Republicans claim to lower taxes, but whose taxes are really lowered? Republicans have held the governor’s office and controlled both houses of the Legislature since 2017, except for 2019-2020 when Democrats controlled the Legislature. Between 2016 and 2023, the local school tax rate for Bennington increased by 25%. This was compounded by an increase in the town’s total assessed valuation, which allowed the town to reduce its tax rate by 13%.

The Legislature had the chance to provide some relief by complying with the ConVal court decision, which ordered an increase in adequate education funding to $7,356.01 per student (still inadequate); the current amount is $4,100. Instead, the state appealed to the state Supreme Court, which granted a stay. Meanwhile, funding for public charter schools is $9,000 per student. Why?

Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) provide “scholarships” to private or home-schooled students by transferring grants from public schools. When students leave, their funding goes with them, but the costs of running the schools remain.

In 2023-2024, the ConVal school district received just 4% of its budget from the federal government. Donald Trump has promised to eliminate the Education Department, which would likely cut federal funding for education, further burdening property taxpayers.

In the past two years, the dividends and interest tax rate has dropped from 5% to 3%, benefiting mostly the wealthy. Some Democrats want to reinstate the original rate, which could provide relief to property taxpayers.

David McKenzie

Bennington