[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6338166,"mediaKeyId","2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8","parentId",2270589,"title","State insurance premiums rise in FY2026 proposal; workers' compensation fund deficit being amortized","audioSeconds",637,"startMs",1662000,"endMs",2299000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8&start=1662&end=2299","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8/thumbnail_1662000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6338166/Vermont/State-insurance-premiums-rise-in-FY2026-proposal-workers-compensation-fund-deficit-being-amortized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338166-745e5a7703da21170367c1562c7bf5bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459299&Signature=PttvdV852r0c8RrNwFM8n2ix5LKASWg9uFAqJTgJ-oWNzjGaRuMZTSX1pGvMvoneNb08n6DQ0OFeRozZJcjnbO5mdCLIcSvqmg-6SW0-sjmDQqFqOPeMONFXuHNLwiBymS0LZnMhe4kldNzhObkBTYRxRVe7oq6AZNqktdVtvsXxRnEdWEP~WWxb-GFamwcoZT8jQcGIrQ09tHNXlpPV5v~jMBXB1Y7Ucm8HfKc3EzoG9aWSsWzvuDmkeCCVYSwH1Qevp8a2MsHkp5udqm3KMrVHaFP-lcTko9Qx7Zoa19dbXQqEXkQSQac0ANWGz3~P9wBI5qGcPYWgQ6hzUYSFXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T12:49:29.627Z","article","The Agency of Administration told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 11 that premium charges for the state’s self‑insurance funds will increase in FY2026 and that the administration is managing prior deficits through actuarial smoothing.

Nick Bramer, chief operations officer, said the state maintains three internal service funds (ISFs) for insurance: workers’ compensation; general liability and auto; and a catch‑all “all other insurance” fund. “There are amounts that we work with an actuary to set every year as sort of our required contribution to our self insurance funds,” Bramer said, adding that “the major drivers of cost there are market conditions and our claims experience.”

Why it matters: the premiums set for these funds are allocated across departments and therefore feed into the budgets of many state agencies and programs. Changes in premium rates can increase departmental operating costs and influence budget negotiations.

Bramer gave specific FY2026 figures: the total workers’ compensation premium allocation across state government is proposed at $14,400,000 — a 6.2% increase from FY2025 (he noted FY2025 itself had been down 5.1%). The general liability fund charge is also up (about 6.8% from FY2025), and the “all other” insurance category remains the smallest of the three.

Committee members asked about fund balances and past deficits. Bramer said workers’ compensation carried an accumulated deficit after several years of assumptions not aligning with claims experience; he estimated the fund peaked at about $4–5 million in deficit and was about $4.7 million in deficit at the beginning of FY2025. He said the administration is amortizing that shortfall across multiple years rather than addressing it all in a single year so as to avoid large one‑year rate shocks to departments.

On the other funds, Bramer said the general liability fund had a positive balance (about $2.2 million at the beginning of the fiscal year) and the “all other” fund had a deficit under $1 million, projected to move toward break‑even.

Bramer described unusual year‑to‑year movement in certain coverages: flood insurance costs have fallen in recent procurements, which he attributed to broader national market factors and competitive bids rather than any permanent trend.

Bramer said actuarial review and third‑party administrator transitions in prior years contributed to variance in projections. He told the committee the administration and the financial services team continue to work with actuaries to set premiums and amortize deficits.

The committee did not take formal action. Members requested written follow‑up on current fund balances and amortization plans, which agency staff said they would provide.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - 2025-02-11 - 11:00AM","oneSentenceSummary","Agency officials told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 11 that premiums for Vermont’s self‑insurance funds are rising in the FY2026 budget proposal, and that the administration is working to amortize a previous workers’ compensation deficit.","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},6338169,"Agency of Administration presents FY2026 budget overview; few major new general‑fund items",1831,3000,1834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8&start=3&end=1834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8/thumbnail_3000.jpg","/articles/6338169/Vermont/Agency-of-Administration-presents-FY2026-budget-overview-few-major-new-generalfund-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338169-cb4f27805a13b13dbdce3b2fa1c80825/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459299&Signature=MG5vuTbil4iqiGJCFSn5WeYPDC~Bd4QJgp7vQQj45fuDXrkhvl4El3JYtbqy~ab4Jte-2RXoxsyBk081OvzGubUmF~a5ayMtKcyd6GBwIAh-nFBMVWJhtaLcD6X0j1828GQmPD36scPl2GJfWGz9Ws7vDDx~BdtZGXbtPTD1sQf2sIlda-KyRI6opvi6NckDCJ3QuxdXE7BzDJtatye1xFFxpSZClFIMXUqhiCqxcFP~9rSRrs~vqi9wF7gtD-H4swQy7N-67Q6uxdslxaS~g-4XcWb4gJPRSy7KS8OpMZM4RTlRvS7ysp5C8zz9IxlMNvfAJH9MrgZswF0wYejuyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Agency of Administration presented its proposed FY2026 central office budget to the Vermont House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 11, emphasizing that the request is largely “business as usual” while highlighting a handful of new and restructured items.

