ACTION ALERT: H.454 will create turmoil and funding uncertainty in VT
Updated June 10, 2025
Education Bill H.454 is undergoing final amendments before getting sent to the Governor to get either vetoed or signed into law. Now is a crucial time for us to take action and make our voices heard before legislators have their final vote on Monday, June 23rd. The bill as written will create turmoil and funding uncertainty in VT education at a time when public education is under attack from the federal government. The governor has demanded changes that would slash school budgets and close schools without direct input from local communities. Students, educators, and community members have all made it clear that H.454 isn’t what Vermont needs, but Gov. Scott is trying to intimidate them into bending to his will. It’s time for the legislature to resist Scott’s power grab and let him know they’re not willing to risk Vermont’s schools and communities at an already perilous time. We can craft a better system.
If we want the bill to actually address the challenges we are facing, H.454 must be amended to shift education funding from property to income tax, as proposed by Senator Tanya Vyhofsky in bill S.104. This would provide actual tax relief for working Vermonters who pay a higher percentage of our income in education taxes than the wealthiest Vermonters.
Take Action Now!
Our partners at Vermont School Workers United and Public Assets shared the following calls to action:
Organize a walk-in and/or “Red for Ed” t-shirt day at your school on Friday, June 13. Get a picture of your group in red holding up signs that make your opposition to H.454 clear. Send your photos to vermontschoolworkersunited@gmail.com. We will be sharing these photos with local media, and be asking the sergeant-at-arms to hand deliver copies of the photos to legislators during their session on Monday morning.
Call and email your legislators to share your concerns about the bill. (Calling the Sergeant-at-Arms between 8am and 4pm will get your message hand-delivered to your rep - 802-828-2228 ) Find a draft email below.
Stay tuned for a rally during the veto session at 4pm on Monday, June 16th (details forthcoming).
Current versions of education transformation proposal H.454:
don’t address the cost drivers outside of districts’ control like soaring health insurance costs and kids’ increasing mental health needs
focus more on keeping taxes for wealthy Vermonters low and cutting investment in public education than on addressing student needs
rush major changes without analysis of the projected impacts or evaluation of actual outcomes like we saw with recent education reforms such as Act 46.
Move to a one-size-fits-all foundation amount that will force some districts to spend less, raise some towns’ taxes, and make it easier for lawmakers to cut school funding
take away democratic decision-making on school budgets so that communities will no longer have a say in how much to spend on their schools
slash the number of school boards and school board members
eliminate income sensitivity by moving to a homestead exemption instead of basing school taxes on ability to pay
Keep the things that are frustrating about the the property tax and make it more complicated
impose drastic school consolidation, which will harm communities and kids and could lead to the loss of educator jobs
potentially reinforce barriers for kids with disabilities
will likely require significant investment in new school buildings and infrastructure to meet the new class size minimums
could result in the additional expansion of vouchers, sending more public money to private schools
DRAFT EMAIL
Hello,
As a [parent, teacher, community member], I need to express with urgency that bill H.454 as it is written will create turmoil and funding uncertainty in VT education at a time when public education is under attack from the federal government. The Governor has demanded changes that would slash school budgets and close schools without direct input from local communities.
I implore you to not give in to the Governor's demands! If we want the bill to actually address the challenges we are facing, H.454 must be amended to shift education funding from property to income tax, as proposed by Senator Tanya Vyhofsky in bill S.104. This would provide actual tax relief for working Vermonters who pay a higher percentage of our income in education taxes than the wealthiest Vermonters.
Thank you for your attention on this crucial matter,
[Your name]
[Town]
