Senate Transportation hears DMV FY26 budget as FAST system shifts costs to vendors and fees boost revenue

Andrew Collier, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, told the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 12 that the department’s recommended FY26 budget shifts costs as the FAST core system moves from implementation into maintenance and operation, and that the department is “right on target” with its FY25 spending.

The shift includes a $1,850,000 increase under personal services to cover maintenance and operations for the FAST system, Collier said, and a 22% rise in contractual/third‑party costs tied to vendor contracts for system operation. Collier said the final phase of the FAST system is scheduled to go live in November of this year.

The budget presentation also identified cost savings and offsets. Collier said postage and printing costs are decreasing by about $420,000 because scanned materials and electronic transfers have reduced mailed correspondence. The department is also accounting for vacancy savings at about 5% of salaries and benefits, and noted internal service fund charges—such as…