[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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,"_74":73},"mediaId",6310892,"mediaKeyId","2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32","parentId",2397720,"title","Labor Department requests steady budget; highlights UI modernization and hiring challenges","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4239000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32&start=4239&end=4239","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32/thumbnail_4239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6310892/Vermont/Labor-Department-requests-steady-budget-highlights-UI-modernization-and-hiring-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310892-79bc2af0b759e431f20e5c48a2445756/orig.mp4?Expires=1775159971&Signature=QLieYS9SGTQcYVlbF9ApuXd67wmYhH-BB4CRIgs6JqdOp82t6k4kuLLLM-Wa33b-wyiPMd9BO4vM2XlKS71Yv3CWjrhGengSxoZH5mqcQKvCHs~z3nBNQA8snFITDzgYXGm0myc9IBmkY~cePDboX-t4o8-eQJBOyEo5hkGbEVyWXnh6ZUUG6jACgpNpNa70qN4AHhqjwHlFEHTSNFH2RJ~Hay3oSWNZHr8edgTdXNpCtn2q1X0No1U5-1wBuwHxLn16Syui8D8MlmGY8qIAtJyKgKftAximwCUDgov2PyXZ73fiR83AA8HKRbv5jhXjDii63GAl5wd-U6pJWjamBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vermont Senate Committee on Appropriations","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","Michael Parentson, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor, briefed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21 and said the department’s FY26 budget shows no major ups or downs beyond a standard 3% increase applied to general‑fund lines. He said the department employs roughly 250 people, operates 11 job centers and is about 59% federally funded in the current fiscal structure.

Parentson highlighted four ongoing modernization projects: unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation modernization, workforce development systems and the department’s financial accounting system. He said the unemployment insurance vendor chosen (Fast Enterprises) is an experienced vendor that modernized other state systems such as tax and DMV in other states, and that the department expects a user‑interface modernization deployment in spring–summer 2026.

Commissioner Parentson described hiring and retention challenges, especially for front‑line unemployment insurance call‑center agents and job‑center staff in regional offices. He said overall vacancy sits at roughly 12%, with higher turnover in some frontline units; turnover and training dynamics affect service continuity because of training and overlap requirements.

On funding composition, Parentson said the department is largely federally funded but noted the addition of state workforce training funds and other state allocations to base budget lines since 2019. He also reported operational impacts from prior floods and ongoing remediation of some building mechanical systems; rehabilitation work was expected to finish in the coming months.

Parentson said retained federal grants (for injured workers returning to work and other programs) had been exhausted in FY25 and some carryover had been spent, which explains some year‑to‑year differences in spending authority. He told the committee the department will return with further updates as modernization milestones approach and welcomed follow‑up questions about specific programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations – 2025-02-21 – 2:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioner Michael Parentson told the Senate Appropriations Committee the Department of Labor’s FY26 request contains no major increases beyond a 3% general fund adjustment, and that modernization projects (unemployment insurance, workers' comp, workforce development and financial systems) and frontline staffing remain priorities.","taxTitle","Appropriations, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36948,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310896,"Treasurer proposes $500K baby‑bonds pilot admin funding, Vermont Saves and medical‑debt measures",338,3143000,3481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32&start=3143&end=3481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32/thumbnail_3143000.jpg","/articles/6310896/Vermont/Treasurer-proposes-500K-babybonds-pilot-admin-funding-Vermont-Saves-and-medicaldebt-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310896-d61e726544f4f7954ce492bfc1891070/orig.mp4?Expires=1775159971&Signature=Zy8-VYbOszFSjT7CvhNfqLZi-XReDAK5nVBH2RhbRJT~~VEN29QgLdV68Pblt55UhyjRxVR-8m6huRoxRqYlCVWoKUnV6dRvI2Qa440B~vxb27ugEROEhhcbHBUaQjlfapQoRDgiN4a-RxqRAPdKnyuEfUg7DPAzLz9zqMXFoIxaQTRg4zVTwRYMEieocTEMFa80K3zJkVCxphQfAu4ERGarFKsgj8o1KUYi47txpxvJsbcWFFvVRubpsJ4WQwiFSjoJXtVzaRVbBvjrdaDn1apfz1hOiuidYjPEdWeU0UFh8hltSVvAcvOJlXz4497sc3eCxDtXsEvKB-Vb-udKCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Treasurer outlined several financial inclusion and consumer finance initiatives in testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21, including a $500,000 request to cover administrative expenses for a legislatively authorized baby‑bonds pilot, changes to the Vermont Saves retirement program, an update on ABLE accounts for people with disabilities, and a proposed medical‑debt relief plan.

