Dear Editor, This riddle is about our town finances. Article  3 from the March 2015 Town Meeting stated: “Shall the voters approve total general fund expenditures for the 18-month budget beginning January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 of $6,282,554 of which $243,550 shall be applied from the 2014 general fund balance, $3,732,950 shall be…

Dear Editor, Bruce Lisman knows how Vermont works and it begins with more taxes. Even the carbon tax idea will put more home heating oil customers into the mix. It is a terrible idea. Now we learn that the Vermont General Fund will drop another $28 million this year. They even want to take more…

Dear Editor, Vermonters of all political persuasions want to see our state move forward. But many Vermonters have felt like they’ve been left behind, and rightly so. So many are grappling with the growing crisis of affordability our state is facing. And the majority in Montpelier has responded by throwing more taxes and fees at…

Dear Editor, Even though it is currently summer, winter sports are still always on my mind. This is why I was very happy to read in The Mountain Times this past week that the VCRD held a public forum regarding sustainable business practices and Vermont’s “climate change economy.” As somebody who loves the snow and…

Dear Editor, As a financial official, I could list many reasons for choosing Bruce Lisman for Vermont governor over Phil Scott, in the Aug. 9 primary. Lisman has extensive financial experience and management skills which are needed in the governor’s office. The next governor will have a huge task in repairing our state government as…

Dear Editor, When I spoke face to face with Bruce Lisman and suggested that Vermont needed to go on offense, so to speak, to expand our economy, instead of taking incremental defensive measures, I saw that he was really listening. In fact, growth of new businesses was never far from his thoughts in our lengthy…

Dear Editor, The Vermont Inn and Bed & Breakfast Association brought to my attention on July 19 a consideration from the Vermont Department of Health that would compartmentalize lodging accommodations by size (the number of guest rooms) when it comes to the application of the department’s recently revised health and safety regulations. I do not…

Dear Editor, As a former legislator, I would like to help you get to know Kesha Ram, a candidate for lieutenant governor in the upcoming primary. Kesha Ram was my seat mate in the House of Representatives, and though far younger than I, 26 years old at the time, she was already an experienced legislator…

Dear Editor, I agree totally with the Jon Margolis op-ed, published in the Mountain Times July 13 -19, but I don’t think the millionaires who were described in the article are the ‘rich’ that a lot of people are talking about. Those whose annual income is in the $75,000 to $150,000 range are considered to…

Dear Editor, I am a Rutland City resident, registered voter and taxpayer. Kudos to Rutland First for standing up for everyday citizens like me, and to the Board of Aldermen for asserting their authority as our representatives by sending the letter. Rutland First is concerned that public discussion on the refugee matter and authority for…

Dear Editor, The primary responsibility of elected officials is to the citizens. When Rutland’s Mayor Chris Louras single-handedly devised a plan with respect to bringing Syrian refugees to the Rutland area, he failed to consider the citizens he represents. Vermonters are generous and welcoming. They deserve no less than equal consideration from elected officials in…

Dear Editor, Vermont Veterans of Foreign Wars tried in the past to get Vt. Route 103 named for Desert Storm veterans and their families, but it was discovered that half of Route 103 was named for Calvin Coolidge back in the 1930s. Therefore, we have re-petitioned the state asking that Vt. Route 22A from Fair…

Dear Editor, Bruce Lisman’s candidacy in this year’s Republican primary for governor seems, to me, to be a rare chance for us as Vermonters to help ourselves. I introduced myself to Lisman after hearing him speak at a candidate forum last October. I found his thoughtfulness and engagement to be head and shoulders above the…

Dear Editor, Here at my Rutland home I have a wonderful golden retriever named McKie. He’s the most mellow, people-loving creature on the planet. We feed him an all-raw diet of healthy meat and local produce and he will soon celebrate his 10th birthday in apparent good health . . . a long time for…

Dear Editor, Over the past eight years, Vermont has rapidly become a precarious state in which to own a small business. Per the Department of Labor Statistics, 60.5 percent of Vermont businesses employ four or less persons; in Bennington County, 62.5 percent and in Rutland County 60 percent. These are our mom and pop operations.…