Property Taxes Push Vermont Into Legislative Civil War

Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott walks out the House chamber of the Statehouse after giving his budget address to the Legislature in January. The Legislature just overrode several of Scott's vetoes.

The Vermont state legislature has overridden several vetoes issued by Governor Phil Scott, passing into law several bills that increase property taxes, establish new drug overdose resources and mandate new spending on environmental issues.

The Vermont General Assembly, which is controlled by Democratic supermajorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, successfully overturned the Republican governor's veto on six bills, forcing through legislation that gives new resources to centers tackling drug overdoses, outlines new investment into renewable energy resources, and increases property tax by an average of almost 14 percent, in a bid to raise funding for education.

Scott, who was first elected in 2017, was extremely critical of the move, which saw all except one of his seven vetoes struck down. He branded Democrats in the assembly as having "little interest in compromise or listening to their constituents."

In a statement released after the vetoes were negated, Scott said: " Today is a sad day for Vermonters who simply cannot afford further tax burdens and cost increases. Many will talk about these votes as a major loss for me, but it's really a major loss for Vermont taxpayers, workers and families.

"Despite having an opportunity for commonsense – and more equitable, and affordable – compromises, the Legislature chose to override many consequential bills I vetoed on behalf of Vermonters.

"My team and I have spent this entire legislative session trying to keep costs down for Vermonters, while acting to make housing more affordable and more available, improving our education system for kids and taxpayers, and revitalizing communities so we can keep and attract the workers we desperately need."

Scott also said that the new laws would drastically increase electricity bills across the state, due to the introduction of the renewable energy standard. State Democrats were unable to strike down Scott's veto on a data privacy bill that would have allowed citizens to file civil lawsuits against companies that breach privacy rules.

Democrats have held both chambers of the Vermont state legislature since 2005, receiving supermajorities in both the Senate and the House for the first time at the 2022 midterms. Vermont Democrats caucus with the Progressive party, and many members of the Assembly are nominated by both parties.

Scott is the country's most popular governor, according to polling firm Morning Consult, and as of 2024 is the only Republican elected to statewide office in Vermont.

Newsweek contacted the office of Governor Phil Scott and the Vermont Senate Majority leadership for comment.

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