Vermont residents are being asked to share their views on property taxes and public education funding as state leaders consider major reforms. Earlier this year, Governor Phil Scott and legislators passed Act 73, which initiates efforts to reform school governance and stabilize the state’s education funding system.
Two state panels are currently examining possible changes to school governance and funding. The Commission on the Future of Public Education is seeking input from Vermonters through a survey about property taxes and education spending. “This survey is conducted and maintained by the State of Vermont’s Commission on the Future of Public Education,” according to information provided by the commission.
The goal of Act 73 is to provide relief from rising property taxes by introducing several new concepts. A key feature is the Foundation Formula, a method for distributing state funds to schools in a way that aims to keep annual statewide education property tax increases in check, even when local spending rises. Another proposal would establish minimum class sizes per grade for schools to comply with the law. Additionally, there are plans for school district consolidation, which would reduce the current approximately 170 governing units—ranging from small districts with only a few hundred students to much larger ones—to between 10 and 20 larger districts across Vermont. More details about these changes can be found at 2025 Vermont Legislative Recap Part V: Taxes & Property Taxes – NFIB (https://www.nfib.com/content/analysis/vermont/2025-vermont-legislative-recap-part-v-taxes-property-taxes/).
At the same time, another group—the School District Redistricting Task Force—is working on options for restructuring school governance and consolidating districts. Information about this task force is available at Vermont School District Redistricting Appointees Named – NFIB (https://www.nfib.com/content/news/vermont/vermont-school-district-redistricting-appointees-named/). Two members of this task force have published an early proposal suggesting regional school districts based on existing Career and Technical Education Districts.
Task force members are also considering organizing districts around proposed Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) areas—a model that has been used in New York since the 1940s and was authorized in Vermont in 2024. This approach allows schools to pool resources for shared services, especially in special and technical education but potentially covering other needs as well.
The task force faces a December 1 deadline to submit its proposed district maps to lawmakers.
Vermonters interested in sharing their opinions can participate through CFPE Vermont’s Education System Survey.
