did the
- [No Respite In the Rise of Unemployment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/no-respite-in-the-rise-of-unemployment) - Vermont’s unemployment rate rose for the fourth straight month in September, to 4.4 percent. A year earlier, the jobless rate stood at 4.5 percent. A temporary rise in unemployment can be a positive sign if it means more people are moving into the labor force to look for work. In September, however, the size of
- [Little progress for workers now—and not much ahead](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/little-progress) - The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in October. Vermont has the second-lowest rate in New England, but lags when it comes to increasing employment. So far this year, the southern New England states have seen at least 3 percent growth in the number of people employed. In Vermont, that number
- [Vermont jobs exceed pre-recession levels](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermont-jobs-exceed-pre-recession-levels) - The total number of jobs in Vermont finally exceeded the previous high, reached in the summer of 2007, before the recession began. The latest figures show there were 311,700 non-farm payroll jobs in November, an increase of 3,600 from October. Most new jobs—2,200—were in the accommodations and food services sector. The number of employed Vermonters
- [Jobs took a few steps backward but more forward in 2014](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-took-a-few-steps-backward-but-more-forward-in-2014) - The number of jobs declined in December, but Vermont still ended 2014 with more private sector jobs and more non-farm payroll jobs than it had at the start of the year. Private employers reported 255,400 jobs in December, an increase of 1,600 over January. The total number of jobs, both private and public, was up
- [Last decade and last year, Vermont workers saw few gains](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/last-decade-and-last-year-vermont-workers-saw-few-gains) - Fewer Vermonters were working in 2014 than in 2004, according to revised figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decade of stagnant employment contrasts with the previous 10 years. In 2004 the average number of working Vermonters was 34,000 greater than in 1994. The revised figures also show that employment has declined for
- [Economic signs are good—but not for workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/economic-signs-are-good-but-not-for-workers) - Vermont’s unemployment rate dropped below 4 percent in February, but the state still struggles to turn lower unemployment into more people working. In February, for example, unemployment went down by 433, but the number of people employed increased by just 128. The last time Vermont’s unemployment rate was at this level, in May 2007, there
- [Jobless rate recalls better times. Employment, not so much](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobless-rate-recalls-better-times-employment-not-so-much) - Vermont’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent in April, its lowest level in nearly nine years. But while joblessness hit a low last seen in June 2006, the number of Vermonters working still lags. The spring and summer of 2006 marked Vermont’s all-time employment peak, when more than 344,000 people were working. Last month, the
- [The recovery is spreading throughout Vermont](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-recovery-is-spreading-throughout-vermont) - Coming out of the recession, all the new jobs were in Chittenden County. But for the last three years, job growth has strengthened in the rest of the state. In 2013 and 2014, more than half of the new jobs were created outside Chittenden. Meanwhile, Vermont’s employment changed little in May.
- [Good news: More jobs. Bad news: Lower wages](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/good-news-more-jobs-bad-news-lower-wages) - Vermont employers added almost 20,000 jobs after the official end of the recession in June 2009. But most of that gain merely made up for lost ground. Before the recession, non-farm payroll jobs in Vermont peaked at 309,600 in June 2007. Last month, with employers adding 1,000 jobs, the total reached a new high of
- [Among the neighbors, Vermont’s recovery is just okay](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/recovery-just-okay) - Vermont’s economy has been slowly recovering since the end of the recession. But its labor force has not. The number of Vermonters working or actively looking for work decreased more than 3 percent from 2009 to 2014—the biggest drop in New England. This year through July, Vermont’s labor force has inched up by 0.2 percent.
- [Autumn brings a slide in employment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/autumn-brings-a-slide-in-employment) - Vermont’s unemployment rate, which counts only those actively looking for work, remained steady at 3.7 percent last month. But that’s not the whole story. In October the number of Vermonters working, including the self-employed, slid to its lowest point since 2003. Based on household surveys, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated 332,440 Vermonters employed in
- [At the holidays, some gladdish tidings](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/at-the-holidays-some-gladdish-tidings) - Non-farm payroll jobs increased again in November, reaching an all-time high of over 316,000. But the total number of employed Vermonters, which includes self-employed and farm workers in additional to those on a payroll, has declined since Non-farm payroll jobs increased again in November, reaching an all-time high of over 316,000. But the total number of employed Vermonters, which includes self-employed and farm workers in additional to those on a payroll, has declined since the start of the year.