On baby bonds, the Treasurer said the legislature authorized a pilot last year and the office is seeking $500,000 to cover administration, independent evaluation and related startup costs (the Treasurer said philanthropic dollars would fund the individual grants). The pilot is intended to test outcomes for a cohort of young adults—starting adult eligibility around age 18—so policymakers can evaluate whether a broader baby‑bonds program would improve outcomes for homeownership, higher education, business formation or retirement savings. The Treasurer said the office would seek an independent evaluator and expects to track outcomes over multiple years.

On Vermont Saves (the state’s auto‑IRA payroll‑based program), the Treasurer requested statutory language to allow account holders to choose a traditional IRA in addition to the current Roth structure so lower‑income savers can qualify for an upcoming federal saver match program; the Treasurer also proposed increasing the automatic escalation cap from 8% to 10% of pay for default enrollment (the program already allows people to opt out or change contribution rates). The Treasurer said changing the program name consistently to “Vermont Saves” from earlier shorthand would improve branding.

The Treasurer provided an update on ABLE accounts for Vermonters with disabilities: about 1,200 active Vermont ABLE accounts with an average balance near $10,000 and roughly $12 million in assets under management. The Treasurer said ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save without jeopardizing means‑tested benefits and are similar to 529‑style arrangements for disability‑related expenses.

On medical debt, the Treasurer described a legislative proposal to eliminate about $100 million of medical debt for moderate‑ and low‑income Vermonters with a one‑time appropriation of $1 million to purchase and extinguish qualifying medical debt; the Treasurer also said the proposal would prohibit reporting medical debt on individual credit reports going forward, noting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s guidance that medical debt is an imperfect indicator of creditworthiness.

The Treasurer said the office is seeking clarifying language and initial funding authorities in the budget packet for these proposals and offered to provide more detail to the committee and follow‑up materials and memos.","The Treasurer asked for $500,000 to administer a baby‑bonds pilot, proposed changes to Vermont Saves (including allowing traditional IRAs alongside Roths and raising auto‑escalation to 10%), updated ABLE program statistics and proposed a $1 million one‑time appropriation to eliminate $100 million in medical debt under a proposed legislative plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310899,"Treasurer says 10% investment program has funneled $80M into housing projects; highlights local projects",370,2795000,3165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32&start=2795&end=3165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32/thumbnail_2795000.jpg","/articles/6310899/Vermont/Treasurer-says-10-investment-program-has-funneled-80M-into-housing-projects-highlights-local-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310899-ed1ae3901abe7b710f3eee0bfc3447ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1775159971&Signature=VmloQdSriZs2fxDk2ysXv9ySXuM7IlACn~Fy2rCCnceq-YFgMYGLzTQQKlUrvaZQO~HDTulAyxpK3TNbrwT-ljmLT7p-x7cfWmz9atm~bZN~YblhbgA4VWv2KnoE1uaHEnmsDtp-7tXmVqSEZUTQ88NTP6HEIMEfeGb25JdQPYwIC3KXRtGhSJgO4pa0PsKLJtpU623Yo17rM7RIFtdtQnTa9YDYMBQLd0~T3ApvC10mvR03kyeAn6eOxNebFHHJhwP6N87RwWWtG4ByB3tHDRgVIxyEpxPAypHTUzdgHtgIQ2MDsILc93oZ50G4LyZQlU9nqYvRfsYFWQyGvDeVDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Treasurer described a program that permits investing up to 10% of the state’s cash‑on‑hand in economic development projects and said the office has used that authority to finance roughly $80 million across about 32 housing projects in recent years. The Treasurer told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21 that the program provides low‑interest financing—often 1% to 2%—to reduce project costs and help deals pencil during periods of high interest rates.

