State of Vermont
Senate Chamber
Montpelier, Vermont
Joint Senate Resolution
By Senators Racine, Ayer, Campbell, Carris, Collins, Condos, Cummings, Flanagan, Giard,
Hartwell, Illuzzi, Kittell, Lyons, MacDonald, McCormack, Miller, Mullin, Nitka, Sears,
Shumlin, Snelling, Starr and White,
J.R.S. 14. Joint resolution relating to restoration of the education fund from the general fund
and a balanced budget.
Whereas, Vermont’s education finance laws, Act 60 and Act 68, include provisions to ensure
that education property taxpayers do not bear a disproportionate burden to provide an equal
education opportunity to elementary and secondary students in Vermont, and
Whereas, beginning in fiscal year 2006, section 4025(a)(2) of Title 16 directs the legislature
and the governor to increase the amount of general funds transferred to the education fund each
year in proportion to the growth of general fund expenditures in that year, and
Whereas, it appears that in fiscal years 2006 and 2007, the amount of general funds
transferred to the education fund was not increased in proportion to the growth of general fund
expenditures and, as a result, any shortfall may have been made up through higher education
property tax rates, and
Whereas, the legislature’s general fund appropriations and transfers in fiscal years 2006 and
2007 did not provide the increases required in Title 16, and
Whereas, the Governor is directed to present an annual budget to the legislature which is
balanced, and the Governor’s budget message and fiscal year 2008 budget submitted on
January 23, 2007, also did not address this matter, and
Whereas, both the legislature and the governor desire to maintain the appropriate amount of
general fund transfer to the education fund, now therefore, be it:
Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly hereby requests the Governor to provide a revised — and
balanced — budget for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 which accounts for and restores the
appropriate amounts of general fund transfers to the education fund.
____________________________
President of the Senate
Attested to:
____________________________
Speaker of the House
____________________________
David A. Gibson
Secretary of the Senate
Date:_______________________
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