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Ben Kinsley published VOTE: Property Tax Yield Bill (H.887) - April 23, 2024 in News 2024-04-28 09:52:46 -0400
VOTE: Property Tax Yield Bill (H.887) - April 23, 2024
H.887 reached the House Floor on Tuesday afternoon. Representative Kornheiser introduced the bill on behalf of the Ways & Means Committee. She shared that they have “struggled mightily to navigate through this issue.” She highlighted that “this work cannot be done overnight or even in a couple months during the legislative session.” The $250M in new spending was described as the primary driver of property taxes, increasing property taxes by roughly $0.25. Other factors identified were weaker performance of non-property tax revenue sources and loss of federal funds. Other measures in the bill have been reported on previously.
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Ben Kinsley published Amendments to Property Tax Bill (H.887) - April 23, 2024 in News 2024-04-28 09:43:50 -0400
Amendments to Property Tax Bill (H.887) - April 23, 2024
The House Ways & Means Committee met first thing on Tuesday morning to begin reviewing proposed amendments to H.887, which sets the property tax rates for FY2025.
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Ben Kinsley published Property Tax Abatements (H.629) - April 25, 2024 in News 2024-04-28 09:35:19 -0400
Property Tax Abatements (H.629) - April 25, 2024
The House Ways & Means Committee walked through changes to H.629 with Legislative Counsel on Thursday morning. The bill would address a number of issues that arise from natural disasters impacting a property. For example, the rapid devaluation for tax purposes or the inability to pay property taxes or utilities because of repair costs.
Most of the Senate Changes were technical in nature and included updates to some of the definitions in the bill. The main sticking point for the Committee was around the interest rate charged for delinquent taxes and other bills. The House version charged 0.5% per month while the Senate Version charged 1%.
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Default School Budgets - April 26, 2024
Chairwoman Kornheiser outlined a list of reasons that have led to the moment and need for a joint hearing of the House Education and Ways & Means Committees this week. School budgets have a “rough road to passage this year,” she argued, and even with the default budget that takes effect July 1st, districts will still eventually need to pass a budget. She is concerned that budgets may never pass. Additionally, the statute regarding tuitioning districts may have a little bit of conflict with itself.
She explained that after conversation with Chairman Conlon “and the field” (likely the interest groups representing school administrators) she sat down with the Joint Fiscal Office and Legislative Counsel to develop a set of scenarios as a starting point for discussions.
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Ben Kinsley published Cooperative Education Services (H.630) - April 24, 2024 in News 2024-04-28 09:27:34 -0400
Cooperative Education Services (H.630) - April 24, 2024
Stephanie Betit-Hancock (Director of Student Support Services, Windham Central Supervisory Union) offered to outline their work and why they support the BOCES bill to the Senate Education Committee on Friday afternoon.
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Ben Kinsley published Property Tax Yield Bill (H.887) - April 26, 2024 in News 2024-04-28 09:22:43 -0400
Property Tax Yield Bill (H.887) - April 26, 2024
Secretary Saunders (Secretary, Agency of Education) joined the Senate Education Committee on Friday afternoon to discuss Section 1 of the property tax yield bill, H.887. The Agency supports this section which creates the Commission on the Future of Education. She did offer some clarifying language ensuring more representation of policy experts can be accessed. She her written testimony.
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Ben Kinsley published Property Tax Yield Bill (H.887) - April 16-19, 2024 in News 2024-04-20 19:17:46 -0400
Property Tax Yield Bill (H.887) - April 16-19, 2024
On Tuesday morning, the House Ways and Means Committee heard from Morgan Daybell, who was representing all the administrative groups in the education system. He noted that they felt that the funding and policy discussions should not be separated, and the same Commission should be responsible for both. They approve of the cloud tax and the short-term rental surcharge and “anything else” that would increase the statewide yield amount.
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Ben Kinsley published Climate Change Cost Recovery (S.259) - April 18, 2024 in News 2024-04-20 19:15:19 -0400
Climate Change Cost Recovery (S.259) - April 18, 2024
Thursday afternoon the House Environment Energy Committee took up S.259 and the Committee's amendment to the bill. The bill creates a Climate Change Cost Recovery Program which allows the state to sue fossil fuel companies for damages using an “emissions factor” for greenhouse gas emissions the company’s products produced. Investments by municipalities to make sure communities are resilient to the impacts of climate change would be eligible for funds from this super fund.
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Ben Kinsley published Renewable Energy Standard (H.289) - April 19, 2024 in News 2024-04-20 19:12:13 -0400
Renewable Energy Standard (H.289) - April 19, 2024
Senator Bray announced on Friday morning that the Senate Natural Resources Committee was resuming its work on H.289, which increases the targets of the state’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).
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Housing Inventory Study - April 17, 2024
Chairwoman Ram Hinsdale opened testimony in the Senate Economic Development Committee on Wednesday afternoon saying that she wanted context on the “current unmet housing need.”
