House Appropriations Committee opens 2025 budget season with JFO briefing, elects clerk

The Vermont House Appropriations Committee convened Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, to begin the 2025 budget season, hear an overview from Joint Fiscal Office staff on process and timing for the budget adjustment and FY26 budget, and elect Representative Trevor Squirrel as committee clerk.

The meeting focused on the schedule that will drive the committee’s work through the spring: the emergency board’s consensus revenue forecast upgrade on Jan. 22, the governor’s budget address on Jan. 28, and testimony and committee action leading toward final budget votes in late March and conference committee work into May. Catherine Benner, chief fiscal officer at the Joint Fiscal Office, and Emily Burton of the Joint Fiscal Office described JFO’s role supporting the committee and the near-term sequence of presentations and hearings.

Why it matters: the Appropriations Act is the legislature’s must-pass funding bill. As Emily Burton of the Joint Fiscal Office told members, “this is the only must pass bill. Government effectively shuts down if there's no budget on June 30th.” That timetable means the committee must move from learning the facts to weighing trade-offs quickly after the administration’s budget and the revenue forecast are known.

Most important facts and schedule

- Emergency Board revenue forecast: The committee was told the emergency board will meet Jan. 22 to set the consensus revenue forecast that frames FY26 budget choices. Maria (JFO) and staff signaled the Jan. 22 forecast will define “the size of the sandbox” available for next year’s spending.

- Governor’s budget and next steps:…