The Treasurer highlighted a $5 million loan through the Vermont Economic Development Authority that helped the Vergennes Grand proceed after pandemic‑era cost increases raised the project’s budget by an estimated $5 million; the project will create 65 units (including senior assisted living units serving Medicaid‑eligible residents) and is expected to open with a ribbon cutting next month, the Treasurer said. The Treasurer said projects financed through the 10% program typically receive partial capital from the treasurer’s office as one piece of a broader funding stack and that the office has not historically exceeded about $8 million on a single project.

The Treasurer also described an $8 million partnership with Heritage Family Credit Union and the city of Rutland to provide capital for downtown infill and rehabilitation projects; the Treasurer said roughly $6.5 million of that pipeline is already committed and the program could support about 50 new downtown units in Rutland. Other investments cited included $300,000 for Reed Commons (33 senior units) and an $8 million investment for an 87‑unit workforce housing project in St. Albans.

The Treasurer said the office makes these loans at below‑market rates to be counter‑cyclical when private market financing is expensive and to support housing development that otherwise would not proceed at higher market rates. The Treasurer said loan terms vary by project (some short, some 20 years), and that the office will review the portfolio in the coming months and report results to the legislature.

On climate and disaster financing, the Treasurer described a 2.5% “climate facility” that has been used as a short‑term bridge for municipalities recovering from flood events in 2023 and 2024; once repaid, the Treasurer said the fund could be used for climate resilience or green energy projects. The Treasurer said the bond bank partners on these bridge loans and that the bond bank waived administrative fees for flood recovery loans.

Committee members asked about program limits and oversight; the Treasurer said statute establishes the advisory committee role, the treasurer’s office leads the program, and the committee’s recommendation has been followed to date. The Treasurer said the decision to deploy capital is a consulting process with the advisory committee, the bond bank and local partners.","The Treasurer told the Senate Appropriations Committee the office has used up to 10% of cash‑on‑hand to invest about $80 million in 32 housing projects via below‑market loans, citing projects in Vergennes, Rutland and St. Albans and a new climate/flood‑recovery financing vehicle.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310900,"Treasurer asks committee to fund two unclaimed‑property technicians as claims surge",478,2340000,2818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32&start=2340&end=2818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32/thumbnail_2340000.jpg","/articles/6310900/Vermont/Treasurer-asks-committee-to-fund-two-unclaimedproperty-technicians-as-claims-surge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310900-980c6e638f31b19ef9aa43780eac6574/orig.mp4?Expires=1775159971&Signature=on-Z19W1z43E0Oy9tWyaJW1Pve6ToDPJIlJo30D-p7QHsPho2PDrXxUIa~Y4TM0GSuGFMUwP1CeE~CEp9~SiFwE74tnSXyp5OVm9NsK1sUFefLEjwXUw9sDYTYb-gumdilAstdNuTH6r9eJgSIIhDSxz2Czf47z-njBE5F-2l3p0wRGHnpk~Dc3UziHqIMKod1Xvfhi2CW3zQ-~t-OLQW1l5zk9LhCS69Qxxo8CE4ITe5YZVds6YwZJMxKa5bKlYo8JXZ6ikh0Ta4rvzCMPpWd-4Ff~3F3AydxAOGbj1uqHkzdS9tdPYkxqWPwcEBTyoz-KZaUrKofFlp6~r7TxCmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Treasurer (presenting to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21) requested two technician positions for the unclaimed property division, to be fully funded from the unclaimed property fund rather than the general fund. The Treasurer said unclaimed property dollars and claim volumes have risen sharply over the last two decades — from roughly $10 million in total holdings decades ago to about $133 million now — and that the division’s caseload has grown from a few thousand claims to nearly 19,000 in the most recent year.

