Innkeepers are a busy bunch. To save you time, VLA attends Governor Scott’s Covid-19 press conferences and takes notes for you. Below is the summary from 4/5/22.
Governor Scott promoted his $100 million economic development package during his press conference today. After noting that the House-passed budget did not include his proposals and the current Senate economic development bills contain provisions that he’s vetoed in the past, he asked the legislature to “put aside areas of disagreement and pass clean bills that we all support.” When questioned if he would veto the budget if the Senate “goes along” with the House’s proposal, the governor said that there’s still a long way to go.
The governor also said that he would not support any new taxes to support the proposed universal school meals program. He said that raising taxes on Vermonters in a “time of unprecedented surplus” does not pass the straight-faced test.
NOTES:
- Governor Phil Scott:
- Proposed to legislature $100 million to help support communities, spur growths, and employers hurt by pandemic.
- Federal money as well as budget surpluses, give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take transformative steps forwards.
- Proposed tens of millions for sewer, water, and stormwater (to support more housing). Need good paying jobs and vibrant communities as well.
- Why we must invest in economic development – $30 million for Grand List Enhancement program. $50 million in Capital Investment grants. $20 million business assistance program – for those hit hard by pandemic, hospitality, agriculture, and the arts. Also asked for expedited permitting for these investments. Feds require us to spend $ in certain number of years.
- Unfortunately, House didn’t include in the budget, saying that Senate would cover economic development. Problem is, they didn’t budget for it. Makes House-passed budget out of balance. If Senate decides to include, will be forced to cut House’s proposals.
- Senate is working on economic development and housing bills, but have included provisions that I’ve vetoed in the past. Let’s put aside areas of disagreement and pass clean bills that we all support. That’s what Vermonters expect, and not the games that we see in Washington.
- Commissioner Joan Goldstein:
- At this point in the session, the budget included zero dollars for the governor’s initiatives. Zero dollars to invest in our towns and support recovery…leaving tough job for the Senate to find funds.
- Capital Investment Program would bring additional funding to a program that is already underway – last session we received $10.5 million, and received over 100 applications, with more than $90 million worth of requests. Are plans in the future to grow Vermont and some will be worthy of recovery funds – Child care facilities, performing arts venues, food supply chain improvements, hospitality.
- Working in tandem with this program is Grand List Improvement program – support municipalities who need to stabilize or enhance tax base. More than half of towns in Vermont have stagnating or shrinking grand list. That money would help support development or redevelopment of commercial properties or multi-unit residential in these communities.
- $20 million for Forgivable Loan Program – businesses affected by pandemic. VEDA would issue a loan for short term expenses (places like performing arts venue) if they use according to ARPA rule, would be forgiven.
- General Fund Ask – Gov had asked for $6 million for new worker incentive. Also wanted to create recruitment marketing and networking. $6 million in brownfields.
- General lack in development in Vermont has led to housing shortage and lack of economic development…Covid has had large impact.
- Let’s use ARPA funds as intended and return economic development programs to the state budget.
- Questions:
- What bill is in the Senate economic package that you vetoed prior?
- Scott: Minimum wage and other areas of the bill that are problematic.
- If the Senate goes along with the House’s recommendations, would you veto the budget?
- Scott: Have a long ways to go – would like to provide a path forward. They need to look at the veto letters – rental registry and contractor registry – if they look at the letters they’ll see a path forward where they can have what they want and I can protect Vermont as well.
- More about Grand List Enhancement Program? Scott: Providing for capital investment in buildings, dilapidated structures, gives us lots of positive things – enhances value of building, more tax, housing.
- Goldstein – Is utilizing ARPA funds- would have to meet ARPA rule. Preference to town with stagnating Grand List.
- Scott: House passed budget is unbalanced. Not all initiatives are all problematic – some of them are. Senate now going to have to make choices. Agreement was that Senate was going to take care of Economic Development and maybe some housing – but the money has to come from somewhere. They didn’t put a placeholder in the budget for it, they spent it on other things. So Senate is going to have to make cuts to fund it. If it goes much further, if Senate passes it in the same manner, then we have a real problem.
- Congress is also looking at an enhanced program for restaurants, hospitality – have you had a chance to see how that would affect VT?
