MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Latest on the Vermont budget standoff (all times local):
11 p.m.
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott says he will allow the latest budget bill to become law without his signature.
The Republican governor made the announcement in a statement late Monday, saying he “will not put the health and safety of Vermonters or the stability of our economy at risk.” Scott had vetoed the previous two budget bills.
Earlier in the day, both the House and the Senate voted in favor of the new $5.8 billion spending plan.
The third funding proposal of the year signs onto aspects of Scott’s plan for state property taxes, but fails to give the governor everything he asked for. It uses one-time funds to pay down residential property tax rates and hold them at the previous year’s level, but does not do the same for nonresidential property tax rates.
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4:50 p.m.
The Vermont Senate has voted in favor of the third budget bill passed by the House and sent the bill to Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who has until the end of the week to sign or veto it.
The Senate voted in favor of the third budget bill of the year and sent it to Scott’s desk Monday.
The bill was only slightly altered from the version passed by the Senate 27-0 Thursday. Senate leaders touted the bill as a compromise, but did not acquiesce to Scott’s plan to use one-time funds to hold property taxes at the previous year’s level. Scott vetoed the previous two budget bills.
Legislators worked quickly to have a budget in place by July 1 to avert a government shutdown.
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1:15 p.m.
The Vermont House has passed the same budget bill for a second time and sent the bill to the Senate.
The second vote came Monday after the Republican minority objected that the chamber did not follow procedure during the initial vote Friday.
Three amendments were introduced, all of which were voted down before the final voice vote.
The Senate is expected to take up the bill on Monday afternoon.
The bill does not lower non-residential property tax rates as Gov. Phil Scott, who vetoed the first two budgets, has been demanding.
Scott says he’s disappointed that the bill didn’t fully address his concerns, but he’ll withhold judgment.
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8:45 a.m.
Vermont lawmakers are scrambling to reach a budget settlement acceptable to Republican Gov. Phil Scott.
Late Friday, the Vermont House approved a third state budget, but the future of the plan is uncertain.
Lawmakers will be back at the Statehouse Monday looking for a deal.
The bill does not lower non-residential property tax rates as Scott, who vetoed the first two budgets, has been demanding.
If no budget can be passed by July 1 state government could shut down.
The plan passed by the House Friday angered many Republicans because they said it reneged on promises made by Democratic leaders to reduce all property tax rates.
Scott says he’s disappointed that the bill didn’t fully address his concerns, but he’ll withhold judgment.
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12:05 a.m.
Now it’s the turn of the Vermont Senate to review the latest version of the state budget.
Late Friday, the Vermont House approved a third state budget, but the future of the plan is uncertain.
The bill does not lower non-residential property tax rates as Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who vetoed the first two budgets, has been demanding.
The Senate will consider the latest proposal this week.
If no budget can be passed by July 1 state government could shut down.
The plan angered many Republicans because they said it reneged on promises made by Democratic leaders to reduce all property tax rates.
Scott says he’s disappointed that the bill didn’t fully address his concerns, but he’ll withhold judgment.
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