Progressive Caucus Calls for Repeal of Act 73 and a Fair, Evidence-Based Path to Education Transformation

Montpelier, Vermont — Vermont Progressive General Assembly Caucus members, educators, school leaders, and students gathered today to call for the repeal of the harmful provisions of Act 73 and to urge the Legislature to pursue a fair, evidence-based approach to education transformation that strengthens public schools while addressing the real drivers of property tax pressure. 

“Vermonters are clear: we do not need to dismantle our public education system to address the property tax crisis,” said Rep. Chloe Tomlinson. “Act 73 centralizes power, destabilizes local schools, and fails to deliver what was promised. It does not lower property taxes, and there is no evidence it will improve educational outcomes.”

Speakers emphasized that more than 5,000 Vermonters participated in the Redistricting Task Force process, overwhelmingly opposing forced mergers and top-down redistricting. Act 73 ignores those findings, instead advancing a one-size-fits-all approach that threatens small and rural schools and weakens local control without addressing the real causes of rising costs.

“Working families are paying a higher share of their income for education than the wealthiest Vermonters,” said Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky. “We have one of the most progressive, equitable systems for distributing education funds in the country. But we need an equally progressive way of raising those revenues.”

To that end, Progressive lawmakers highlighted S.244, legislation introduced by Sen. Vyhovsky, and H.809, legislation introduced by Reps. Cina, Logan and Tomlinson, which would repeal the most harmful provisions of Act 73 while advancing the evidence-based recommendations of the Redistricting Task Force. The bill repeals mandates, widespread forced redistricting and the foundation formula, while maintaining key progress, including the new second-home property tax classification and restrictions on independent schools. 

In schools like Ripton, where Progressive Party Chair Bill Hunsinger lives, the community was forced to close the Ripton Elementary School. Hunsinger said, “We have been defeated by policies and procedures created by people that will never feel the impacts of what they have done. We have lost our school and all it represents. We are losing our sense of community. We are losing our rural life.”

Vermont Teacher of the Year Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver shared her dream for Vermont: “Community members want real savings; Students want community schools where they feel a sense of belonging. Schools that can respond to their needs and affirm their whole identities; and us teachers want what we always want: we want what is best for kids. We want fully funded public schools that support the diverse needs of all of our kids.” MacLeod-Bluver stated, “I am proud to support S.244, a bill that directs the state to listen to the evidence-based recommendations from the task force to  give our community members, our students, and our teachers what they desperately want: High-quality schools that meet the needs of all of our students.”

Speakers underscored that education spending is not the primary driver of rising taxes. Adjusted for inflation, education spending has remained largely flat since 2005 to 2024, while costs outside of district control, particularly health insurance, have more than doubled over the past seven years and are growing more than twice as fast as overall education spending. Moreover, the foundation formula proposed in Act 7s would have catastrophic impacts across Vermont Schools, EWSD School Board Chair Robert Carpenter said that in his district, “the foundation formula would result in six million dollars of reductions in special education dollars for the districts most vulnerable learners.”

Progressives also emphasized the need to move toward income-based education funding so Vermont’s progressive system for distributing education dollars is matched by an equally progressive way of collecting them. A proposal under consideration would eliminate the primary homestead property tax through S.104 and shift toward income-based funding while continuing work to rein in healthcare and other cost drivers. While there is no evidence that Act 73 would provide any property tax relief, S.104 would provide immediate tax relief to those who need it most. 

“A record of declining outcomes under this administration does not justify a risky, top-down overhaul of public education,” Tomlinson added. “The Legislature is a co-equal branch of government, and we have a responsibility to pursue solutions grounded in evidence, fairness, and respect for local communities.”

Speakers concluded by reiterating that repealing Act 73 is about choosing a smarter, fairer path that protects public education, relieves pressure on working families, and invests in long-term solutions Vermonters actually support.