The following letter was sent by Senator Philip Baruth and Speaker Jill Krowinski to Sarah Clark, Secretary of Administration Agency of Administration.

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark. The letter outlines the Legislature’s compromise to Governor Scott on H.141 – An act relating to fiscal year 2025 budget adjustments.

In light of Governor Scott’s veto of the FY25 Budget Adjustment Act (H.141), we write to offer a compromise proposal. We will acquiesce to his requirements that we remove the following appropriations in H.141:

• $27,800 in funding for an additional position in the Attorney General’s Appellate Unit

• $39,700 in funding for two positions with the Human Rights Commission

• $1.6 million in funding for grants to municipalities who were impacted by flooding events

• $8.6 million to Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) for construction of housing units

• $2.8 million to VHCB for a housing pilot program for disabled Vermonters

• $1.8 million to extend the cold weather exemption through June 30th*

To speak frankly, we have very significant concerns about eliminating funding for the construction of affordable housing units and for essential funding for municipalities that suffered flood damage. We understand, however, that Governor Scott is firm in his demand regarding removing those funds.

We ask only one thing in return.

Our one remaining ask is that Governor Scott not exit children, pregnant women, disabled Vermonters, veterans, and those fleeing domestic violence from the hotel motel program on April 1st.

Given that the Administration has stated that the Department for Children and Families has existing resources — and in light of the need to reserve every dollar possible in response to uncertainty from the federal level — we are offering to remove the $1.8 million and ask that the Department’s existing funds be used to extend the winter weather exemption through June 30th.

Our compromise proposal accepts all of Governor Scott’s FY25 BAA requests and significantly reduces the price tag below his most recent proposal.

We hope that in the interest of true compromise and protecting the most vulnerable, Governor Scott will accept our offer.

President Pro Tempore Philip Baruth

Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski

Editor’s note: When first posted this story originally misidentified the person to whom the letter was sent. We apologize for the error.