Nick Bramer, chief operations officer for the Agency of Administration, opened the presentation and described the secretary’s office budget as the “backbone component of state government” that often houses initiatives that later move to other agencies. He told the committee the FY2026 package is “fairly noncontroversial this year” but includes accounting and structural changes intended to increase transparency.

Why it matters: the secretary’s office centralizes functions that affect many parts of state government — finance, human resources, recovery work after floods, and risk and insurance administration — so changes in its appropriation can affect how services are funded and delivered across state departments.

Bramer outlined the central office components the committee was being asked to consider: the secretary’s central office staff, the chief performance office, the chief prevention officer (Monica Hutt), the state recovery office (led by Doug Farnham), the financial services division (led by Holly Barrett), and the Office of Risk Management (led by Rebecca White). Bramer said one notable structural change is elevating the Office of Racial Equity to its own appropriation so its staffing and funding show up separately in the budget materials.

On personnel and one new ongoing role, Bramer said the administration is adding a chief communications officer position to serve as “a statewide point person” primarily to advance compliance with federal standards on digital accessibility. Bramer said Rebecca Kelly, who is moving from the governor’s office, will fill that role and that the position’s funding will be administered through the Department of Human Resources via an interdepartmental transfer.

The presentation also highlighted the agency’s role in administering the state’s internal service funds and insurance premiums. Bramer described the state’s three internal service insurance funds (workers’ compensation; general liability and auto; and “all other” insurance) and said actuarial work sets yearly premium charges that are then allocated across departments. He told members those premiums are increasing in FY2026, driven by market conditions and claims experience.

Bramer described two clean water items included in the secretary’s office request: a final $25,000 incentive payment to St. Albans Town tied to a municipal stormwater utility and an $850,000 increase (for $875,000 total) intended as a state match pot to pursue competitive federal clean water grants. He said the Clean Water Board’s recommendation and the statutory process historically drive the state’s clean water allocations and that the board’s work is highly public and collaborative.

Bramer identified three one‑time general‑fund requests in the secretary’s office budget: $220,000 for the Ideal Vermont program (municipal equity partnerships), $1.1 million to fund the Truth and Reconciliation Commission through FY2026, and $3 million for the Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) to help municipalities access federal funding and recovery resources. He described MTAP as a flexible program that has shifted from ARPA distribution assistance to supporting FEMA and other recovery-related grant work.

Several committee members asked clarifying questions about executive coordination on issues such as health care cost pressures and how the secretary’s office participates in statewide policy conversations. Bramer said the office participates in executive‑level and cabinet conversations with the governor’s team, Department of Finance and Management, and other cabinet secretaries, but does not unilaterally direct policy.

The agency’s presentation provided data on internal service fund balances and premium setting practices; Bramer said the administration is working with actuaries to amortize past deficits and smooth premium increases so department budgets are not subject to abrupt shocks.

The committee did not take formal action during the presentation; members indicated they will ask additional questions of other agency presenters later in the day.

Next steps: the committee will continue its FY2026 hearings with other departments scheduled later the same day.","The Agency of Administration told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 11 that its FY2026 central office budget is largely business as usual, with the main changes being elevation of the Office of Racial Equity, a new chief communications officer position focused on digital accessibility, and set‑aside clean water matching funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6338157,"Agency requests one‑time funds for municipal assistance, truth and reconciliation, and municipal equity program",206,2160000,2366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8&start=2160&end=2366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8/thumbnail_2160000.jpg","/articles/6338157/Vermont/Agency-requests-onetime-funds-for-municipal-assistance-truth-and-reconciliation-and-municipal-equity-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338157-562cc6a31102dbe4e7219a6834d46fcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459299&Signature=YnGSi2DRSPyI8HwGg2buked1kB5sViUk60mdY9IOJGJXYDkaybisVrBwqsY1a4DTuu4kGwbCZqWYxfu0QoTy1kpuncohxnnBehHhhitajzM22NbS3xZySqzygBCJabsrz3moZNnnRptakgWOsgCa8PoBkW7GAeH2IEfxRhC9fM0kV-1mw8k4SqvnmmXz73mK7FKn7HxAhfyBpSZM8pnCfj9-TU4yDiE3qzRPQy8-sSaB5BlIj0UGtH~d2CWw26~UjO~NPmREe6ImjPP6JYIsmVeGbQXUDcWzA6HavvulFkd31po8CdYl8k5Q977yJjZVgSUp802q4EKWqv6L3ROy6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Agency of Administration told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 11 that the secretary’s office FY2026 request includes three one‑time general‑fund items aimed at municipalities and a statewide commission.

