Yet again there is a political ad on the radio paid for by Steve Heffernan blaming Sen. Bray for voting to raise your property taxes.

Let’s be very clear. The legislature reduced projected property taxes. Local voters voted the education spending in their local school districts that resulted in the increase in tax rates. Gov. Scott proposed, and the Legislature passed, reductions in projected property taxes. The governor proposed reducing those tax rates by using over $200 million in one-time money and the Legislature passed over the governor’s veto using $69 million in one-time money. The governor also proposed long-term savings by eliminating state funding for school lunches and the Legislature added long term funding by including software services purchased over the internet in sales tax revenue.

One-time money is money we have right now and are unlikely to have again next year. So, the first thing that will affect education tax rates next year is repaying the education fund for the one-time money used this year. Both the Legislature and the governor proposed a process to try to find a way to reduce spending less in future years, while still delivering an excellent education to our children.

There is a commission ordered by the Legislature that is looking at ways to reduce costs. They are accepting suggestions and I intend to offer some. Could you give me your ideas? What would you change? Tax the wealthy? Cut sports, lunches, history, personal finance? Close your local elementary school? Designate one high school per county? Use income tax money to address student and family mental health? Please email me with your ideas at [email protected].

Dave Sharpe

Bristol

Editor’s note: Dave Sharpe is a former state legislator who served as chair of the Education Committee in the Vermont House.