Committee presses for explicit language that counties cover generator maintenance at some courthouses

The Institutions Committee on March 19 added a new project for a backup power system at the Lamoille County Courthouse and asked staff to make the bill language explicit that the state appropriation covers purchase and installation only.

A Legislative Council staffer described the new line item as "purchase and installation" for the backup power system and committee members instructed counsel to add a separate subsection stating county responsibility for ongoing maintenance and fuel costs. Committee members said the generator purchase had not been included in county budgets and that those counties — including Lamoille and Woodstock — had told the committee they would cover maintenance and fuel.

Committee members asked Legislative Council to include both a line-item description clarifying the appropriation purpose and an intent subsection making clear that the county is responsible for future maintenance and fuel costs. Several members said the broader issue of courthouse ownership and long-term responsibility remains unresolved; the committee noted it will pursue legislation later to clarify ownership and upkeep responsibilities for county courthouses that host state functions.

Staff did not report a formal vote on the line item; members said the language would appear in the next draft and additional statutory changes to clarify county/state responsibilities may follow in future sessions.