Roll Call! Senate Passes $33.4 Million Property Tax Increase (26-3), 2018

H.911 – AN ACT RELATING TO CHANGES IN VERMONT’S PERSONAL INCOME TAX AND EDUCATION FINANCING SYSTEM

PASSED
in the State Senate on May 4th, 2018 by a vote of
26-3 

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Purpose: The Senate version of H.911 attempts to plug a $58 million shortfall in the state Education Fund by increasing property taxes while giving Vermonters an income tax break.
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Analysis: The version of H.911 that passed the Senate has 3 components:
1) Increased property taxes, decreased income taxes, 2) Making charitable contributions more tax friendly, 3) Removing the education-reform school measures from the House bill passed in March.
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The bill increases property taxes 3.2% for residential homes and 4.4% for non-residential property. On the other hand, it lowers income taxes by $30 million by reducing the rates the lower-income tax brackets by 0.2% and the higher income-tax brackets by 0.1%, to compensate for unintended increases resulting from changes in federal tax law. The bill also ends the tax on social security for Vermonters with incomes less than $55,000, allows for a 5 percent tax credit for charitable donations and removes a $10,000 cap on deductions for charitable donations.
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Corrected 11/2/18: The original post indicated that the property tax increases for residential and non-residential properties were 5% and 7% respectively. This should have read 5¢ (3.2%) and 7¢ (4.4%). Apologies for any confusion.
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Those voting YES support this tax package.
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Those voting NO do not support this tax package.
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Senate Journal, Thursday, May 4th, 2018. “Shall the Senate propose to the House to
amend the bill as recommended by the Committee on Finance?, was agreed to
on a roll call, Yeas 26, Nays 3.” (Read the Journal, p. 983)
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Re.


How They Voted

(Click on Your Senator’s Name to Send an Email)

Timothy Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) – YES
Claire Ayer (D-Addison) – YES
Becca Balint (D-Windham) – YES
Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) – YES
Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia) – NO
Carolyn Branagan (R-Franklin) – YES
Christopher Bray (D-Addison) – YES
Randy Brock (R-Franklin) – YES
Francis Brooks (D-Washington) – YES
Brian Campion (D-Bennington) – YES
Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor) – YES
Brian Collamore (R-Rutland) – NO
Ann Cummings (D-Washington) – YES
Margaret Flory (R-Rutland) – NO
Debbie Ingram (D-Chittendent) -YES
M. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) – YES
Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) – YES
Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) – YES
Richard Mazza (D-Chittenden-Grand Isle) – YES
Richard McCormack (D-Windsor) – YES
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor District) – YES
Chris Pearson (P-Chittenden) – YES
Anthony Pollina (P/D/W-Washington) – YES
John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Sears (D-Bennington) – YES
Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden) – YES
David Soucy (R-Rutland) – YES
Robert Starr (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) – ABSENT
Jeanette White (D-Windham) – YES

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

John Montgomery June 1, 2018 at 4:43 pm

You people just don’t get it. You’re taxing people right out of the state. I left back when you passed the sugar tax. Thank you for convincing me that Arizona was a great place to move to.

Reply

Steven Pike June 2, 2018 at 1:38 am

This does not smell good. Maybe it is Ok because our Senators voted Yes, but Minority Leader Choom Gang Joe Benning voted No?

Reply

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