Analyzing Vermont state budget, taxes, and the economy from the people’s perspective. PO Box 942, Montpelier, Vermont 05601https://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mkil4llpn22fThe impacts on the state budget and the safety and economic security of individual Vermonters from “OBBA” keep coming. Cuts to Medicaid threaten access to healthcare for thousands of Vermonters, with more repercussions--for our health, state budget, and potentially to our schools--to come.27 Apr 2026 17:16 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkil4llpn22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mkiavf2arc2fLooking forward to this conversation with Building Bright Futures today! https://www.buildingbrightfutures.org/data-page/ec-grand-rounds/27 Apr 2026 14:13 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkiavf2arc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mk6nxwxfos2fVermont’s federal workforce decreased by over 600 workers—or 11 percent—between the end of the fiscal year in September 2024 and February 2026. It is the lowest number of federal employees in at least 10 years. Read the latest jobs report here: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-federal-workforce-has-plummeted-since-202423 Apr 2026 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk6nxwxfos2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mjkiwkib5c2vAs the federal government cuts essential services like Medicaid to finance increases in immigration enforcement and sweeping tax cuts for the richest, it’s worth noting that the wealthiest Vermonters are paying some of the lowest marginal state tax rates in decades.15 Apr 2026 18:17 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkiwkib5c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mjfiduv4kk2vReal wages for the lowest earners in Vermont grew more slowly than in any other New England state; wages for Vermont’s highest earners grew faster than in all NE states except Maine. Together, these trends widened the gap between the lowest and highest wage earners https://publicassets.org/research-publications/despite-growth-vermonts-lowest-wages-arent-livable13 Apr 2026 18:23 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjfiduv4kk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mj5zieen7c2vVermont Child Tax Credit helps to lifts qualifying Vermont kids out of poverty. This year, the legislature expanded Vermont’s CTC to children under 7, qualifying roughly 5,000 more Vermont kids. Find out if you qualify and get more info at taxcreditsvt.org10 Apr 2026 19:08 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj5zieen7c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3miw4uxm4sc2vLast July, Congress cut Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over a decade. For Vermont’s schools and students, reduced Medicaid payments could mean budget shortfalls. Read more: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-schools07 Apr 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3miw4uxm4sc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mih4iwnvpk2vDid you know that we are we currently in the longest federal government shutdown in history?01 Apr 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mih4iwnvpk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mhyagr4ur22vThis year, National Women’s Equal Pay Day is March 26th. Vermont's pay gap has been consistently one of the smallest in the country, but at every education level, Vermont women are paid less than men. And the gap is worse for Black, Hispanic, and Native American women.26 Mar 2026 18:31 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhyagr4ur22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mht2kou4os2v It’s tax season. Find out if you and your family qualify for some of the refundable state and federal tax credits available to help Vermonters make ends meet. More info at taxcreditsvt.org, including how to file.24 Mar 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mht2kou4os2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mhqh4zlcks2vAct 73 of 2025 required a number of reports and recommendations from various agencies and working groups to finalize the implementation details of the bill. Many of these reports have now been released and are informing current legislative discussions. Read more: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-latest-ed-funding-reform23 Mar 2026 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhqh4zlcks2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mhe2sfchis2vA powerful reminder from Jared Duval that the state of Vermont has the power to take effective action to protect what we value most. https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/march/22/duval-federal-tax-cuts-1-should-come-back-vermont18 Mar 2026 17:57 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhe2sfchis2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mh776dcb622vThe latest from our Senior Policy Analyst Jack Hoffman on education reform efforts in Montpelier: Local communities are looking for help from the Legislature and the AOE. Maybe Montpelier could look at education from their perspective. https://publicassets.org/research-publications/try-looking-from-the-other-side16 Mar 2026 19:32 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh776dcb622vhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mgxegwubqs24Almost a month into a partial government shutdown and TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard are working without pay. However, $140 billion in supplemental funding for ICE and CBP is expected to allow federal immigration agents to get paid, continue enforcement operations, and expand detention facilities.13 Mar 2026 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgxegwubqs24https://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mgsby523sc2rIn Vermont, the difference between income and rent for two people making minimum wage in 2026 will be more than $25,000. That’s because the Vermont minimum wage has fallen behind and because rents have risen. In the last 5 years the median rent has increased by 35%, more than $300 per month.11 Mar 2026 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgsby523sc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mgft6zirlc2dThe impacts of the 2025 federal reconciliation bill continue to ripple through the state: Vermont will pay nearly $1 billion less in federal taxes each year, with $440 million going