BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Burlington school officials say preliminary budget numbers show a possible 11 percent tax hike on the education property tax rate.
The issue Burlington and other districts across the state face is a $50 million state education budget gap, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s promise to fight any tax or fee increases to contain education costs. The Burlington Free Press reports the total 2019 budget including grants and other non-taxpayer-funded money was $84,120,978.
School Board Chairman Mark Porter said Tuesday the tax burden is one of the worst the district has faced.
The district does have a roughly $1 million surplus that could roll into the budget, if the board chooses. Without the surplus, officials say the education property tax rate would rise to 11 percent.
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