Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) called for an overhaul of how the state funds education in his fourth inaugural address Jan. 8 before a Democratic-controlled legislature. His ideas included a freeze on school spending next year and possibly merging the University of Vermont and the Vermont State College system.
The governor, who is not giving a state of the state address, also suggested cutting benefits rather than people from the Medicaid program. He asked the Legislature to step up penalties on sexual predators and called for lawmakers to make it easier to help companies receive permits to launch new development projects.
But Douglas’ address largely focused on changing the way schools get money. He called for a freeze this year in per-pupil spending in education. If a district requires more money, it would have to get voters’ approval and raise extra money entirely from local property taxes.
The governoralso proposed reducing K-12 spending by 7.5 percent, or $23 million, and boosting pre-kindergarten and higher education budgets by 20 percent. Douglas announced a new task force to look into the possibility of merging Vermont’s public universities.
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