The Treasurer told the committee the unclaimed property office has used outreach campaigns, partnerships with the tax department and the Secretary of State, and a high‑profile advertising push to return property to Vermonters. Recent efforts produced a “money back” pilot that automatically returned roughly $1.3 million to about 5,000 Vermonters in a coordinated mailing with the Department of Taxes, and an advertising campaign that drove a roughly 50% increase in web searches for unclaimed property during the first half of FY25.

Despite the return programs, the Treasurer said the inventory and fraud risks have increased. Staffing in the unit has not grown in about 25 years while the volume of holdings and claims has expanded by an order of magnitude. The two requested technician positions would cost approximately $200,000 annually and be 100% funded from the unclaimed property fund; the Treasurer said the request would not materially reduce the general fund transfer because the office uses a conservative estimate when calculating the annual transfer to the general fund.

The Treasurer also proposed raising the no‑claim verification threshold from $250 to $1,000 so smaller claims can be issued more quickly without the full claims process. The Treasurer told the committee that holders (businesses and platforms that hold unclaimed property) generally must attempt to return property to owners and that statutory dormancy rules require holders to remit unclaimed property to the state after about three years of inactivity.

Committee members asked about fraud and identity verification; the Treasurer said fraudsters are increasingly using low‑cost tools and AI to attempt claims, which increases the workload for verification and requires more staff capacity. The Treasurer noted that the unclaimed property division finances its operations from the unclaimed property fund and that the two positions were requested in a memo accompanying the budget materials.","The Treasurer requested two technician positions funded from the unclaimed property special fund, citing a multi‑decade rise in claims and growing fraud risk; the positions would cost about $200,000 annually and would not affect the general fund.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310901,"Vermont Fish and Wildlife seeks $31.3M for FY26, says funding model needs overhaul",615,1097000,1712000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32&start=1097&end=1712","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2397720-f74f53b20fd33dbd5c88de706b7f1a32/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","/articles/6310901/Vermont/Vermont-Fish-and-Wildlife-seeks-313M-for-FY26-says-funding-model-needs-overhaul","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310901-5111cd007a13107f933299696a156779/orig.mp4?Expires=1775159971&Signature=S81RmNwaG-OFJXx-LfLwZK0ePhZ6sSuS6EYKYaOBU5uB3eUzI3PZlCBYFleqlySXkCjTmmlB~sbMt3n9ZHDChf1Nr5OoorXjXlAWfjzXRczxYoRaT~YnHXkkHnIDlD5dDuZbA0sNkjmWk2AJJqRIRnHaRW74cazjIq76FXXe7Lk895aA~eQp2nqWzsS9nM535Pmcbb9rkgaFUH893aitSAxXRvjhJyI~JfvD5M4Y1v7vEJd3b0LqWQYxvEeyjwLNIm-L7ArEsaRtQQk1txqbpC0M-bls8verE3sptA~yRrMKyKeU3RS6u8RGWNGRH4CamjbeyHvAwDFFgBFv4ONtWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andrea Shorpsley, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 21 that the department’s fiscal year 2026 request is just under $31.3 million, a net increase of about $1 million from FY25. She said the department will use a mix of general fund, federal, and special funds to cover salary and operating costs and will take $225,000 from the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund this year to help close a budget gap.

Shorpsley said the department employs about 140 full‑time staff, including 42 in the warden service, and is organized into five divisions: administration, wildlife, fish, wardens, and outreach. She told the committee that salaries and benefits make up nearly 70% of the department’s budget, with internal service funds (insurance, workers’ comp, HR, agency digital services) at roughly 8%, leaving only about 14% of the budget as discretionary operating funds.