- [Jobs slid on the slopes last month, but climbed in 2015](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/jobs-slid-on-the-slopes) - Warm weather and a lack of snow took a toll on Vermont’s tourist industry in December. The accommodation and food services sector lost 2,200 jobs from the previous month. With gains elsewhere, Vermont netted a loss of 2,100 jobs. Accommodation and food services jobs dropped significantly in December 2014 too, also thanks to rain and
- [2015 wasn’t as good as it looked](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2015-wasnt-as-good-as-it-looked) - Revised figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show fewer Vermonters were employed in 2015 than originally reported. Each March, the BLS reviews and revises data previously released. The earlier figures indicated on average 2,500 more people employed each month than the revised figures show. Vermont employment grew for a while after the
- [2015 gains were nothing to write home about](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2015-gains-were-nothing-to-write-home-about) - Vermont lost about 300 non-farm payroll jobs in February. But despite earlier losses in the leisure and hospitality sector due to the snowless winter, jobs overall last month numbered 5,000 more than in the previous February. Since the start of the recession in 2007 Vermont has seen an increase in service sector jobs and a
- [Workers’ lot improves but the gender gap endures](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/workers-lot-improves-but-the-gender-gap-endures) - In May the Vermont labor force increased for the fifth straight month, the best stretch of growth in seven years. The labor force, which includes people working and those actively looking for work, climbed to 345,821, the highest level in 15 months. Employment also rose in May, while unemployment dropped. Where women
- [Vermont’s job market makes pokey progress](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-job-market-makes-pokey-progress) - Vermont added jobs in July, but half of that growth reflected seasonal adjustments in the number of teachers on local government payrolls. Private employers increased their payrolls by 1,800—the second best month this year—mostly just offsetting June’s losses. So far this year Vermont has added about 3,000 private sector jobs, but month-to-month growth has been volatile.
- [At year-end, some promising news for workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/some-promising-news) - Vermont closed 2016 with the first year-over-year increase in the labor force in six years. The state’s labor force—people employed and those actively looking for work—grew after the official end of the Great Recession in 2009, then shrank for five straight years. Last month, however, the labor force rose to nearly 345,000, approximately 1,800 more workers than at the end of 2015.
- [2017 kicks off strong for jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/2017-kicks-off-strong-for-jobs) - The year is off to a good start: Vermont added 1,300 jobs in January, all in the private sector. Since January 2016 the private sector has netted 2,700 new jobs, many of them in accommodation and food service and health care and social assistance services. With nearly 260,000 private sector jobs, Vermont hit an all-time
- [Unemployment nears its lowest in four decades](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unemployment-nears-its-lowest-in-four-decades) - On average, 3.3 percent of Vermont’s labor force was officially unemployed in 2016. The average annual rate has dropped below this level only three times in the last 40 years: to 3.0 percent in 1988 and 1999 and 2.8 percent in 2000. Last month Vermont’s jobless rate fell to 3.0 percent. In Chittenden, more workers Vermont has struggled to regain employment since the recession. In the last 10 years Chittenden County has added workers—more than 8,000, a rise of nearly 10 percent. But this increase was overwhelmed by losses in the rest of the state as a whole, where the number of people working fell by more than 18,000, or about 7 percent. This includes Franklin County, the only county besides Chittenden that saw growth.
- [Climbing employment faltered last month](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/climbing-employment-faltered-last-month) - Employment ticked down slightly in April. But the drop followed a slow 17-month growth trend. Vermont’s unemployment declined after the recession, but not all of the people who left the unemployment lines went back to work. Employment also dropped for many months, until 2015, when it began to climb again.
- [The workforce shrank. The gender divide persisted](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-workforce-shrank-the-gender-divide-persisted) - Although the gender gap in earnings has closed in certain sectors—including wholesale trade, utilities, and arts, entertainment, and recreation—women’s average pay lags behind men’s across the board. In 2016 women in management and in finance and insurance earned about half as much as men. Women’s earnings exceeded 90 cents on a man’s dollar in only
- [Vermont’s economy: Nothing to write home about](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-economy-nothing-to-write-home-about) - All corners of the state have seen a drop in manufacturing jobs in the last 15 years. Overall, about a third of the jobs have disappeared, falling from about 45,000 in 2001 to about 30,000 last year. Chittenden County, the state’s largest, lost the greatest number of manufacturing jobs. Its share of the state’s factory
- [Job growth in 2017: So far so good](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/job-growth-in-2017-so-far-so-good) - With an additional 600 new jobs in September, Vermont’s private employers have added 2,700 jobs so far this year. While the growth has been uneven, 2017 has seen the strongest first three quarters since 2011. Also in September, Vermont’s unemployment rate ticked down to 2.9 percent, the lowest level since December 2000. Lonely commuters The latest U.S. Census data show that most Vermonters drive to work by themselves. In 2016 three-quarters of Vermonters were solo commuters. Just 8 percent rode with others in a carpool. The share of lone drivers was about the same as the national average and has been fairly constant for the last 10 years. Carpooling has dropped off, however. In 2006, 11 percent of Vermonters shared the ride to work.
