Chittenden County RPC committee asks Legislature to restore full property transfer tax funding; request approved

Catherine McMains, Chair of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Executive & Finance Committee, convened the remote meeting on Feb. 15, 2023, where the committee voted to approve a request asking the Vermont Legislature to provide full statutory formula funding for regional planning commissions.

The draft request asks the Legislature to increase funding for RPCs from $4,574,416 in fiscal 2023 to the statutory formula amount of $10,134,624 and to allow RPCs greater flexibility in how those funds are used. "We are not necessarily asking for more money, we are asking for more flexibility in what we can spend the money on," said Charlie Baker, Executive Director. Baker said the change would move RPCs away from single-year, program-bound allocations toward larger base funding that could be directed to housing, natural resources, climate and other regional needs.

Committee members voiced support and some concerns. Catherine McMains said she was excited about the range of projects currently underway but worried about the need to hire additional staff and the sustainability of expanded funding. Jeff Carr summarized the statutory allocation history, explaining that under the current statutory framework a portion of the property transfer tax was designated across several uses (including VHCB and planning) but that the Legislature has not always allocated funds to those statutory levels. Carr said that if the State expects RPCs to take on more work, the State should provide funding to match.

The committee approved the request in a motion by Mike O’Brien, seconded by Bard Hill; the motion "carried unanimously," according to the minutes. The motion authorized the Executive Director to circulate the request to the broader CCRPC board so board members could sign onto it; the minutes do not record an exact roll-call tally or the specific names of individual votes.

The minutes include a clarifying example of local need: Baker said Hinesburg sought RPC support on housing but the commission lacked discretionary funds to pay for staff time or consultants. Committee members agreed the proposed change aims to make RPC funding more responsive to municipal and state needs while maintaining accountability for how funds are used.

Next steps: the Executive Director is authorized to distribute the approved request to the CCRPC board for signatures and the commission’s leaders expect to pursue conversations with legislative appropriations leaders about implementing the statutory formula. The minutes do not record further formal action at this meeting.