Rep. Torre: Filling in the gaps – information gathering and state budgeting in uncertain times
February 15, 2025 | By Rep. Dara Torre
Amid growing uncertainty about the federal funding picture, we passed the annual Budget Adjustment Act H.141 out of the House last week. This bill always starts in the House and is the mid-fiscal year “true up” where funding is reallocated from areas that underspent to areas needing more support.
Housing is a critical need, and we voted to up funding for affordable and supportive housing development and extended the winter motel program for qualifying participants beyond April 1 to June 30. The Senate Appropriations Committee will now take up the measure while legislators continue work on longer-term strategies to leverage as much funding and inventory as possible in creative ways – from how loans are structured to quicker construction alternatives like manufactured housing. The Vermont Bond Bank is working to better support smaller communities with the complicated financing arrangements needed for infrastructure like wastewater that enable more cost-effective private development.
Last week I met with members of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont and from the Serve Learn Earn program that offers paid opportunities to explore the trades and conservation field and gain new skills. I learned that more women are joining the trades in Vermont, and we now have our own chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.
Thirty-six percent of our state budget for 2025 comes from federal sources, and the legislature is closely following the work of a new state task force as it assesses the impacts of possible federal funding losses.
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development has started a tariff workgroup, and in my committee, we heard from the Commissioner of the Department of Public Service on what a tariff on Canadian energy imports would do to the cost of electricity and natural gas in the state. Fortunately, we have a diverse mix of electricity resources though the risk of rate increases due to tariffs varies by utility.
Review of the Governor's FY26 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) budget proposal is underway. There is an opportunity for public input on the FY26 budget at joint hearings with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations this Thursday, Feb. 20, at 5 p.m. Join in person or watch online at legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-appropriations. To testify on your budget priorities, you can sign up here and receive instructions at legislature.vermont.gov/links/joint-public-hearings-on-the-fy26-budget.
The House Ways & Means and Education Committees are digging into the governor's transformation proposal, including the modeling behind the estimated $184 million in savings that the proposal would provide over three or more years. The committees took testimony last week from representatives from all areas of education on important considerations as we move forward. To maintain quality and ensure a smooth transition, the governance, funding and delivery pieces of education transformation must be well-designed and well-coordinated.
Much more work is ahead. Please stay in touch with your questions and priorities (dtorre@leg.state.vt.us, daratorrevt.com for links to info and resources). Rep. Candice White and I would love to have you join us at the Rural Caucus public forum, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 5:30-7 p.m. in Room 10 or via Zoom (see vtruralcaucus.com for info and sign up). Share your thoughts to help inform caucus priorities.
Also, here are upcoming dates for coffee chats/office hours this month:
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 8-9 a.m.: Moretown General Store
Saturday, Feb. 22, 10-11 a.m.: Three Mountain Cafe in Waitsfield
Monday, Feb. 24, 8- 9 a.m.: Black Cap Cafe & Bakery at Waterbury Train Station
Rep. Dara Torre, D-Moretown, is one of two state representatives in the Washington-2 House district representing Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren. She’s on the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure.
