Town Meeting in Vermont - as traditional as sap running in the sugar maple trees! It was great to see so many of you. For those who were able to go to Town Meeting, you may have picked up the report that Kate Webb and I distributed. It gives brief summaries of the work that some of the legislative committees have before them. I also have left copies of the report at the Shelburne and St. George town offices. If you would like one mailed to you, just let me know. I am happy to do that.

One area that I have been asked about is education; people want to know what teachers are doing to help in these difficult economic times. Without transferring burden to property taxes, a savings of $15 million dollars can be realized by making changes to the teachers' retirement. A commission that studied teachers' retirement and health insurance benefits came up with recommendations for legislation. H 764 changes normal retirement eligibility for those with less than 25 years of service, or who are less than 57 years old. The new eligibility follows the "rule of 90" suggesting a retirement age of 65 years or 30 years of service. Early retirement stays at age 55 but with a reduction. The average final compensation (AFC) maximum will be raised to 60 percent upon completion of 20 years of service. For those ages 57 or greater or with 25 or more years of service, the maximum benefit is increased to 53.34 percent of AFC for years of service after July 1, 2010. The contribution rate for all teachers increases to 5 percent.

Retiree health care premium subsidies for new hires and those with less than 10 years of service will be based on a tiered schedule based on years of service with spousal coverage at 80 percent after 25 years. Current teachers with more than 10 years of service maintain 80 percent single coverage and those with 25 years of service will also have 80 percent spousal coverage. There is a complex schedule, based on years of service, for spousal coverage at 80 percent that can be found on the state treasurer's website.

Those who have extraordinary increases in their average final compensation during their last three years of service will be limited to 10 percent per year to count toward their AFC determination. A person who serves four or more years with those increases will not have that 10 percent limit.

There is also consideration in the House of a bill that proposes to reduce the number of supervisory unions from the current 60 to no more than 16, which would align with our current technical centers. I am not certain that this will give us the savings we are hoping for. Over the past several years, Chittenden South, our supervisory district, has been a model for other districts that might be looking at ways to be more effective and efficient in running the schools. Chittenden South has been deliberate in creating efficiencies at that level. Our central office is the hub for our curriculum, special education services, human resources, and finances. Coordinating these areas for all the schools in the district saves time, duplication of services, and money.

FYI: The State Treasurer's office has sent me a list of residents in Shelburne and St. George to whom the State owes money. It might be for unclaimed bank accounts, uncashed checks or wages, insurance policies, or utility deposits. Please get in touch with me or check out the Treasurer's web site at www.vermonttreasurer.gov. It is your money so take a look.

For the month of March, Kate Webb and I will be at Bruegger's Bagel every Tuesday morning from 7:30-8:30. Please join us with issues you are interested in or just a bit of conversation. You can always reach me at 985-8515 or at jglenes@aol.com. The toll free number to leave a message with the Sergeant-at-Arms is (800) 322-5616.