‘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. If you haven’t heard of this tradition, you’re not alone

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. And while the survey doesn’t provide a whole lot of room for nuance, written comments can be more detailed. Like a letter to Santa, you may want to send the administration a wish list of what Vermont needs to spend money on. But—especially if you find the current input survey frustrating—consider starting your list with a better public input process.

The way the survey is currently structured, respondents are asked whether they want to increase or reduce various existing budget areas or revenue sources. But already, that’s limiting the feedback to what the state is doing now. Vermonters should be able to suggest state needs that require new investments or new ways to fund existing state services.

Public responses have not been surprising: most respondents want to protect all areas of the state budget, including pre-K-12 education, health care, housing, environmental protection, and higher education, among others. Vermonters recognize that what government does is important to our lives.

However, the input process is flawed, limited, and not well advertised. This year we could ask for change.  We could insist that Montpelier listen to Vermonters’ priorities.  We could suggest a more robust budget process that respects the will of the voters.  So take a minute and make your voice heard on the critical subject of how to invest public funds to make the state we want. 

And before you return to your revelry, add your two cents for improving the process by which you weigh in on how Vermont will spend millions of dollars of the people’s money each year.