VLCT's State of the Municipalities Survey
VLCT has sent local officials throughout the state its first annual "State of the Municipalities" survey. The survey's purpose is two-fold: first, to gauge the fiscal health of municipalities across Vermont; and second, to use the information collected and subsequent report generated to augment advocacy efforts in the Statehouse during the 2010 session of the Vermont Legislature. While this effort will be new to local government in Vermont, similar surveys and reports have been used as part of the advocacy and outreach efforts of organizations such as the National League of Cities, as well as in states such as Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oregon. Don't forget to read the letter and set of instructions and tips sent out with the survey. The deadline to complete it is Friday, November 13.
Click here to take the survey.
Attend a VLCT Legislative Preview
December 1 in South Burlington, December 2 in St. Johnsbury, and December 8 in Windsor. They're free. Details here.
Town Fair 2009
Town Fair, Vermont's premier conference for municipal officials, was held on October 1, 2009 in the Barre Municipal Civic Center. The event featured numerous informative workshops plus ample opportunities to network among local officials. The "fair" part of Town Fair showcased more than 80 vendors. At VLCT's Annual Meeting, members discussed and then voted on the Municipal Policy, which sets VLCT's legislative priorities for 2010. Synopses of many of the workshops and a photographic spread are on the Town Fair page here.
Tax Foundation reports prove Vermont's high property taxes are out of proportion with nation.
Read Steve Jeffrey's October 16 press release here.
The H1N1/Swine Flu Page
Current links and related information. Also, look here for whom to contact in case VLCT staff are absent due to illness.
