[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6359511,"mediaKeyId","2177150-70718c40d24e85b40e58f376c465ef8f","parentId",2177150,"title","Appropriations committee adds intent language to hold childcare special-fund balance pending reserve review","audioSeconds",900,"startMs",118000,"endMs",1018000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2177150-70718c40d24e85b40e58f376c465ef8f&start=118&end=1018","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2177150-70718c40d24e85b40e58f376c465ef8f/thumbnail_118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6359511/Vermont/Appropriations-committee-adds-intent-language-to-hold-childcare-special-fund-balance-pending-reserve-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359511-b8865e468a9c7794c5c702b5b8fe011c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589499&Signature=eovYCJoIRvg06J-ldY4nrMS~sbuL826PrrVTqpTQ5~fOxImurvrOKOS-U0WlHB9m783834cnKRCOkHmnt60f0M2RlmYIbZ5I3-jHQVzmuf6sdF2tvQVZ8-5lFqlPvUv9Vtpr6FBwZdagFr4HjM~oMfEqQbmbbDLXNRjR-GbvWFPqykLICN5rFkWRE~yEnChXqMAt-pwAMm-oHisFLyYZXZEn8f-XHrYSABk1yLmvb-ChxrEusbEmJSquO7z1pK6DocixNT3Pt5dt27zEcfw0~TdDzoevoDa1l9sucRUNQEgetkvNgIap9Ks5IRsZggGLg2o~dAKyj9-mEh9PcYjuOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-31T19:37:22Z","article","The House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 31 reviewed draft language directing that a balance remain in the Childcare Contribution Special Fund while the Legislature considers creating a formal reserve for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP). Grady Nixon of the Joint Fiscal Office introduced the language and said it is intended to preserve an existing balance — about $8,000,000 — until more experience with the program is available.

Why it matters: The language aims to keep payroll-tax revenues intended for childcare from being swept or repurposed before the Legislature decides whether to create a dedicated reserve. Committee members debated whether the provision implemented a reserve immediately or only signaled future intent.

Grady Nixon, Joint Fiscal Office, said, “This would be intent language, to ensure that there is a balance in the fund to support the future establishment of a reserve for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program CCFAP.” Emily (staff member) told the panel the treasurer’s office had recommended keeping the balance in the fund because “we don't have enough experience with this program to be able to say whether or not a reserve is required and necessary in the fund.”

Committee members asked whether the proposed language would prevent use of the money if caseloads required it. Emily explained that the provision does not create an official reserve immediately and that the committee already has separate language allowing the finance and management commissioner to use the human services caseload reserve in the event of revenue shortfalls or expense overruns. She summarized the operational scenarios the committee discussed: the fund could show a positive balance and the deposited funds would remain there; it could be drawn down by program expenses; or, if the fund went into the red, the human services caseload reserve could be tapped to bring it to zero.

Several members voiced concern about special funds being repurposed in past years and sought reassurance. One member said parties had “worked long and hard in childcare to try and finally get some dedicated money towards that,” arguing the language makes clear that payroll-tax dollars “are gonna go to what it's intended for.” Other members asked whether an explicit clause delaying creation of a formal reserve until treasurer review should be added; joint fiscal staff said they settled on simpler intent language after drafting alternatives.

The committee agreed to add the intent language as drafted; staff indicated the language would not, by itself, create a formal reserve. Committee members and staff noted the treasurer’s reserve study will likely need 18–24 months of program data before a definitive recommendation can be made.

The committee scheduled a final discussion and vote on the budget adjustment later in the afternoon when additional members were available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - 2025-01-31 - 2:35PM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 31 agreed to add intent language directing that a balance remain in the Childcare Contribution Special Fund while the Legislature evaluates whether to create a formal reserve for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP).","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30573,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6359509,"Joint Fiscal Office previews web report and outlines budget adjustment changes, including $8.6M for housing",428,1072000,1500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2177150-70718c40d24e85b40e58f376c465ef8f&start=1072&end=1500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2177150-70718c40d24e85b40e58f376c465ef8f/thumbnail_1072000.jpg","/articles/6359509/Vermont/Joint-Fiscal-Office-previews-web-report-and-outlines-budget-adjustment-changes-including-86M-for-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359509-03c7e03e647898c623644376e3d0c3af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775589499&Signature=HB6~y9Cv~D6q4HBOVBBup7nL5LMPo-n6ZILG1N6F~CozfZoO7MrUYOZGWgRT4hHckZiPidyH9X4j6rFY3cIxACRWVL9YsFSljToTi1wbD-UpdDTRhgWpIq65j7lyH7EJxU~X7OpE9OgG52V9MJfckDG75bMwECVlpfUK-JEPxvhBPNzHO-8wzHqoRcuq1WAM3ef7BLfRa-4~XOzrlAEdgCtmK5Qq8C-5Ib2sK901KofrmohNGj74wPjWNlCgbjcrJM5syuSYJwB86tO7W6q8HvwHej4krDA26ASzPk09euY1QM6JYu-tf3UpMgGgGzdONvTzXjrUqHKdizvuSaQKtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maria Blair of the Joint Fiscal Office on Jan. 31 presented an early draft of the web report that accompanies the budget adjustment bill, walking committee members through how the document aligns line-item numbers with bill language and where the committee’s changes will appear.

Why it matters: The web report is the floor document that shows dollar changes between the enacted FY2025 budget, gubernatorial proposals, and the House-adjusted figures. It is used to generate the numbers section of the budget bill and to explain committee decisions to members and the public.

Blair explained the report’s columns — the enacted budget, the governor’s recommended changes, the governor’s new totals, and the House changes — and showed examples in the draft. She pointed to specific sections where the committee’s actions will be reflected, including:

- Treasurer’s office one-time appropriations section (B105): committee removed a $14,000,000 governor proposal in the draft.
- Vermont Department of Health (B1100D): committee removed $4,000,000 in contingent sustainability grants from the governor’s proposal.
- Department for Children and Families one-time (B1100E): committee added $1,840,304 to extend a cold-weather exemption.
- Provider stabilization grants: committee appropriated $10,000,000 (referenced during the web report discussion).
- Vermont Housing Conservation Board (B1100W): two language changes were noted in that section; staff described a $28,000,000 item for pilot project completion and an $8,600,000 item for housing initiatives discussed in committee language review.
- Judiciary-related change: committee staff noted an $850,000 reallocation/reversion issue tied to prior budgeting and Act 113; staff said that change appears in the language section rather than the numbers section because it alters the use of an older appropriation.

Blair told members the web report shows function totals (for example, protection of persons and property) and the source-of-funds lines (general funds, special funds, internal service funds). She said the draft will be posted on the Joint Fiscal Office and committee webpages and used as a floor document once finalized. Committee members asked about where specific reversions and reallocated funds show up in the document and about the relationship between language amendments and numerical line items.

There was no recorded committee roll-call vote on the web report itself during this session; staff said they will finalize and post the document and that the committee would reconvene later for the final budget adjustment discussion and vote.

The committee scheduled a final discussion and vote later that afternoon to consider all changes together when additional members — including Radka Syszka — were available.","Joint Fiscal Office staff previewed an early draft of the web report for the budget adjustment bill on Jan. 31, 2025, showing line-item changes from the FY2025 enacted budget, and highlighted committee additions and removals including an $8,600,000 appropriation for the Vermont Housing Conservation Board and several one-time adjustments.","actionData","errors"]

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Appropriations committee adds intent language to hold childcare special-fund balance pending reserve review

Joint Fiscal Office previews web report and outlines budget adjustment changes, including $8.6M for housing