And recent analysis by leading Vermont economist Art Woolf shows less than half of Vermont taxpayers will actually receive a tax break. Promises are already being broken on tax breaks and benefits for Vermont children. Issue isn't if Act 60 will collapse, but when . This year's bolstering with state surplus may not go far now that the stock market is showing signs of difficulty. For some politicians, Act 60 may be part of an agenda to concentrate power in Montpelier at the expense of individual citizens and local communities.
Local control is a Vermont tradition that most people value highly.
The rationale behind Brigham Decision is not wrong. Core group of opposition to Act 60 includes the citizens most concerned and committed to equal educational opportunity in Vermont. They have achieved the goal of strong, egalitarian public schools at the local level and are well aware of documented failure of other centralized educational efforts. The vast majority of citizens opposed to Act 60 have expressed their opinions in a civil, respectful fashion. This opposition includes citizens from both ends of the political spectrum working together to head off a potentially devastating blow to the state's economy, children and social structure.