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Scott holds line on taxes as he delivers budget address

Eagle Times Staff
MONTPELIER, VT — Gov. Phil Scott has delivered his eighth budget address to the General Assembly on Jan. 23, proposing investments and funding services.

The budget does not impose any new taxes or fees.

As he did in his State of the State address, the governor asked lawmakers to work with him to address the challenges of affordability, public safety and housing. And he urged the Legislature to recognize the budget pressures in a year after record spending and with pandemic aid drying up.

“Before the pandemic we saw that disciplined budgeting, without higher taxes, resulted in organic revenue increases, which is the real and lasting economic growth we need to support more public investments. And with post-pandemic federal aid, we’ve shown that smart, strategic investments can put us in a better position to grow and provide resilience in leaner times,” said Scott. “This budget does both. It aligns with our fiscal reality and prioritizes the fundamentals. And it makes smart new investments, which along with our policy proposals, will build on our resiliency and help communities recover — not just from the flood — but in response to each of our top challenges.”

The governor concluded his speech by asking lawmakers to work with him on a balanced approach to achieve shared priorities without making Vermont less affordable.

“We can work towards that vision of vibrant neighborhoods full of families breathing life back into communities,” Scott said. “Healthy and safe kids filling classrooms and reaching their fullest potential; great jobs with solid employers; entrepreneurs from all walks of life; and a thriving, growing economy that gives Vermonters the security and opportunity they deserve, for all they do and all they invest.

“I know we can get there, and I’ve never been more energized to help Vermonters and communities, turn catastrophe into opportunity once more,” he said.

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