It’s not a new story. Vermont’s designated agencies have been telling lawmakers for years that chronic underfunding is threatening their mission.
But the publicly funded private nonprofits that provide community-based mental health services on behalf of the state now say the current labor market has them at a breaking point. With workers able to claim equivalent — or higher — wages at grocery stores and restaurants, they say a mass exodus of staff is drastically impacting services.
Julie Tessler, executive director of Vermont Care Partners, a group that advocates for the designated agencies, told the House Committee on Health Care on Friday that a little over 30% of staff turned over last year, systemwide. In programs serving people with developmental disabilities, there’s a 50% vacancy rate.
The workforce crisis is so profound that there are situations in which agencies simply can’t guarantee clients a baseline level of care or safety, Tessler said.
“It’s very concerning, very scary. It’s certainly not something I ever wanted to say to this committee — that that’s where we’re at. But that is where we’re at,” she said.
Ben Rees, a community integration specialist at Northeastern Family Institute in South Burlington, told the committee that his organization had been trying to hire a clinical case manager for months now. It can’t.
“I’ve gotten ready for about four or five interviews only to have them canceled day-of or the day before,” he said. “Either they’re getting paid more out of state where they can go and it’s a livable wage, or they found — one of them found a job at Trader Joe’s.”
With workforce shortages striking all parts of the state’s low-wage economy, lawmakers have set aside $60 million in this year’s budget adjustment bill to pay retention bonuses to frontline workers across the human services.
But Vermont Care Partners doesn’t just want one-time help. It’s asking the state to increase its Medicaid reimbursement rates by 10%, and to pledge more ongoing support in the future.
With the state’s coffers momentarily flush with federal cash, one-time bonuses are a relatively easy ask. Ongoing support is a different story. Still, Tessler said she thinks lawmakers are listening.
“This is a uniquely difficult circumstance, and I certainly have never testified at the Legislature that we’re concerned about the health and safety of some of the people we serve,” she said. “I’ve never said that.”
— Lola Duffort
IN THE KNOW
State legislators appeared skeptical about a proposed change to Burlington’s charter that would allow city councilors to bar evictions without “just cause.”
Members of the House Committee on Government Operations had their first opportunity Thursday to flesh out H.448, a bill that combines three proposed charter changes Burlington voters decisively approved in March 2021.
Multiple legislators harped on the proposed language’s level of detail, saying it lacked specific enforcement measures, and didn’t elaborate on how landlords might have to compensate tenants for removing them from an apartment.
City charter amendments are subject to approval by the Legislature and the governor.
— Jack Lyons
Judiciary officials had previously cited poor HVAC systems as one reason they couldn’t reopen some courthouses. Now, after working on air quality at several sites, the biggest challenge is a lack of security personnel, court administrators told the Senate Judiciary Committee Friday morning.
The judiciary contracts with sheriff’s departments across the state for courthouse security.
“It’s an important partnership, but we understand that not only are the sheriffs a law enforcement agency, they’re also a business, and we simply can’t pay as much as the sheriffs can make doing private contract work,” said Associate Supreme Court Justice Harold Eaton. “That’s just the reality. We will always be outbid on work if it’s going to the highest bidder.”
The governor’s budget proposal recommends $750,000 for courthouse security, which would enable the courts to pay existing personnel $37.60 an hour, Eaton said. The judiciary has requested about double that budget, which would enable it to raise wages to $45 an hour, Eaton said to the committee.
Chief Superior Court Judge Tom Zonay also presented Friday morning on the courts’ case backlog: As of June 2019, there were 2,401 active pending cases in family courts. As of Feb. 1, there were 3,450.
Similarly, in June 2019 there were 8,209 active criminal cases. As of Feb. 1, there were 14,900 — an increase of more than 80%.
— Riley Robinson
ON THE MOVE
After spirited debate Friday, the state Senate gave preliminary approval to a Brattleboro charter change that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in municipal elections.
That change also would allow youth voters to run and serve as town meeting representatives and on the local selectboard. The vote was 20-9.
However, Friday’s debate may prove moot, as a spokesperson for Gov. Phil Scott signaled Scott would likely veto the measure.
— Riley Robinson
IN CONGRESS
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who formerly chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with top Senate colleagues, Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden on Thursday to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court seat soon to be vacated by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
The president still has not released a shortlist of picks, but has committed to uphold his campaign promise to nominate the country’s first Black woman to the bench.
In a press release Thursday night, Leahy said the meeting with the president was “productive.” Also in attendance were U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Alex Padilla, D-Calif.; and Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.
“President Biden and I are both former chairs of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and we understand just how important it is for the President to consult with the Senate throughout this process,” Leahy said. “I commend President Biden for seeking our input early on. I am confident that he will nominate a brilliant and talented Black woman who will excel as a Justice and who will make the Court better reflect our richly diverse nation.”
— Sarah Mearhoff
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH
The Chef’s Special today was chicken florentine with mixed vegetables and garlic herb quinoa. On Monday, chef Bryant Palmer says we can expect beef and veggie lo mein, and on Tuesday, lasagna. The Garfield in all of us rejoices.
— Lola Duffort
WHAT’S ON TAP
TUESDAY, FEB. 15
15 minutes after the floor — Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs will take stock of the governor’s veto on H. 157, the contractor registry bill. Guests include Chris Curtis, from the public protection division at the Attorney General’s Office, and Jaye Johnson, general counsel for the governor.
1:15 p.m. — House Ways and Means will get a sneak peek at how school budgets are shaping up from Agency of Education finance manager Brad James.
1:30 p.m. — Senate Finance will mark up and possibly vote on S.53, “an act relating to exempting feminine hygiene products from the Vermont Sales and Use Tax,” which is actually not about tampons at all, but instead now a rider for corporate tax reform.
1:30 p.m. — Senate Government Operations will take testimony — again — on S.171, a bill to create a state ethics code.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Low-income, refugee families face eviction from Winooski apartments (VTDigger)
Bald eagle, symbol of conservation, removed from state endangered list (VTDigger)
