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Scudder Parker On The Issues |
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Property Taxes |
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Since Jim Douglas became governor in 2003, the cost of living in Vermont has gone through the roof.
During his four years in office, Vermonters' energy, healthcare, and property tax bills have risen
steadily. As governor, Jim Douglas has failed to offer meaningful solutions that have a real impact and
lower Vermonters' cost of living. As this campaign season began, he once again proposed a property
tax cap that has been rejected, not only by the Legislature but also by Vermonters themselves at Town
Meeting. Vermonters know that this proposed tax cap will be harmful. It will mean less local control. It
will mean less flexibility at the local level. And, it ignores the real problems behind rising property
taxes - rising costs for health care and energy.
Jim Douglas' plan to place a cap on property taxes and school budgets makes false promises because it
will hurt, not help, our education system. His "tax cap" proposal suggests that school districts can just
wave a magic wand over their increasing costs, as if they are able to make the budget pressures they
face simply go away. We don't need a simplistic cap in the state of Vermont; we need a real plan to
control the rising costs that are causing the costs in the first place.
We need a governor who will take leadership, and provide support, not unworkable mandates from
Montpelier.
My proposals for getting control of rising property taxes will be guided by the following
principles:
- The costs of education must be controlled;
- I’ll make sure that decisions about school budgets are made by local folks;
- I’ll improve the quality of education for our kids;
- I will not allow the Education Fund to be raided for other purposes, which Jim Douglas tried to
do in 2005 and 2006.
I will take the following steps to control rising property taxes:
- Supporting a real energy plan that will reduce energy costs for our schools;
- Reducing health care costs for our schools by implementing my health care plan;
- Fighting the unfunded mandates of No Child Left Behind;
- Fighting for full funding of special education, and;
- Supporting schools as they seek to use their buildings and teachers more efficiently; and
- Helping schools put programs in place that will yield immediate savings in '07-'08 budgets,
such as combined fuel buying plans, and expansion of the School Energy Management
Program, which I helped launch in 1996.
It is also vitally important that school security remain a priority. I will ensure that capital budget's
contain sufficient funding to improve school security and to make our children safe. We must continue
to give our children an excellent chance to develop their own potential and thrive and stay in our state.
The most important task of any society is to nurture, educate and inspire its children. Vermont's
future depends on it. As Governor, I will help empower Vermonters with a future that cares for our
children, fosters excellence, creates good jobs, strengthens our economy, and prepares our young
people to succeed in education and in life.
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Agriculture |
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Economic Development |
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Education |
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End of Life Issues |
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Energy |
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The Environment |
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Health Care |
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Housing |
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Property Taxes |
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War in Iraq |
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Women's Health Care |
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