Montpelier’s Latest Scam: “Education Reform” Means More Taxes, Less Control
Montpelier just pulled another fast one, and Vermonters are about to pay for it. The House, on April 17, 2026, shoved through H.706, their “education reform” bill, passing it 90-55. This partisan carve-out for Democrats is a tax hike wrapped in bureaucratic nonsense, guaranteed to bleed property owners dry. Governor Phil Scott, at least, isn’t playing along. He immediately vowed to veto H.706, which his office confirmed is headed for his desk next week. Scott calls it an “undue burden” on taxpayers, and he’s right. The Legislative Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) estimates this boondoggle means an average 3.5% to 5% statewide property tax increase in the first year alone. This comes on top of Vermont already having some of the highest per-pupil spending in the nation, over $21,000. Where does that money go? Not to relief.The “Equity” Lie and the Power Grab
House Speaker Jill Krowinski claims H.706 ensures “every child in Vermont has access to a quality education.” Pure garbage. What it actually ensures is **$25 million in new administrative costs** for the state Department of Education. This bill is a centralized funding mechanism, increasing state oversight and mandating curriculum standardization. It’s a power grab, plain and simple. Local school boards and communities will lose control. Rural towns, already struggling, are being told their unique needs don’t matter. Representative Peter Fagan didn’t mince words:“This bill is a property tax hike in disguise. It removes local control and imposes a one-size-fits-all solution on diverse communities, and it’s simply not what Vermonters want or can afford.”He’s not wrong. Vermonters are already “torching the political circus” online, calling it a “top-down scam.” They smell the bullshit from miles away.
The Veto Farce: Can They Even Override It?
Now the legislature is gearing up for a veto showdown. But here’s the cold, hard math: they can’t override it. An override requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers. H.706 passed the House 90-55. That’s 90 votes out of 145 members present. They needed 97 votes for a two-thirds majority of the entire body, falling seven votes short. So, this whole “override” talk is just political theater. The House doesn’t have the votes, and everyone in Montpelier knows it. They just want to look like they’re fighting for something while sticking it to the taxpayer. This H.706 “education reform” is nothing more than Montpelier’s latest bureaucratic power grab. It’s fueled by a craving for centralized control and funded directly from your property taxes. They claim “equity” while ignoring declining student enrollment and local autonomy. All this serves to justify a **3.5% to 5% tax hike** and a **$25 million administrative payout** to the state education department. It’s a cynical move to consolidate power under the guise of helping kids, hitting Vermonters where it hurts most: their wallets and their right to govern their own towns. This bill isn’t about better schools; it’s about bigger government. Scott’s veto is the only thing standing between Vermonters and another painful tax burden. He needs to stand firm, and the legislature needs to quit playing games.Source: Google News
