Affordability
“My fuel oil and property taxes together are equal to five social security checks.”
“Cost of living and maintaining a home is out of reach for many residents. A sizeable amount of people in Vermont are still not making $10 per hour.”
Property Taxes
“Property taxes are too high and going up. Seniors cannot afford their property taxes. Something has to be done quickly. I just purchased 243 gallons of fuel oil and paid $840. This state is costing me so much that my retirement is almost gone and I will need assistance.”
Crime and Drugs
“The crime and drug issue needs to be dealt with first of all. In a small state like Vermont we should be able to live our lives without fear of our home broken into, our own personal safety and our cars being broken into.”
Losing Residents
“Vermont is losing residents at an alarming rate. We know many folks who have packed up and left. The quote “takers” are beginning to outnumber the workers, and that’s absolutely unsustainable.”
Energy Costs
“We are on the wrong track with energy and our costs are rising.”
Fees and Fines
“We need to stop raising all the fees and fines instead of raising taxes. If you need revenue, be up front and say so.”
Seniors
“I’m struggling to stay in my house and taxes keep rising. Having the Senior Center is wonderful but just not enough.”
Health Care
“I’m really concerned about the price of new health care – especially those who were in Catamount previously. To have your premiums triple is not fair to this group of folks.”
Leaving Vermont
“I’ve lived in Vermont for over 40 years and Vermont has been good to me, but by 2017 I plan to be in Florida.”
Civilian Conservation Corps
“I think a program like the CCC should come back. Advance the pickup parolees at their government funded apartments and let them do road jobs and park maintenance, work and pick up everything during Green Up Day, help with cemetery maintenance.”
Tax Booklet
“I think not having the Vermont tax booklet forms available is a real problem for some Vermonters. Even if you know the phone number to call for the booklet and forms, how do you know which forms you need without having the booklet first?”
Friends of Northfield Ridge
“Protect the forests, mountain ecosystems, watershed and natural beauty of the Northfield Ridge and the Mad River Valley ridge lines and the towns of Waitsfield, Warren, Moretown, Fayston, Northfield and Roxbury.”
Senator Bill Doyle serves on the Senate Education Committee and Senate Economic Affairs Committee, and is the Senate Assistant Minority Leader. He teaches government history at Johnson State College. He can be reached at 186 Murray Road, Montpelier, VT 05602; e-mail wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us; or call 223-2851.
