A new report is pointing out what it calls insufficient cost
controls in Vermont ’s school
funding system. The report was written
by economists at Northern Economic Consulting of Westford, and says education
spending is up to 70-percent above the national average. The report was unveiled yesterday by Vermont
Realtors, which represents the state’s real estate industry, and is concerned
about local school property tax bills.
Voters will be considering local school budgets in Town Meeting Day
elections in March, and many communities are seeing a big jump in tax rates.
The Vermont Education Agency has launched a new website to
help schools and students develop personalized learning plans. Governor Peter Shumlin and education
officials discussed the new statewide initiative earlier today CVU High School
Governor Cuomo announced today that New
York is the 3rd largest producer of milk in the
country. A press release says compared
to 2012, New York 's milk
production increased by 2.2% in 2013.
There was 0.4% growth nationwide.
The growth is attributed to an increased demand for milk, largely due to
the booming yogurt industry in the state. New York
is also the number one producer of cream cheese and cottage cheese in the
country. The dairy industry is New
York ’s leading agricultural sector, accounting for
more than one-half of the state’s total agricultural receipts.
The leader of the Progressive Party caucus in the Vermont
House of Representatives says Vermont
needs an “economic bill of rights.”
Representative Chris Pearson says this year Progressives and liberal
members of the Vermont Democratic Party will work together to increase the
minimum wage while requiring paid sick leave and paid family leave. Pearson is supporting a bill raising the
minimum wage to 15-dollars an hour which he says at least begins to approach a
livable income.