- [New businesses have not come with lots more jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-businesses-have-not-come-with-lots-more-jobs) - Every year Vermonters start hundreds of businesses, but hundreds of businesses also close. Before the recession Vermont saw a net increase of just under 100 new business establishments each year. When the recession hit, the state lost more businesses than it gained. But for the last six years, Vermont has seen a net gain of
- [Young Vermonters are finding jobs](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/young-vermonters-are-finding-jobs) - While Vermont remains nearly 95 percent white, the number of residents of color is increasing, according to the latest five-year estimates from the U.S. Census. Since the 2005-2009 period, the white population has contracted by almost 2,800—half a percent—and all other groups have grown. The number of Vermonters identifying as Black or African-American has risen
- [After the Great Recession, a mixed recovery](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/after-the-great-recession-a-mixed-recovery) - Since the start of the Great Recession 10 years ago, Vermont’s labor force has shrunk. The nation has endured five recessions in the last 40 years, and Vermont’s workforce recovered after four of them. But in December 2017 there were 6,500 fewer Vermonters working or actively looking for work than in December 2007. More jobs, lower pay Six months into the Great Recession Vermont’s private employers started cutting their payrolls, eliminating nearly 15,000 jobs in just over a year. It took more than five and a half years to replace those jobs. But according to the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office, more than 12,000 of the new jobs pay less than the average Vermont wage.
- [It’s looking like springtime for Vermont’s workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/its-looking-like-springtime-for-vermonts-workers) - Four states, including California and Maine, saw their lowest unemployment rates on record last month. Vermont’s rate dropped to 2.8 percent—not quite a record, but close; in February and March 2000 Vermont’s rate hit 2.6 percent. California’s new record low was 4.3 percent; Maine’s fell to 2.9 percent. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment data go back to 1976. Two out of three Nearly two out of three—65 percent—of Vermonters 16 and older were employed last year. That placed the state’s employment-to-working-age-population ratio second in New England and 10th among all the states. The national ratio was 60.1 percent in 2017. Still, the ratio of people working to all working-age Vermonters has been trending down for 20 years.
- [Job growth is bumpy in number and lopsided in location](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/job-growth-is-bumpy-in-number-and-lopsided-in-location) - On Vermont’s jobs front May was a down month in a year of ups and downs. The number of nonfarm payroll jobs fell by 500 last month, after increasing by 600 in April. Employers reported 314,600 nonfarm jobs in May—1,400 more than last May. Meanwhile, Vermont’s unemployment rate remained at 2.8 percent in May. Four out of 10 nonfarm payroll jobs are located in northwest Vermont—Chittenden County and some towns in Franklin, Grand Isle, and Addison counties that make up the Burlington-South Burlington New England City and Town Area (NECTA) of the U.S. Census.
- [Public sector jobs hold steady but unions may not](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-sector-jobs-hold-steady-but-unions-may-not) - The number of government jobs has held pretty steady over the last five years, after some ups and downs during and immediately after the Great Recession. Of the 56,000 public sector jobs in Vermont, more than 31,000 are in education from pre-K through higher ed.
- [Vermont’s workforce can’t get much traction](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-workforce-cant-get-much-traction) - Vermont’s labor force grew for the first six months of the year but has shrunk since June, for a net gain of almost 1,200 people in 2018. It’s a familiar pattern, but largely a downward one: About 15,000 fewer Vermonters are working or actively seeking jobs now than at the peak in April 2009. Based on annual data, Vermont is one of only a dozen states where the workforce was smaller in 2017 than it was before the recession.
- [Unemployment falls—but so does employment](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/unemployment-falls-but-so-does-employment) - Vermont’s unemployment rate hit an 18-year low of 2.7 percent last month—matching the rate recorded in May of 2000 and just a tick above the all-time low of 2.6 percent, reached in March of that year. Despite the decline in joblessness, however, Vermont has not seen a corresponding increase in the number of Vermonters employed, which fell for the fifth month in a row in November. Service-providing industries made up 71 percent of Vermont’s economic activity in 2017. This is a slight increase from 2016 and reflects a 20-year trend in which services account for more and more of overall GDP. Meanwhile, goods-producing industries and government continue to comprise smaller shares of the economy, growing at much slower rates than service-providing industries.
