$89 is not the worst and a I can afford it. But there are many people living check to check in this state and these are across the board increases. These price increases range from a few dollars to a couple hundred $s.

Also, I frankly don’t give a damn how much you’re paying for anything in California or any other state. This is the Vermont subreddit.

It’s ostensibly going to the transportation fund, but it was also noted in the article that the state needs to come up with $79 million in funding to get access to Federal grants.

Part of the issue is that Commissioner in Finance and Management has stated that this tax increase doesn’t make sense as the “Fees charged by the state Agency of Transportation have increased “far faster than inflation” in recent decades”.

> Moreover, Greshin said he thinks the administration’s proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year already sets aside enough money for future fiscal years.

My biggest gripe is that the committee is charging full steam ahead without a care for commissioner of finance and management’s statement on this bill’s effects:

>The agency’s new fees would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

>But the state’s commissioner of finance and management, Adam Greshin, said in an interview late last week that he does not think the fee increase is necessary. Fees charged by the state Agency of Transportation have increased “far faster than inflation” in recent decades, he said. Moreover, Greshin said he thinks the administration’s proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year already sets aside enough money for future fiscal years.

> At a time when households are feeling the effects of inflation themselves, “why are we asking Vermonters to dig into their pocketbooks and pay higher fees?” the commissioner said. “This is a fee increase on virtually every Vermonter who drives ... I mean, this is a big deal.”

The increase isn’t for roadwork (at least not totally). It’s to fill in a $79 million hole so that the state can access some federal grants.

The thing I can’t stand the most about this article (and taxes up here in general tbh), is how one of the members of the committee tried to disguise it as making “folks using services at the DMV pay a little more of their share.”

At what point is a does something that you are obligated to do by law stop being a service?

I don’t know if I agree with all of your sentiments.

> Imagine if our politicians proposed raising property, income and sales taxes by 20% across the board…

However, I do have some news for you: https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/29/house-passes-bill-that-would-give-tax-department-control-of-property-appraisals/

Thoughts? Personally I believe this is a regressive tax increase that unreasonably goes beyond what inflation has been. Idk about you, but even though VT’s services are good the affordability of the state seems to go down bit by bit each year.

You still need someone to enforce a restraining order, and tbh I’ve heard many stories of those orders being ineffective even when police do respond to violations of said orders.

Maybe the VTGOP would do this…if they had any seats in the General Assembly lol. C’mon, basic math should’ve informed you that this can’t happen in VT due to our legislatures make up.

Sucks that this is happening elsewhere, but no need to be an alarmist here.

You probably can’t do that explicitly, but maybe they could implement a “Use Tax” where if you don’t personally occupy your home from October - April your property tax is increased by 100% or something similar.

In my opinion, since this has been a long running issue and there is legislative super-majority in Vt right now, if there is no major moves towards resolving the issue during this General assemblies term then every current Statewide and General Assembly elected official should be up for replacement.

There’s too much federal money floating around in the State’s hands for there to so little progress on this issue.

Also it looks like they’ve commented more in two weeks than I have in two months. Safe to say they need to go outside and touch some grass.