- Scott: I’ve heard that, but as we’ve seen, I don’t know if we can count on Washington at this point. For instance, Build Back Better Plan doesn’t seem like it has any legs at this point. Even the Covid dollars that the President wanted has been cut in half and much of that is going to come from reallocations from money not spent by the states. Need to move forward with our proposals.
- Seems that Covid cases are kicking up slightly and self-reported tests are ticking up. What is your assessment of where we are with this virus?
- Scott: Not surprising. Covid is here to stay for a while. We need to learn how to manage it. We’re not surprised by any slight increase. Fairly flat. We’re doing ok.
- People feel like they’re getting a mixed message on Covid booster – CDC saying a good idea for people over 50 – is that what VT Health Dept. says?
- Scott: I’ll let Dr. Levine answer when he comes back. I’m contemplating. It’s not necessary. Seems it has a shelf life. Deciding if I have mine now or wait until the summer or fall so I’m better protected when we come back indoors. Message I’m hearing is that no harm in having it, but not necessary at this point.
- HED looking at several revenue sources to fund universal school meal program – sales tax on candy is a possibility (no from Gov.)
- Scott: They’re all the same, No, No, and No. In the time of unprecedented budget surplus, this is the last resort. We’re not going to increase taxes now. That makes no sense to me at this point. We have to make choices and priorities. Comes down to want and need. Do we need it, or do we just want it. Most Vermonters will not understand increased taxes now. I don’t understand it. Have had two years of budget surpluses the past two years… doesn’t pass the straight-faced test.
- Re: PPP type loans- lots of discussions among small businesses as to whether it would be taxed as income – how would this be treated?
- Goldstein: Will work like PPP but will be more flexible. Acts more like a grant. Grants are typically taxable. Can be spent on any operating expense (not just payroll).
- Maine and Massachusetts are seeing repeated robberies of marijuana stores – some say it’s the cartels trying to snuff out competition… are Vermont law enforcement leaders aware of this potential problem?
- Scott: A lot of cash businesses susceptible to crime.
- Schirling: Safety for all businesses dealing in cash are essential. No intelligence information on that threat.
- (Refers to Scott being chief executive of an enterprise that includes the Vermont Commission on Women) How would you answer the question “what is a woman?” )
- Scott: Anyone who’s on the Vermont Commission on Women – I’d assume we’d refer to them as she or her. So I think we’re ok there. But maybe that needs some consideration in the future. Haven’t heard any outcry from that entity. Until such time, I’m not going to be too concerned about that.
- Have you come any closer to deciding if you’re going to run again?
- Scott: No, I’m not ready to announce anything at this point in time. Will do so before the end of the session. I think they targeted May 6, so sometime between now and then.
- Legislators feel that they’ve given you enough on registry bills – think you should give a bit?
- Scott: We have a mutual feeling on the opposite end of the spectrum. Put path forward for acceptance and they haven’t met that for the rental registry, that I know of. Getting much much closer with the contractor registry.
- Last week, Frnech spoke out in opposition of school districts setting their own mask policies, I’m hearing now that the CDC has changed course on putting three VT counties on list of areas in higher risk of Covid, but question remains what schools might decide to do going forward if cases begin to rise? School districts be allowed to decide policy. What barometer are you using moving forward whether mask recommendations should be re-implemented? We have a shift in testing strategy…how do we know whether we’re in another surge?
- Scott: From the beginning we’ve looked at hospitalizations as the metric we’ve used. So will continue.
- French: General recommendation is that districts should defer to Department of Health. My point last week was a strong recommendation to Dept of Health. County by county decision-making leads to more volatility in a small state like Vermont.
- Any way to track whether pediatric and school cases are rising?
- French: About trends. Looking at regional data. Trends manageable.
- Appears that self-reported antigen tests rose significantly this week. Is there info on antigen tests distributed in state-run sites re: self-reported.
- Kelso – Covid is still around – not seeing uptick in hospitalizations. BA2 has been in VT for a number of weeks, and not seeing significant uptick – encouraged that we won’t see a surge.
- Concerns about access to PCR and other tests.
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- People in Mad River Valley scrambling for vaccines and testing?
- What bill is in the Senate economic package that you vetoed prior?