- [Revised 2018 numbers: More jobs, fewer workers](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/revised-2018-numbers-more-jobs-fewer-workers) - Vermont lost 1,200 jobs in January 2019. But revised figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that 2018 was better than previously reported. The state added more than 3,000 nonfarm payroll jobs between January and December, an improvement over data released during the year, which had shown a loss of almost 1,000 jobs. The BLS releases revised data each year in March. Workforce decline The BLS delivered better news for job creation. But the opposite was true for the labor force. Original figures showed the labor force—the annual average number of people working or available for work—grew in the first half of 2018 and then declined. However, revised figures from the BLS, which included population adjustments and other changes, showed a steady slide in the labor force in 2018. January 2019 did show a small uptick in the number of people working.
- [The State of Working Vermont 2006](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-state-of-working-vermont-2006) - Allison Churilla (September 2006) An issue brief highlighting trends in economic and labor force characteristics of Vermont's workers produced in cooperation with the Economic Policy Institute's national report, "The State of Working America 2005/2006."
- [The State of Working Vermont 2008](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-state-of-working-vermont-2008) - REPORT. Jack Hoffman and Doug Hoffer. (December 2008) Officially, the economy was still growing in 2007, but it probably didn't feel that way to many Vermonters. There was no job growth. After adjusting for inflation, the median wage dropped for Vermont workers, and median household income declined as well. Only workers at the top of the pay scale saw real gains in their wages. Meanwhile, the cost of basic necessities, particularly food and energy, climbed sharply.
- [State of Working Vermont 2009](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/swvt2009) - The recession dominated Vermont’s economy in 2008, as it did the rest of the country. The state lost jobs at an alarming rate, especially late in the year. Almost 5,000 jobs disappeared in December 2008 alone, Vermont’s biggest monthly loss in nearly 20 years.
- [State of Working Vermont 2011](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-2011) - By Jack Hoffman & Paul Cillo PDF Version Three years after the start of the Great Recession, Vermont was faring better than many other states. ((Rankings in this report exclude the District of Columbia.)) Its annual unemployment rate for 2010 was one of the lowest in New England and lower than in most other states.
- [Public Assets Institute Hires Jack Hoffman](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-assets-institute-hires-jack-hoffman) - Oct 10, 2007 release
- [Con Hogan Joins Public Assets’ Board of Directors](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/con-hogan-joins-board) - MONTPELIER – Linda E. Markin, chair of the board of Public Assets Institute, announced that Cornelius “Con” Hogan of Plainfield has joined the board. A non-partisan nonprofit with offices in Montpelier, Public Assets Institute is Vermont's premier independent state budget and tax research organization and the source for timely and in-depth state fiscal and policy
- [New Members on Public Assets Institute Board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/new-members-on-public-assets-institute-board) - MONTPELIER – Steven Gold of Montpelier, Larry Mandell of Middlesex, and Gaye Symington of Jericho are the newest members of Public Assets Institute’s Board of Directors. The three, who have provided years of service to the state, were elected at last week’s annual meeting. A non-partisan nonprofit incorporated in 2003, Public Assets Institute is Vermont’s
- [Tiffany Bluemle and Scudder Parker Join Public Assets Board](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tiffany-bluemle-and-scudder-parker-join-public-assets-board) - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2015 MONTPELIER – Larry Mandell, chair of the board of Public Assets Institute, announced that Tiffany Bluemle of Burlington and Scudder Parker of Middlesex have been elected to the board. A non-partisan nonprofit with offices in Montpelier, Public Assets Institute is Vermont's premier independent research organization on state budget, tax,
- [Public Infrastructure and Economic Development](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/public-infrastructure-and-economic-development) - Speaker's notes; Paul Cillo A presentation to the Rural Economic Development Working Group (Vermont legislature). View the Presentation
- [Panel Discussion](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/panel-discussion) - Panel: How Have Budget Cuts Already Affected Vermont? Bob Greemore, Vermont Court Administrator Kim Greenwood, Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) Catherine Simonson, HowardCenter How Have Budget Cuts Already Affected Vermont? from sarah Lyons on Vimeo. view a PDF of Kim Greenwood's speaking points view a PDF of Catherine Simonson's speaking points [slideshare id=2366701&doc=vermontjudiciary-pai3-091028100355-phpapp01]
- [Opening Plenary](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/opening-plenary) - Vermont's Budget Deficits: Thinking Beyond the Recession Paul Cillo, Executive Director, Public Assets Institute with an introduction from Carlen Finn, Executive Director, Voices for Vermont's Children
- [Conference Presenters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/conference-presenters) - Conference Presenters Paul Cillo Executive Director, Public Assets Institute Carlen Finn Executive Director, Voices for Vermont's Children Dolly Fleming Executive Director, Community of Vermont Elders (COVE) Robert Greemore Court Administrator Kim Greenwood Water Program Co-Director and Staff Scientist, Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) Jack Hoffman Senior Policy Analyst, Public Assets Institute Deborah Lisi-Baker President, Vermont
