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Report from Montpelier
Snapshots on Vet services and Capitol allocations
Legislators get information from different agencies and organizations all the time. It is the hope that we pass this on to constituents, to our neighbors, and to all Vermonters. Recently we heard from several organizations that support our troops and their families in all cycles of deployment. I believe these services can be very helpful to families. One phone number for general information or help in directing you to the appropriate program, is the VT Outreach hotline at (888) 607-8773. They are available 24/7 for information or crisis help. The Military and Family Life Consultant Program that specializes in supporting service members and their families can be reached at (802) 338-3112 or at www.mhngs.com. A peer support program is Vet to Vet at (877) 485-4534. For any question large or small, please reach out to these people.
In the Capital Bill, which falls under my committee of Institutions and Corrections, we are considering spending just over $70 million in capital expenditures. The usual capital allocations that the Capital Bill covers are to state buildings, UVM, state colleges, different types of community grants, public safety, as well as the clean and clear projects in both Agriculture and Agency of Natural Resources. We are in the midst of work on the state’s Forensic Lab and Public Safety building in Waterbury. This multi-year project has allowed us to maintain our federal accreditation and funding for the forensic lab. Because of the current state of the economy, construction costs have been coming in lower than expected so we were able to stretch our dollars and accomplish more work.
The moratorium on state aid to school construction (except for emergencies) is still in effect. Our backlog of money owed to communities who have bonded and are paying interest on that money is around $34 million. We want to decrease that obligation considerably before we lift the moratorium. We also need to look creatively at a funding source for school construction and not transfer it to the education fund because that would be a cost shift to property taxes. The conversations about spending and our responsibilities to our communities are at the forefront of all our decision-making. It is especially true for school construction and clean and safe water.
This is a small snapshot of the work before us this legislative session. If there are areas of interest or concern to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at 985-8515 or jglenes@aol.com. You can also leave a message for me with the Sergeant-at-Arm at (800) 322-5616. Your perspective and input is important to me.
Just wanted to mention again that for the months of February and April, Rep. Kate Webb and I will be at the Open Arms Café on Harbor Road every Tuesday morning from 7:30-8:30 a.m. We thought alternating between Bruegger’s Bagel and Open Arms Café would offer a different location that might make it easier for some people to drop in for a bit of conversation or questions. Hope to see you.
In the Capital Bill, which falls under my committee of Institutions and Corrections, we are considering spending just over $70 million in capital expenditures. The usual capital allocations that the Capital Bill covers are to state buildings, UVM, state colleges, different types of community grants, public safety, as well as the clean and clear projects in both Agriculture and Agency of Natural Resources. We are in the midst of work on the state’s Forensic Lab and Public Safety building in Waterbury. This multi-year project has allowed us to maintain our federal accreditation and funding for the forensic lab. Because of the current state of the economy, construction costs have been coming in lower than expected so we were able to stretch our dollars and accomplish more work.
The moratorium on state aid to school construction (except for emergencies) is still in effect. Our backlog of money owed to communities who have bonded and are paying interest on that money is around $34 million. We want to decrease that obligation considerably before we lift the moratorium. We also need to look creatively at a funding source for school construction and not transfer it to the education fund because that would be a cost shift to property taxes. The conversations about spending and our responsibilities to our communities are at the forefront of all our decision-making. It is especially true for school construction and clean and safe water.
This is a small snapshot of the work before us this legislative session. If there are areas of interest or concern to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at 985-8515 or jglenes@aol.com. You can also leave a message for me with the Sergeant-at-Arm at (800) 322-5616. Your perspective and input is important to me.
Just wanted to mention again that for the months of February and April, Rep. Kate Webb and I will be at the Open Arms Café on Harbor Road every Tuesday morning from 7:30-8:30 a.m. We thought alternating between Bruegger’s Bagel and Open Arms Café would offer a different location that might make it easier for some people to drop in for a bit of conversation or questions. Hope to see you.
In the Capital Bill, which falls under my committee of Institutions and Corrections, we are considering spending just over $70 million in capital expenditures. The usual capital allocations that the Capital Bill covers are to state buildings, UVM, state colleges, different types of community grants, public safety, as well as the clean and clear projects in both Agriculture and Agency of Natural Resources. We are in the midst of work on the state’s Forensic Lab and Public Safety building in Waterbury. This multi-year project has allowed us to maintain our federal accreditation and funding for the forensic lab. Because of the current state of the economy, construction costs have been coming in lower than expected so we were able to stretch our dollars and accomplish more work.
The moratorium on state aid to school construction (except for emergencies) is still in effect. Our backlog of money owed to communities who have bonded and are paying interest on that money is around $34 million. We want to decrease that obligation considerably before we lift the moratorium. We also need to look creatively at a funding source for school construction and not transfer it to the education fund because that would be a cost shift to property taxes. The conversations about spending and our responsibilities to our communities are at the forefront of all our decision-making. It is especially true for school construction and clean and safe water.
This is a small snapshot of the work before us this legislative session. If there are areas of interest or concern to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at 985-8515 or jglenes@aol.com. You can also leave a message for me with the Sergeant-at-Arm at (800) 322-5616. Your perspective and input is important to me.
Just wanted to mention again that for the months of February and April, Rep. Kate Webb and I will be at the Open Arms Café on Harbor Road every Tuesday morning from 7:30-8:30 a.m. We thought alternating between Bruegger’s Bagel and Open Arms Café would offer a different location that might make it easier for some people to drop in for a bit of conversation or questions. Hope to see you.
