Vermont Criminal Justice Council seeks $300K to finish curriculum overhaul, flags training, canine and space costs

Christopher Burkell, executive director of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 25 that the council’s FY2026 budget is largely personnel and space costs and that the council is asking the Legislature to consider a $300,000 addition to complete a multi‑year curriculum overhaul.

Burkell said the Legislature previously appropriated $1.2 million for a three‑year curriculum rewrite; the council’s contractors estimate the full cost at $1.5 million, leaving a $300,000 gap. “We have been in the hole while we’re not at the end of that yet,” Burkell said. He said curriculum work will require ongoing maintenance and likely more staff time than a single position can provide.

The nut of the council’s budget, Burkell told the committee, is that 45% of its costs are salaries and benefits, 23% is a fee‑for‑space charge and the remainder is split among targeted funds and required training costs. Burkell said the council’s board shows a $386,000 (about 10%) increase in the FY2026 request, of which roughly 3.92% is for…