VTDigger Minute is a weekly news digest from Vermont PBS. Tune in every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. to hear about the week’s top stories.
This week on the Minute:
Teachers’ retirement pension costs cast a cloud over budget deliberations
As the money committees in the Legislature finalize the state budget, teacher pensions are casting a cloud over the process. Vermont is on the hook for $122 million to pay pensions for retired teachers. That debt has been underfunded over the past three decades, while costs have grown. Appropriations chair Jane Kitchel says finding ways to fund core services could be “painful.”
Senate passes bill allowing school districts to delay Act 46 mergers by a year
The Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill allowing some school districts to delay merging under Act 46 for one more year. The legislation would ask those districts to form merged school boards now, while allowing the separate districts to remain in place, with separate budgets, until July 1st, 2020.
Burlington city council gives final OK to City Hall Park renovation
Burlington’s City Council has given final approval to a plan to renovate City Hall Park, despite criticisms from a citizens group and a cost increase of more than a third. The city will spend $5.8 million on the project after estimating a $4 million cost.