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Ben Kinsley published Act 250 Overhaul (S.311/H.687) - April 17, 2024 in News 2024-04-20 19:06:55 -0400
Act 250 Overhaul (S.311/H.687) - April 17, 2024
Senator Bray opened up the Senate Natural Resources Committee meeting on Wednesday morning by stating that they are “evaluating elements” of S.311 to be integrated into H.687. Indicating that the plan was to vote the bill out today while they wait for “Counsel makes any changes… for things that we can resolve, non-showstopper issues… the plan is to set aside a basket of those, and we will have about a week during which Senate Economic Development will evaluate.” See draft 3.1.
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Ben Kinsley published Cooperative Education Services (H.630) - April 17, 2024 in News 2024-04-20 19:04:19 -0400
Cooperative Education Services (H.630) - April 17, 2024
Chairman Campion brought the Senate Education Committee together on Wednesday afternoon, asking legislative counsel to give them a high-level overview and see what if any testimony or experts we want to call. He also highlighted Senator Weeks’ questions yesterday about whether the supervisory unions (SUs) could do some of this work.
It was noted that each of the seven possible regional Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) have to vote to both form and SUs have to vote to join. Campion added he may want to change the name of these organizations.
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Property Tax Yield Bill - April 9-11, 2024
Chairwoman Kornheiser opened the House Ways and Means Committee meeting on Tuesday by saying, ”we have put a bunch of big ideas out into the world because that is the only way can get work done right? Someone has to put something on paper for people to react to… and it’s fairly intense…. It does not mean these are hills we want to die on. It’s a necessary part of the process.” She noted that the draft yield bill has “multiple decision points” that range through FY2027.
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Education Cost Drivers - April 10, 2024
Chairwoman Cummings started off the Senate Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon by introducing three superintendents who were going to speak to them about cost drivers in the current budget cycle and things they could do long-term to reduce costs.
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Homes for All Toolkit - April 11, 2024
Chairman Stevens introduced Chris Cochran (Director of Community Planning Revitalization, Department of Housing and Community Development) on Thursday morning, stating that he has relied on him for many years. Cochran agreed that they have a good working relationship.
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Ben Kinsley commented on Design of Public Education - April 9-11, 2024 2024-04-18 20:47:47 -0400Agreed!
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Ben Kinsley published Vermont Health Information Exchange - April 5, 2024 in News 2024-04-07 19:49:52 -0400
Vermont Health Information Exchange - April 5, 2024
Beth Anderson (President and CEO, Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)) testified at the House Health Care Committee on Friday to review the purpose and activities of the organization. VITL was founded in 2005 and operates the Vermont Health Information Exchange (VHIE). The plan was approved by the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB). The GMCB has the authority to approve VITL’s budget.
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Education Spending - April 3, 2024
Chairman Conlon reviewed the House Education Committee’s “accomplishments” for the year, which, “if all goes well” would be four bills:
- PCBs testing Pause,
- BOCES, BOCES we hope organically grows scale and collaboration leading to cost savings we hope.
- Community Schools FY funding,
- School Construction program.
However, he noted, none of these addresses or responds to the “urgency many people are feeling, and the challenge in here is to be thoughtful, patient, well vetted” with regard to education spending. Many legislators are looking to put together a task force for the big problem(s) and who and what etc.
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Ben Kinsley published Education Spending Joint Hearing - April, 4, 2024 in News 2024-04-07 08:45:24 -0400
Education Spending Joint Hearing - April, 4, 2024
Chairman Conlon introduced the topic of the day, which was to solicit ideas from legislators about how to address the education crisis.
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Ben Kinsley published Changes to Clean Heat Standard (S.305) - April 3, 2024 in News 2024-04-07 08:42:18 -0400
Changes to Clean Heat Standard (S.305) - April 3, 2024
The Senate Natural Resources Committee got a first look at S.305 on Wednesday, which deals with changes to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) as we have profiled in other reports. Senator Bray described the bill to the Committee as “things all PUC related rolled into one bill.” It re-ups a three-year Energy Efficiency pilot program (but removes all oversight), provides “consistent funding” to said program, and updates key deadlines in the Clean Heat Standard (CHS).
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Ben Kinsley
Ben has over a decade of experience in public policy, government relations, and advocacy here in Vermont. He served two tours of duty as a staffer for CFV and then as executive director. After working for several public officials, lobbying firms, and non-profits, Ben started his own public policy research and development consulting firm in 2017. Since then, Imperium Advisors has developed from in-depth policy research outfit to offering a whole suite of products and services around public policy and advocacy from ideation to implementation.
He has worked with dozens of clients across New England and is passionate about taking on intractable challenges with creative solutions – things that impact Vermont like education, health care, energy, public/private investment, and workforce development. Since leaving as Executive Director in 2017, Ben has remained on the CFV Board of Directors and continues to assist with executing on policy initiatives. He also enjoys helping his neighbors and volunteering for community groups.
Enjoying the outdoors is one of Ben’s favorite pastimes; hiking, skiing, and mountain biking are all regular activities. As a native Vermonter, he loves the state and is committed to seeing Vermont’s communities grow and prosper.
Ben lives with his wife Kayla and their dog Pippa in Burlington, VT.