Presenter tells joint education committees Brigham (1997) remains the foundation of Vermont school‑funding law

MONTPELIER — At a joint meeting of the Vermont Senate Education Committee and House Education Committee, presenter John Grey reviewed the Vermont Supreme Court’s 1997 Brigham decision and told lawmakers the ruling continues to shape the state’s education‑funding obligations.

"I'm gonna be talking about what the court says rather than what a hypothetical court might mean," John Grey, a staff member who presented to the committees, said as he opened his briefing. Grey outlined the legal findings and practical implications of Brigham for lawmakers weighing changes to the state’s school‑funding system.

Brigham grew from challenges to an earlier system (Act 84) that relied heavily on local property taxes and a state foundation tax rate. Grey walked committee members through a hypothetical example the court used: at a 1% foundation tax rate with a $5,000 foundation cost, a property‑poor district with a $400,000 grand list per pupil would raise $4,000 and require $1,000 in state…