MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A conference committee of Vermont lawmakers on Wednesday began hammering out the details of a sweeping education reform bill that passed both chambers.

A conference committee of six House and Senate lawmakers began deliberations over their differences on the bill. There are broadly two schools of thought on how to solve the education property tax issue — bending the cost curve by passing a new funding formula, while achieving savings through consolidation and larger student-to-staff ratios. The alternative is putting more tax revenue into the Education Fund by switching from a property tax to an income tax model.

Former state Representative Mark Woodward was in the Legislature in the ‘90s and was key in shaping the current system after the Vermont Supreme Court ruled in the Brigham case, which found the previous system was not equitable. He describes this year’s bills as just “kicking the can down the road.” He says calling it is a politically tricky moment. “This is an important political decision that people can play both sides of. They can say yes, I voted to lower your property taxes, and they can say I voted to take your local school away,” Woodard said.

This is all aimed at reigning in school spending, which has peaked at over $2 billion, leading to a double-digit tax hike last year.

It remains to be seen what Governor Phil Scott will accept, but he has signaled a veto and a special session if this year’s reforms don’t go far enough. “While the Senate moving this bill forward today is an important procedural step, I still cannot accept either the House or Senate versions. I do however remain optimistic about finding a path forward with the committee of conference,” Scott said in a statement last week.

The education bill conference committee is expected to work through next week.

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