Living and Working in Burlington Vermont

As predictable as the January snows and annual thaw, the Vermont legislature begins its annual session. This year it, and all of Vermont, faces the most difficult financial choices in our history. Throughout the twentieth century, there are milestones that reflect the point in time when either the change that was nascent emerged or when a unique event altered the way the state viewed itself. The infamous flood of 1927 is most the commonly used example of this and even today politicians scurry to be the first to remind all who would listen that Vermont turned down federal relief aid because of the strings attached to it. From a slightly more contemporary perspective, Vermont historians note that our Republic was rocked and forever changed by the debate over reapportionment in the 1960’s. Small towns traditionally given a vote and voice in Montpelier were in many observers’ minds quieted by that loss. Others note that a similar seismic shift occurred during the debates concerning school funding and civil unions. In many ways the results left in the wake of legislative action this year could be just as significant although certainly more understated. A sampling of issues is illustrative of this fact.

Foremost are the budget decisions that must be made. Excising 158 million dollars from a slightly more than 1 billion dollar budget following two years of other reductions will require cuts in services across the board. Understanding that the lion’s share of state spending is in human services and education, it is clear that the pain of these cuts will be felt by some of the most troubled and disadvantaged among us.

Vermont has guarded and prided itself on its environmental and ‘green’ image. We have every right to be proud of our legacy. The legislature must decide this year whether or not to approve the process that would set in place the review to relicense Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, known today as Entergy. Without an affirmative vote, the plant will begin the long process of shut-down in 2012. There are those who extol the virtues of nuclear power as inexpensive, clean and non-polluting while other equally ardent opponents remind us not to forget the waste stream left behind or the spectacles of Three Mile Island or Chernobyl. I can find no one, politician or private citizen, who does not have an opinion on the matter.

Vermont is perennially noted as a tough place to do business. Permit costs, taxes, utility rates, our inclusive public processes all add to the financial costs. Those who decide to locate and remain here fit the mold of rock-hard savvy business people. The legislature has an opportunity this year to mitigate some of those costs while at the same time creating incentives that will attract clean and green businesses to Vermont. To the casual observer this seems fairly intuitive. To some, incentives equate to corporate welfare; lower tax burdens to fatting the rich and transparent permit process to serving up Vermont’s environment to exploiters.

The list of issues could go on for pages. Regardless of our political affiliation, our non-profit memberships, our personal belief systems or any other factor that influences us, we have to remember that Vermont is one community and that the strength we have exhibited throughout adversity and challenges has been derived from the understanding that we are truly just one.