[M]att Dunne is proposing the state invest in affordable housing through a $200 million revenue bond issue — a mechanism he said is used elsewhere for public works projects such as roads and bridges.
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate unveiled that and other anti-poverty ideas at a news conference Thursday in Barre Town.
He said he would pay for a 20-year revenue bond for housing by charging a $2-a-night occupancy fee on lodging. He said that would raise $12 million a year toward helping low-income Vermonters get homes.
This kind of bond issue is done successfully in other parts of the country, he said. The money would build enough homes for all Vermonters, Dunne said.
“I want to make it so that every person who visits Vermont will know that the person serving them food and the person cleaning their room has a safe place to live,” Dunne said.
His other proposals included investing in individual development accounts and microfinance.
Microloans allow low-income people to start a small business, and with that the middle class can be rebuilt, Dunne said.
Dunne also wants to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021. He said he realizes this might be hard for some small businesses to adjust to and would use part of the $200 million revenue bond to help ease their difficulties.
Both his chief rivals in the Democratic primary have called for Vermont to move toward a $15 minimum wage. Sue Minter’s plan is to raise it to $12.50 by 2018 and “continue a gradual step up to a livable wage of $15.”
Peter Galbraith says that as governor he would “propose moving to (a) $12.50 minimum wage immediately, with increases up to $15 an hour.”
Dunne said income taxes would also be more aggressive if he were elected, adding that some of the exemptions aren’t appropriate. In his position statement, he cites the sales tax exemption on airplane parts as one he wants to eliminate.
Lachlan Francis, a volunteer for Dunne’s campaign, said he is supporting Dunne because he wanted a candidate who would tackle the poverty issue. Francis said he grew up in a rural town in southern Vermont and some members of his graduating class of 17 are in correctional facilities now. Dunne is someone who would help people like those classmates who came from a low-income background, Francis said.
Dustin Tanner, another volunteer for Dunne’s campaign, said he grew up in a low-income household in Fairfield and is supporting Dunne because more needs to be done to fight poverty in Vermont.
“It’s tough growing up poor,” Tanner said.
Tanner said Dunne is the only gubernatorial candidate who has been able to discuss the issue openly.
