State Budget and Economic Security

VIA has been vitally interested in proposals to balance the State Budget for FY2010, when revenue projections are expected to be at record lows.

VIA's approach has been to encourage legislators not to accept the cuts to services for low-income persons that were proposed by the Governor, and instead to look at ways to raise revenue on the wealthiest Vermonters.

As people of faith, our perspective is that the burden of tough economic times should be shared by all those in our community and not fall disproportionately on those who are most vulnerable.

VIA's budget accomplishments have included:

• VIA Central Vermont's first public action, held March 8 in Montpelier, pressed eleven Washington County legislators to reject:
  • Across-the-board 4% cuts to non-profits
  • Reductions in the state portion of Supplemental Security Income payments
  • "Full family sanctions" for those in the Reach-Up program
  • A 5$ million cut to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board
  • Increases in co-pays and deductibles to the Catamount Health Program
  VIA leaders also asked legislators to consider closing the capital gains loophole or raising taxes on those making above $200,000 to help balance the budget.
• A Clergy Press Conference on April 1 at the Statehouse, in which clergy from Chittenden and Washington Counties praised the House for their version of the budget, which protected the programs most concerning VIA and proposed increases in revenue. Watch a clip of the press conference, and read their statements, here.