Editor’s note: This commentary is by Charles Bergmann, an architect from South Newfane.
[S]ome thoughts on issues in Vermont:
Because citizens should pay for government and income is the only real measure of how much money a taxpayer might have in a given year, change the tax code such that only a graduated income tax (no property tax, no sales tax, no gas tax, no corporate tax, no inheritance tax) would be used to collect taxes. Out-of-state Vermont property owners could pay a reduced income tax.
Add a balanced budget amendment to the state Constitution. To reduce the number of laws in place add a “sunset law” to the Constitution wherein after seven years of life bills must be re-voted on to remain in place.
Since its goals are not unreasonable but its implementation is onerous and unclear, rewrite Act 250 to be a land use code wherein the actual criteria that must be met for a permit are carefully spelled out as is the case with a good building code.
Place all utility lines (electrical lines, phone lines, etc.) underground within a period of 25 years.
Provide vouchers for elementary through high school students to allow families to be better able to choose their schooling. This should not hurt good public schools, just allow alternatives.
Since both individuals and hospitals are being hurt by the present situation (hospitals do not get paid on big bills, citizens cannot pay large bills, Medicare and Medicaid underpay, good insurance policies subsidize others through the “shift”), require all to purchase a minimum coverage health plan with say a $10,000 deductible. The availability of many private insurance plans is preferable to a state run system. Provide vouchers to low income citizens.
On proposals to modestly raise the minimum wage, it will probably have little effect but I do not see it as harmful. A required change in pay each year based on the change in the cost of living index might help to keep pay more even.
Require welfare recipients to do 20 hours of work per week which benefits the public.
To support growth in existing village centers, provide state bonding guarantees to towns wishing to raise funds to install village water and/or septic systems.
Oppose proposed strip center type developments such as at Exit 1/Route 89 and Exit 4/Route 89 as they destroy beauty and farmland at a situation which our public highway expenditures created and also take development away from existing town centers.
On proposals to modestly raise the minimum wage, it will probably have little effect but I do not see it as harmful. A required change in pay each year based on the change in the cost of living index might help to keep pay more even.
Because eminent domain has been abused beyond the intent of the Constitution, rewrite it to make clear that eminent domain may only be used for a public purpose that is available to all the public. Virtually all citizens want clear air and clear water so those qualities should be protected.
Expand the recycling/deposit program to include more objects such as wine bottles and metal and plastic containers.
Wind turbines, solar panels and river dams seem to me to be good, clean sources of power. With wind turbines we need to solve the noise and visual disturbance issues, solar panels should be placed on flat roofs and not covering fields, dams done with care can work well and not destroy the river or river life.