to the top 5%. Meanwhile, Vermonters are facing cuts to critical services like food assistance, healthcare and housing06 Mar 2026 17:21 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgft6zirlc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mg6tbiejvs2nPolls are still open in many communities and you can register to vote at your polling place. More info: https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/voters/registration/03 Mar 2026 22:34 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg6tbiejvs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mfwqushus22nThere's a lot to celebrate during Black History Month, but there's also a lot to understand about what's happening at the moment and the particular impact of federal action on Black families. https://www.epi.org/publication/failing-to-extend-the-enhanced-aca-premium-tax-credits-is-an-attack-on-working-class-black-families-and-major-metro-areas/28 Feb 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfwqushus22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mfu4eowc7e2mMany of us are preparing for town meeting day school budget votes. The interactive updated town2town report offers a tool to view and assess local education spending and tax data for your town. https://publicassets.org/research-publications/changes-in-education-policy-complicate-spending-analysis 27 Feb 2026 16:18 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfu4eowc7e2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mfk2f365js2nVermont’s population growth is coming from people moving to the green mountain state from abroad. From 2005 to 2025, the number of people who moved into Vermont from abroad outpaced the number of Vermonters who moved out of the country. Read more: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/vermonts-growth-is-coming-from-abroad23 Feb 2026 16:15 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfk2f365js2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mfcvljxg622nAs town meeting approaches, we’re thinking a lot about our school budget votes – and we’re guessing you are too. A pair of new blogs with some insights: -- Kicking the tax can: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/kicking-the-tax-can -- The governance debate is about more than maps: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-governance-debate-is-about-more-than-maps20 Feb 2026 20:01 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfcvljxg622nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mf5dk2q2ks2nSenior policy analyst Jack Hoffman’s latest insight into what’s at stake for public education in Vermont is live on the blog and it's worth a read: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/the-governance-debate-is-about-more-than-maps18 Feb 2026 14:55 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf5dk2q2ks2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3meyqmhqqsk2nDHS funding expired on Friday. TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard personnel are expected to work unpaid. However, programs under CBP and ICE are likely to continue due to Congress’s allocation of $140 billion in supplemental funding. DHS employs more than 2,500 Vermonters, roughly 140 work for TSA or FEMA. https://publicassets.org/research-publications/resources-for-tracking-federal-policy-changes16 Feb 2026 19:05 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3meyqmhqqsk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mem7j4sijk2nVermont families are facing new and growing threats to safety and security, but even before the latest federal actions, many were struggling to make ends meet with incomes below the basic needs standard established by the state. Learn more: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/state-of-working-vermont-202511 Feb 2026 19:27 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mem7j4sijk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mehboqyqak2nThe federal government is taking actions that undermine the safety and security of all of us. Last week, we hosted a conversation about what Vermonters are doing and what else we can do to mitigate this harm. Charts on the impacts and a list of resources on our site: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/resources-for-tracking-federal-policy-changes09 Feb 2026 20:23 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mehboqyqak2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3me2gaovfo22nJulie braved the cold this morning to make sure that Vermonters can access crucial anti-poverty tax credits. Amidst all the stress and uncertainty folks are experiencing right now, access to additional cash to help with expenses is essential. www.taxcreditsvt.org04 Feb 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3me2gaovfo22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mdla3kycek2nJulie spoke in Senate Economic Security this week – here’s part one of her recap video, jumping into our latest analysis on wages, costs, and basic needs. (Stay tuned for part two!)29 Jan 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdla3kycek2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mcwzyjhbmk2nIf these were ordinary times, we would expect Gov. Phil Scott to deliver his usual budget address calling for more of the same spending and revenue policies. But these are not ordinary times. See our full statement on Gov. Scott's budget address on our website: https://publicassets.org/research-publications/statement-on-gov-phil-scotts-jan-20-2026-budget-address21 Jan 2026 15:57 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcwzyjhbmk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mbheptcpts2iMore on housing from State of Working: Household income has grown just 15% since 2019, failing to keep up with rising home prices. In 2019 Vermonters at the median income level could afford about 1/2 of homes in the state; by 2024 that share had dropped to 1/3.02 Jan 2026 17:02 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbheptcpts2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/publicassets.bsky.social/post/3mbc2c7c2l22iOur research engine is powered by Vermonters like you who know that facts, analysis, and transparency are more essential than ever. Thank you for being part of this work -- and happy New Year. publicassets.org/donate31 Dec 2025 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:kaofrwgs4gmoqlnnmxwjzu3o/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbc2c7c2l22i