Vermont victim-services center asks lawmakers for $100,000 to cover grant administration and a 3% base increase

Jennifer Pullman, executive director of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 11, 2026, that the center is seeking the standard 3% base increase for state agencies and an additional $100,000 to support administration of roughly $2 million in state special and general funds that the center passes through to community providers.

Pullman said the center receives under $1.7 million in state general funds, most of which is passed through to network programs and prosecutorial positions that work with vulnerable victims; she said that leaves roughly $300,000 for the center's own operating costs. "We cannot continue to work for free," Pullman said, describing staffing reductions and rising insurance, rent and IT costs that the small agency cannot absorb without more administrative support.

Why it matters: The center is a quasi-state agency established under Title 13 (citing statutory authority including 13 VSA §5361 and related statutes) that administers the state-mandated victim compensation program, the Vermont restitution unit, and dozens of federal and state grants. Pullman said federal funding that once provided substantial administrative dollars has declined; she cited the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds dropping from over $6 million to under $3 million in recent years, which reduced grant-based administrative recovery.

Details of the request: Pullman asked the committee to retain two elements in the budget language that have passed the House: a 3% base increase for the center (about $49,502.73) and an additional $100,000 added to the center's base to provide approximately 5% administrative support for the $2,000,000 in state special and general funds the center administers. She said the center could ask for up to 10% administrative support but understands the budget climate and is seeking the smaller 5% level.

Operational context: Pullman said the center currently provides oversight to 60 subgrantees and about 260 subgrants, which carries federal and state reporting and technical-assistance obligations. She described staff levels falling from 29 to 19 employees (two part-time) and said the executive director role has absorbed multiple duties as positions remain unfilled.

Questions from lawmakers: Senator Lawrence asked Pullman to follow up with ideas about how surcharge collections and the distribution of special funds are structured, citing a 2022 Joint Fiscal Office report that found some special funds in decline while an SIU special fund doubled. Lawrence suggested Vermont consider an order-of-priority approach, as used in other states, to ensure victim services are prioritized when surcharge revenues are allocated. Pullman agreed to provide follow-up by email.

Next steps: The center's $100,000 addition and the 3% base increase were included in the House appropriations language; the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider whether to retain that language as the budget moves through the Senate.