Vermont Veterans Home seeks $1.05 million for air‑handler replacements and new laundry facility

The Vermont Veterans Home asked a Corrections & Institutions committee for clarification on two capital requests in the governor’s FY2026 budget: $730,000 to replace air handlers across the facility and $420,000 to build a new laundry area.

The requests matter because facility staff said many heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning units are at the end of their service life, leaving residents at risk of losing heating or cooling when units fail. Melissa Jackson, CEO of the Vermont Veterans Home, told the committee the home has identified roughly 80 air handlers and that "we have identified at least 10 that are not functioning and would need immediate replacements." She said several others are failing and cannot be reliably repaired because of the EPA phase‑out of R‑22 refrigerant.

Committee members pressed for details on costs, timing and scope. Greg Cruzan, director of environmental services at the home, said lead time for ordering replacement units can be "up to 30 weeks from time…