Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Spending topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee reviews amended capital bill; cash transfer increased and targeted projects added
Summary
Senators reviewed updates to the capital bill (house draft) and discussed a number of specific cash-funded items and reallocations. Committee members said the Senate package increases an interfund transfer discussed at Appropriations, keeps several House-prioritized projects, and directs JFO to report on capital cash policy before next session.
Senators discussed an amended capital bill and a revised cash plan after a meeting with the Appropriations Committee. Senator Wendy Harrison, chair, said the Senate package retains more capital spending than originally expected and noted the committee had increased a planned transfer from $7.5 million to $10.2 million to support several items.
Committee members reviewed a set of targeted cash appropriations included in the Senate spreadsheet update. The items discussed in committee included a $250,000 line described as a Vermont Department of Health grant for a "recovery residents purchase" (officials in the hearing said they had not yet received agency testimony about the program and that the appropriation may be seed or design money), a $275,000 cash appropriation for a Forest, Parks and Recreation fire apparatus, and a $35,000 addition to a dry-hydrant grant program. The committee also discussed funding for the Lake Champlain Walleye Association and a $45,000 cash award to the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts for a veterans-home "incubator farm"; senators said the appropriation amount would not fully cover estimated project expenses but could support initial work.
Senators noted earlier House reductions on certain projects and discussed returning $50,100,000 to three items (described in the spreadsheet as "3 b's") that had been removed in House action. Senator Harrison said the committee expects a JFO report on how the capital cash fund has been used and whether statutory targets (discussed in prior sessions) have been met; she said that report should be completed before the next session begins.
Committee members asked staff and agency witnesses to return with additional details for several items, including specifics on the recovery-residents line and the type of fire vehicle being requested. No formal votes on capital bill amendments were recorded during this session; senators said they would continue deliberations and will hear additional testimony from agencies and appropriations staff as needed.