The budget details Shorpsley presented show federal funds of roughly $10 million; she said about 91% of that comes from federal excise programs identified in testimony as Pittman‑Robertson and Dingell‑Johnson funds (federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and fishing equipment). She told the committee that federal funds underwrite a large share of staff costs and subgrants and warned that a reduction in federal funding would force staffing and program cuts unless other revenues replace them. General funds in the FY26 request total $9,380,000, an 11.7% increase from the prior year. License and special funds make up the remainder, and license fee revenue is forecast at just over $10 million.

Shorpsley outlined several budget pressures: increasing salary and benefit costs (including statewide reclassification and other pressures that raised salary/benefit costs by about $1.39 million across funding sources), rising internal service fund charges, and flat or declining program revenue. She said license revenues are expected to decline by about $200,000, motor fuel receipts by roughly $30,000, and timber sale receipts by about $73,000, and that those declines reflect both market changes and limited staff capacity to manage sales and licensing outreach.

The Fish Division carries the largest program share because roughly $4.6 million of the request supports fish culture and hatchery operations. When asked about the status of the South Salisbury hatchery, Shorpsley said it is funded in this budget and is included in a departmentwide infrastructure and cost analysis. She also said several fish culture staff are near retirement; the department projects some vacancy savings if retirement dates produce gaps between incumbents and new hires, but she warned replacement hires may be at different pay rates and that some fish culture roles are highly specialized and difficult to recruit.

Shorpsley described ongoing infrastructure damage from recent storms (July 2023, July 2024 and December 2024), including flooding of an annex storage facility in Berlin and storm damage to access areas at wildlife management areas. She said the department is working on FEMA mitigation and repairs but faces continued strain from state lands infrastructure needs. She also cited statutory requirements from Act 59 and Act 181 as drivers of new workload: Act 59 requires planning and inventory work related to conserved lands, and Act 181 requires the department to develop criteria to evaluate impacts to forest fragmentation and ecological connectivity; she estimated Act 181 work will require about 1.5 full‑time equivalent staff.

As part of an internal reorganization, Shorpsley told the committee the department converted a vacant Salisbury Fish Culture Supervisor position into an assistant land acquisition coordinator to better use existing conservation funding for wetland and Lake Champlain basin projects. She described a broader financial restructuring effort that will examine 10‑year capital needs, mandated and discretionary work, and how peer agencies fund conservation to identify more predictable, long‑term revenue options (including ideas such as a sales‑tax fraction used in other states and voluntary or fee‑based “passive recreation” tags).

On non‑game funding, Shorpsley said the habitat stamp program yields about $228,000 annually and, with federal matching, can generate roughly a 3:1 federal match; other non‑game sources include an estimated $100,000 annually from tax form checkoffs and roughly $75,000 from conservation deed monies. She told the committee the habitat stamp money is targeted to on‑the‑ground habitat work and public lands projects.

Shorpsley closed by telling the committee that the FY26 request contains no new initiatives beyond covering existing programs and that the department will pursue a comprehensive financial restructuring to seek more stable funding going forward.","Commissioner Andrea Shorpsley told the Senate Appropriations Committee the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s FY26 request is roughly $31.3 million, a $1 million net increase, and outlined a planned financial restructuring after years of flat, unreliable funding and rising costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Labor Department requests steady budget; highlights UI modernization and hiring challenges

Treasurer proposes $500K baby‑bonds pilot admin funding, Vermont Saves and medical‑debt measures

Treasurer says 10% investment program has funneled $80M into housing projects; highlights local projects

Treasurer asks committee to fund two unclaimed‑property technicians as claims surge

Vermont Fish and Wildlife seeks $31.3M for FY26, says funding model needs overhaul