- [Conference Wrap Up](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/wrap-up) - Public Assets Institute Executive Director Paul Cillo kicked off “Facts to Action” with a lucid presentation explaining how the recession hits with a double whammy: more people in need, and a government less able to help them. He showed how the downturn comes on top of decades-long economic trends and policies that undermine the state’s
- [To Follow the Money, Public Needs Better Reporting on Federal and Special Funds](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/to-follow-the-money-public-needs-better-reporting-on-federal-and-special-funds) - Require the administration to publish regularly updated reports for federal and special funds that summarize sources and uses of the funds. It should provide this information for the current year, as well as at least three past years and projections for at least two years into the future.
- [Start the Budget Discussion Earlier](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/start-the-budget-discussion-earlier) - Members of the House and Senate should direct the governor to deliver the budget earlier, for example the first Tuesday after opening day. That will get the session off to a quicker start.
- [Enable Citizens to Track Bills from Home](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/enable-citizens-to-track-bills-from-home) - Allow citizens to keep track of bill revisions as committees work on legislation by posting documents distributed in committee on the Legislature's website at the end of each day.
- [Report Income, Home Value, and School Tax Data](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/report-income-home-value-and-school-tax-data) - The Legislature should direct the Tax Department to provide statistical reports on property taxes, income, and home values based on existing information. In addition, it should provide for the collection of addition information on other household members and renters. This statistical information should be made available to the public without disclosing confidential data.
- [Tax Studies](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/tax-studies) - Tax Rates and Tax Burdens in the District of Columbia - A Nationwide Comparison. 2008 by Natwar M. Gandhi, Chief Financial Officer, Government of the District of Columbia September 2009 Vermont Tax Study Volume I Comparative Analysis Prepared by the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office January 16, 2007 Vermont Tax Study Volume II Case Studies Prepared by the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office October 5,
- [Wrap Up](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/wrap-up-2) - Recommitting to Vermont, Seizing the Opportunity How to Use the Crisis to Make Vermont Work for Everyone September 30, 2010 Conference
- [Agenda and Presenters](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/agenda-and-presenters) - Recommitting to Vermont, Seizing the Opportunity How to Use the Crisis to Make Vermont Work for Everyone September 30, 2010 Conference
- [Opening Presentations](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/opening-presentations) - Watch the opening presentations by Jeffrey Thompson and Paul Cillo here "Investing in People and Infrastructure" with Jeffrey Thompson, Economist, Political Research Institute at UMass, Amherst "Vermont budget and revenue context: What’s holding us back from making needed public investments?" with Paul Cillo.
- [Keynote - Con Hogan](https://publicassets.org/research-publications/keynote-con-hogan) - Watch Con Hogan's keynote address here.

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- [Racial Disparity](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/racial-disparity)
- [State Budget & Tax](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/state-budget-tax)
- [Unemployment](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/unemployment)
- [Employment](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/employment)
- [Labor force](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/labor-force)
- [Income](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/income)
- [Gender](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/gender)
- [Race](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/race)
- [3SquaresVT](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/3squaresvt)
- [Basic needs](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/basic-needs)
- [Income inequality](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/income-inequality)
- [Income](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/income-economic-security)
- [Democracy](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/democracy)
- [Health care](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/health-care)
- [Federal Tax & Budget](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/federal-tax-budget)
- [Data](https://publicassets.org/publication-topic/data)

## Types

- [Insight](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/insight)
- [Report](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/report)
- [Jobs Brief](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/jobs-brief)
- [Map](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/map)
- [Presentation](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/presentation)
- [Explainer](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/explainer)
- [Testimony](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/testimony)
- [Press Release](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/press-release)
- [Video](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/video)
- [Announcements & Updates](https://publicassets.org/publication-type/announcements-updates)