Vermont State Colleges seeks $54 million in FY27; highlights workforce training and allied‑health needs
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Summary
Chancellor Beth Moutz told the Appropriations Committee the system's FY27 request is $54,042,753, that the system will not seek bridge funding, and that allied‑health and micro‑credential investments are priorities despite the governor not recommending some items.
Beth Moutz, chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System, told the Appropriations Committee that the system's FY27 request is $54,042,753 and emphasized workforce and capacity projects that she said would support nursing, allied health and technical training across the state.
Moutz said the system will not ask the legislature for bridge funding in FY27 and described efforts to align campuses with local workforce needs. She highlighted a Johnson campus project that converted the McClellan Building to senior housing — funded in part by congressional directed spending — and said the system is working to move a health center out of a flood plain onto campus.
"One of the important things that I always like to talk about is the demographics of our students," Moutz said, noting that many students are older and need flexible, online and stackable credentials.
Moutz also described a request for an increase to the Allied Health/Global Commitment Fund. She said the system requested an additional $4,200,000 for that fund this year but that the governor did not recommend the increase; Sharon Scott, chief financial and operating officer for the colleges, explained the fund is tied to Medicaid dollars and supports clinical instruction and faculty positions needed for nursing and allied health accreditation.
The chancellor outlined micro‑credential initiatives — including a paraeducator certificate at the Community College of Vermont linked to teacher pathways — and congressional directed spending from Sen. Welch to start a composites program in partnership with Beta Technologies. Moutz said the colleges are also pursuing capital planning funding for predevelopment work on campus housing projects (a capital request the governor did not recommend).
When committee members asked about central‑plant replacement, Scott said the colleges had just signed engineering contracts and expected work to commence.
What happens next: The committee will weigh the colleges' requests alongside other budget priorities; presenters asked that the committee consider allied‑health funding and micro‑credential support when reviewing FY27 appropriations.
