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State lawmakers brief council on homelessness funding, TIF refund and transportation funds
Summary
State representatives told the council the state budget includes $500,000 in municipal homelessness grants (bill H938), a roughly $150,000 refund for Barre City in a yield bill tied to TIF district overpayment, and efforts to shore up the transportation fund (a $10 million annual adjustment) amid falling gas‑tax revenue.
Representative Wazizak (speaker 7) gave a detailed legislative briefing on several bills and budget items. He said the House budget includes $500,000 for municipal homelessness grants and that municipal grants could be used to fund a local housing and homelessness liaison position; he noted the money still needs senate approval. "Everything I'm seeing indicates that that money would be eligible to be used, for the housing and homelessness liaison position," he said.
Wazizak also said the yield bill includes a second four‑year refund payment to the city tied to a TIF overpayment, totaling about $150,000, but that the bill still must clear the senate and the governor. On transportation funding, he told councilors the governor asked for a permanent formula change and the legislature had adjusted a formula to move roughly $10,000,000 a year into the transportation fund; he attributed the broader funding pressure to reduced gas‑tax receipts as vehicles become more fuel‑efficient.
Senator Maggie (speaker 14) added updates on a compromise in S224 (fishing/tournament permits on drinking‑water sites) and noted other measures moving through the senate. Representative Boutin (speaker 10) summarized several bills affecting the city, including allocations to opioid‑abatement and recovery housing and an education technology ticketing bill with a resale cap.
