By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org The Shumlin administration has recommended a 2 cent increase in the statewide property tax rates for residential and commercial property for fiscal year 2016. Last year, property tax rates increased by 4.5 cents for homestead and 7 cents for nonresidential real estate for every $100 of assessed value. The previous year’s…

By Hilary Niles, VTDigger.org Vermont’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in October, according to a report released Friday by the Department of Labor. The leveling follows four consecutive months of increases in the seasonally adjusted jobless rate. Nationwide, Vermont tied with Kansas for ninth place among states with the lowest unemployment rates. The…

By Hilary Niles, VTDigger.org On Wednesday, Nov. 26, state agencies were directed to find another $17 million in cuts for the current budget year. That news comes on top of $31.3 million in summer rescissions after the state’s revenue forecast was downgraded. Now, four months into fiscal year 2015, revenues are another $12 million short,…

By Laura Krantz, VTDigger.org The Department for Children and Families failed to follow its own policies and moved too quickly to reunify two children with their families when it was not safe, an outside report released Friday, Nov. 21, found. That push to reunify, along with other system failures, contributed to those children’s deaths this…

By Tom Brown, VTDigger.org State Auditor Doug Hoffer is questioning why the state is in the business of selling liquor, a substance that it also regulates. Hoffer’s office issued a report Monday that examines the impact of privatizing the state’s liquor distribution system. The auditor’s report also suggested ways the Department of Liquor Control could…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org The Affordable Care Act’s so-called “Cadillac tax” on high-value health insurance plans will cost some Vermonters an estimated $9 million when it’s implemented in 2018, according to a draft report released Monday by the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office (JFO). That tax bill is expected to grow to $40 million by 2023.…

Photo submitted Governor Shumlin joined Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter for a morning deer hunt last week. The governor did not match last year’s opening day success, when he harvested a 186-pound 6-point buck, but the pair did see some deer activity. Vermont’s deer rifle season is now open and runs through Nov. 30.

Father and son found dead with apparent gunshot wounds TOWNSHEND — On Nov. 19, at approximately 8:58 p.m. the Vermont State Police responded to a reported shooting at a residence on Abby Road in Townshend, Vt. Rescue personnel were also dispatched. Upon arrival, troopers made contact with a woman, who indicated that there were two people…

By Morgan True, VTDigger.org Health care economist Jonathan Gruber has agreed to forgo roughly $120,000 in compensation from the state. Lawrence Miller, chief of health care reform, said on Wednesday, Nov. 19, that Gruber’s comments denigrating the public and suggesting that passage of the Affordable Care Act relied on deception has damaged his credibility in…

By John Herrick, VTDigger.org Three national businesses are helping to defend Vermont’s GMO labeling law. The companies told a federal court last week that the state statute, which requires food manufacturers and retailers to label certain products containing genetically modified ingredients, would not be difficult to implement. Organic energy bar manufacturer Clif Bar and Company,…

In fiscal year 2014 Vermont companies earned 519 government contracts worth $103 million dollars—close to a 300 percent increase over FY12 and a 25 percent increase from FY13. This was thanks to the outstanding quality of Vermont products and services and the hard work of the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in matching Vermont…

By John Herrick, VTDigger.org Vermont’s plan to improve Lake Champlain’s water quality does not go far enough to comply with federal regulations, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA released phosphorus pollution reduction targets for Lake Champlain at a meeting in Middlebury on Monday, Nov. 17. It also ran a model of the phosphorus…

On Nov. 17, Governor Peter Shumlin and members of the State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience delivered 75 recommendations to President Obama about how the federal government can help communities across the country prepare for the impacts of climate change. “In Vermont, our experience recovering from Tropical Storm Irene…

Secretary of State Jim Condos announced Monday, Nov.17, that Vermont’s Elections Division will be conducting a random audit of the 2014 general election results. The audit will include six towns — a 50 percent increase from previous years. The random audit of 2014 general election results will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 20, at…

By Anne Galloway, VTDigger.org The Vermont GOP, newly strengthened by an unexpectedly close gubernatorial race and gains in the House and Senate, sent a message to Gov. Peter Shumlin in the aftermath of Election Day upsets: Drop Vermont Health Connect immediately and transfer Vermonters in the program to federal health care exchange. Rep. Don Turner,…