Appropriations committee pauses amendment to Vermont Saves auto‑escalation after treasurer's office objects

Representative Anne Donahue on March 28 presented an amendment to the House Appropriations Committee that would alter language in the Vermont Saves section of the committee's appropriations bill, proposing either to remove an automatic escalation provision or change a mandatory "shall" to a permissive "may."

The amendment concerns a provision in section C2 of the bill that authorizes the treasurer to implement an annual, uniform increase in participating employees' contribution rates. Donahue said the change responded to constituent concerns about how employees are informed and suggested temporarily keeping the status quo or making the escalation permissive while communications and notice issues are reviewed.

The committee heard direct opposition from the treasurer's office. Becky Wasserman of the state treasurer's office said, "the treasurer's office is…