House Government Operations & Military Affairs catalogs FY2027 budget requests from nonprofits, agencies and towns
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Summary
The committee reviewed a preliminary spreadsheet of FY2027 budget requests — including $5 million from the Vermont Food Bank, $337,439 for the Vermont Veterans Home, and a request tied to FEMA-denied flood claims — and set a schedule to finalize its budget letter to House Appropriations by Feb. 26.
The House Government Operations & Military Affairs committee met Tuesday to inventory FY2027 budget requests submitted by nonprofits, state agencies and local towns and to set internal deadlines for its recommendation letter to House Appropriations.
Representative Pango, who led the session’s presentation of a preliminary spreadsheet of requests, said the Vermont Food Bank is seeking $5,000,000 in total: $2,000,000 for the Vermonters Feeding Vermonters program, $2,000,000 for the food bank network (shelves and meal sites) and $1,000,000 for a ready-response emergency food access fund. "They have requested $5,000,000," Pango said, and members were asked to check their portfolio assignments and verify details with their assigned "budget buddy."
Other prominent requests included a $337,439 general-fund ask for patient-care positions at the Vermont Veterans Home. Pango said the Veterans Home’s CEO, Melissa Jackson, reported the facility’s total budget is approaching $31,000,000 and that the request aims to avoid recurring mid-year budget adjustments.
The committee also reviewed an attorney general’s office submission that includes conversions of limited-service positions to permanent posts and additional base funding for diversion and pretrial services; Pango described separate AG requests for a $335,000 ongoing legal case-management system and a proposed $1,500,000 transfer to cover a self-funded deficit in the Medicaid fraud and residential abuse unit. Committee members agreed to invite the attorney general’s office for a deeper briefing to clarify the figures and the proposed use of FY25 recoveries, which were unclear in the spreadsheet.
Other items reported: - NOFA (organic farmers) requested $500,000 for programs to strengthen farm viability and address food security. - The Vermont State Ethics Commission requested $351,382 for a general counsel, a staff attorney and related costs. - "Mon Access Network" submitted repeated memos seeking full funding of $1,890,000 (including $90,000 tied to community radio); the spreadsheet currently reflected $540,000, and Pango urged members to review the organization’s memos before a fuller budget discussion. - Common Good Vermont requested $563,442 split between $295,665 in one-time help for nonprofits and $267,777 in base funding for nonprofit capacity and state contracting improvements.
Pango relayed a written request from Rep. Wozesak that the committee consider supporting the appropriation language in H.679, an all-hazards flood bill, after FEMA denied an appeal for July 2025 flood damages estimated at $1,850,000 (about $1,400,000 of that in the town of Sutton). Pango said the committee could include support for H.679 in its letter to House Appropriations.
On schedule, Pango reminded members that House Appropriations hearings run through Feb. 13 and that the committee’s budget letter is due to House Appropriations on Feb. 26. She asked members to finalize section reviews before that date because the legislature will recess for town meeting break and cannot be expected to extend the timeline beyond Feb. 27.
The committee did not take formal votes during this session; members asked agency representatives to appear at later hearings for clarification on complex requests. The committee planned to reconvene later the same day at 2:00 p.m. to address a separate agenda item and to continue deeper deliberations on FY2027 funding requests.
What’s next: staff will share memos and the spreadsheet updates with members; the committee will invite the attorney general’s office for a follow-up briefing and will consider whether to include support for H.679 in its appropriations letter to House Appropriations.
