The Vermont House Appropriations Committee on March 21 walked through its one-time appropriations spreadsheet, discussed carryforwards and reversions, and affirmed a planned $77 million transfer to the Education Fund that Ways and Means had assumed in its yield bill.

Committee staff told members that line 2 in the one-time summary reflects carryforward from FY 2025 (the C-section spreadsheet) and that changes in the C section would change available FY 2026 one-time money. Committee discussion included a $2 million reversion recommended by the Commissioner of Finance and Management from an Agency of Administration appropriation, which staff said would be added to the reversions line.

Why it matters: The committee’s handling of one-time funds and reversions affects the pool of money available for priorities next fiscal year. Members also discussed placing a Senate medical-debt bill into a reserve line until the Legislature determines whether to appropriate funds to implement it.

Key figures and dispositions identified in committee discussion:
- $77,000,000 — transfer to the Education Fund assumed by Ways and Means’ yield bill and carried into the appropriations “transfers” section.
- $2,000,000 — additional reversion staff said could be taken from an Agency of Administration appropriation and reflected in reversions.
- Medical-debt bill (Senate) — committee left a reserve for potential appropriations tied to a Senate bill; members agreed to “leave that open” rather than appropriate funds immediately.

Committee staff asked members whether to close several one-time items; for many items the committee recorded “check it off” decisions and, where more information was needed, left items open for further negotiation. Emily Byrne (Doig Fiscal Office) walked members through the spreadsheet cells and explained that Excel-driven formulas and rounding can create plug numbers that staff will reconcile as they finalize totals.

Next steps: Staff will update the one-time spreadsheet and C-section calculations, reconcile the Excel formula deltas over the weekend, and return with language and final numbers. The medical-debt line remains a reserve pending bill movement.