The Act 60 Legacy
Governor Dean is proud of his record on Vermont - and
rightly so. As we are
all well aware, his accomplishments for the environment, health care and
budgetary responsibility compose a very respectable legacy, worthy of
consideration for national office.
However, it is his record upon which he will be judged. This past week saw
Town Meeting Day in Vermont - a day when townships across the state come
together and vote on issues before the town and the government and school
budgets. Democracy at its best. A record forty-two towns rejected their
school budgets for this year because of the funding formula known as Act 60.
Simply put, Act 60 allows for school funding reallocations between
jurisdictions in the state, so that school districts with limited resources
receive additional funding. Using a standard called 'common level of
appraisal', property taxes of towns deemed of adequate resources are raised to
supplement the funds of those towns with limited resources.
The proposed 2003 tax rates for some Vermont towns have seen dramatic
increases due to Act 60 obligations. To alleviate some of the burdens,
taxpayers are rejecting school budgets looking to cut more local spending to
offset the increased demands of Act 60 payments.
Needless to say, this education funding crisis was not the objective of Act 60
proponents. In fact, it could derail the entire equitable funding process in
Vermont. What they may need to do is refine obligation requirements and expand
equity timetables.
But this does provide those looking to attack the Governor's record with an
issue of his legacy in Vermont. The Governor and his staff should craft a
reasonable explanation of why the current Act 60 crisis is a result of
diminished federal spending (if that is the case), the faltering economy
(decreased tax base) and the need for continuing fine-tuning of the education
equity process in Vermont.
Act 60 is not a failed experiment - it is a work in progress.
published March 5, 2003