Nick Bramer, chief operations officer, said the FY2026 request includes $220,000 to continue the Ideal Vermont program, which pairs Office of Racial Equity staff with municipal leaders to help communities advance local equity initiatives. He described the program as application‑based and focused on providing sustained, hands‑on support to participating municipalities.

The agency also proposed $1.1 million in one‑time funding to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission through the end of FY2026. Bramer said the commission is gathering statewide testimony and producing a report of recommendations; the funding would support the commission’s staff and work through the current fiscal year.

Finally, Bramer described a $3 million request for the Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP), which provides planning, administrative and grant‑application support to towns and cities. Bramer said MTAP had initially been created to assist with ARPA and pandemic‑related federal funds and has since evolved to help municipalities access FEMA and other recovery and infrastructure grants. He noted some of that MTAP funding flows through regional planning commissions, the League of Cities and Towns, and the Vermont Council on Rural Development.

Why it matters: these one‑time funds are intended to increase municipal capacity to pursue grants and implement equity and recovery initiatives; municipalities with limited staff capacity often rely on regional partners for application and project support.

The committee did not act on these requests during the hearing; members said they would follow up with agency staff as needed.","The Agency of Administration identified three one‑time general‑fund requests in its FY2026 secretary's office budget: $220,000 for the Ideal Vermont municipal equity partnership program, $1.1 million to fund the Truth and Reconciliation Commission through FY2026, and $3 million for the Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6338162,"Agency seeks $875,000 clean‑water match pot and final $25,000 stormwater incentive payment",123,1328000,1451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8&start=1328&end=1451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2270589-64b76d349eb3c9952befbbad1e8d5ab8/thumbnail_1328000.jpg","/articles/6338162/Vermont/Agency-seeks-875000-cleanwater-match-pot-and-final-25000-stormwater-incentive-payment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338162-44b7fda09c936dbff733b9007b992cc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459299&Signature=crI8EAnzSChhTMUY6XknLRu3N1N0UNAAdVcaiW2NA4Ve8AjDNGBlxTmoa94KKk9dJhZ3VNvwo2GWOzmy3QtW-SsBx~2BoRp-1Mu1UxrtZjovn2Hpdd65KgiJj~yDajZRtyoVo-lSYbUiPYHbfIsMJCU490zIdRTFN6HBV9-TJ82MskWEl9IxL2NenRx2phPjiA9x1O3vSMG3oMWDuIE-2wm~PyS1CFjIRNQkUEaG77O5XY7~Z4D9GJuIjq-6CXOOc5Tbi-ciMzzmV-q4qZXCg43en1YeF5ojhnoe~4CTv~BszMOrsMr~OudhOn7IqLaNbqrb~YyyjqbdtWUgeBza4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Agency of Administration staff told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 11 that the secretary’s office FY2026 request includes two clean‑water items: a statutory municipal stormwater utility incentive payment and an $850,000 increase to create a state match pot for competitive federal clean‑water grants.

Nick Bramer, chief operations officer, said a small portion of the Clean Water Board recommendation historically lands in the secretary’s office because the board’s recommendations and the codified process are designed to be developed with public input and may cross agency lines. Bramer described a longstanding statutory incentive that provides payments to municipalities that establish municipal stormwater utilities; the budget includes $25,000 for the final payment to St. Albans Town.

Bramer said the FY2026 request also adds $850,000 — bringing the secretary’s office clean‑water pot to $875,000 — to be used as matching funds for federal grant opportunities. He told the committee that recent federal funding opportunities (for example under IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act) have sometimes arrived outside the regular state budget calendar; a small, flexible state match would allow Vermont to apply quickly for competitive grants when they are announced.

Why it matters: matching funds can make state applications more competitive for federal infrastructure grants that support wastewater, stormwater, and drinking‑water projects. The Clean Water Board process also involves public meetings and cross‑agency coordination, meaning these dollars are intended to leverage other programs and federal funding.

Bramer emphasized that most of the Clean Water Board’s allocation work is separate from the secretary’s office and that this request represents a small, targeted pool for competitive matching rather than a large programmatic shift. The committee did not take formal action; Bramer noted the Clean Water Board historically presents recommendations to the governor and that the legislature has not typically amended the board’s proposed clean water budget in recent years.

","The Agency of Administration proposed a secretary's office clean‑water appropriation that includes a final $25,000 municipal stormwater utility incentive payment to St. Albans Town and an $850,000 increase (for $875,000 total) to seed matching funds for competitive federal clean‑water grants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State insurance premiums rise in FY2026 proposal; workers' compensation fund deficit being amortized

Agency of Administration presents FY2026 budget overview; few major new general‑fund items

Agency requests one‑time funds for municipal assistance, truth and reconciliation, and municipal equity program

Agency seeks $875,000 clean‑water match pot and final $25,000 stormwater incentive payment