February 26, 2025
Agenda:
• Welcome
• Use Value Appraisal Program (Current Use)
• Let’s Build Homes (LBH)
• Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA)
• Possible Budget Support Letter
Minutes:
Welcome
Use Value Appraisal Program (Current Use)
Dana Doran, Executive Director of Professional Logging Contractors (PLC)
Dana shared that PLC works to advocate for logging professionals, cultivate responsible forest management, and promote a strong forest products industry. He shared support for H.70 and H.85. In reference to H.70, he voiced that the value proposition for land owners and land users is increasingly changing. In reference to H.85, he shared that surrounding states have tax exemptions or legislation looking to do so. In Vermont, purchasers of logging equipment can pay over 12% in tax on equipment.
Rep. Mark Higley has a sign on letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, requesting the committees of jurisdiction to consider H.70.
Let’s Build Homes (LBH) - Miro Weinberger, Executive Chair of LBH, and Jonah Richard, a small scale developer.
Miro explained that LBH’s aims to transform public policies and encourage community action, to help Vermont advance more affordable housing. LBH also works alongside VHFA. LBH is working with House and Senate committees on actionable housing legislation. While this initiative will not solve all of Vermont’s housing problems, it works to address the cost of infrastructure which can be a significant barrier to building new homes. The goal is for this developing legislation to be a tool to help communities build more housing within their communities or where density exists. Miro clarified that this legislation does not have a bill number yet.
Jonah shared that he is working on a small-scale development of rental and sale construction projects in the Bradford area. He explained some of the barriers he has faced including achievable sale and rent prices for completed projects that meet the high costs of construction. Another barrier to lack of infrastructure to support development. Jonah mentioned that he is also working on a 26 unit mixed use project in Fairlee. Fairlee has town water, but not septic. They are unable to fit septic on the property and will need to plan for additional expenses to trench.
Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA)
Maura Collins, Executive Director of VHFA and member of steering committee of Let’s Build Homes, presented on VHFA’s middle income homeownership and rental programs.
Possible Budget Support Letter
Discussion about drafting a FY26 budget support letter based off of requests we heard at the public forum and previous caucus meetings.
These requests include:
(VLCT) Level funding from FY25 to FY26 budget for Town Highway Bridge funding ($45.334M), Town Highways Structure funding ($8.016M), and Class 2 Highway funding ($8.858M)
(LURB) $930K between FY26 and FY29 for two limited service positions and $100K for necessary technology to implement Act 181
$3M to Working Lands Enterprise Grant
$1.25M to Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange
$500K to VT Crop Cash Program
$20M to VT Farm and Forestry Extreme Weather Recovery Fund
$5M to VT Food Bank
Additional $332k from Gov's Budget Proposal to VT 211
$1.35M to Community Media
$10M to Farm Worker Housing Repair Program
$500k from Tobacco Settlement to Parent Child Centers for tobacco use education
$3M to Natural Resource Conservation Districts
(VFHA) $15M to Rental Revolving Loan Fund and $15M to Middle Income Homeownership Development Program
Rep. Lucy Boyden sent out a form for caucus members to vote for two by the end of the day. The top two will be included in the budget letter. Members will receive an additional form to sign on to the letter.
