Vermont

Most Vermont hospitals enter this year’s budget season in the red

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2022

Most Vermont hospitals enter this year’s budget season in the red

Vermont’s hospitals emerged from the most recent coronavirus surge in a a lot weaker monetary place than earlier than the pandemic, their filings with state regulators present.

Most hospitals — together with the state’s largest — anticipate to complete this fiscal yr, which runs till Sept. 30, with a loss from regular operations. Taken collectively, Vermont’s hospitals anticipate a $63 million deficit.

Virtually 70% of that — round $43 million — is attributable to the College of Vermont Medical Middle in Burlington.

Central Vermont Medical Middle in Berlin, a part of the identical community that runs UVM Medical Middle, is projecting a $13.5 million deficit.

The state’s second-largest hospital, Rutland Regional Medical Middle, is projecting a $12.5 million loss from operations this yr.

Hospital leaders cited personnel shortages, rising inflation and an overreliance on expensive journey workers as causes for the deficits. Most have requested the Inexperienced Mountain Care Board, the physique that regulates hospital progress in Vermont, for substantial funds will increase within the subsequent fiscal yr to assist make up for this yr’s steep losses.

Waiting for charge requests, the care board had set a two-year progress goal of 8.6% for hospitals, far above the three.5% it normally approves. However most hospital proposals exceeded that threshold.

Rutland Regional requested a 16% enhance over its present funds, nearly a $44 million enhance for the fiscal yr 2023, which begins Oct. 1. A lot of that might come from elevating the costs of providers for Vermonters with non-public insurance coverage, which might considerably enhance medical insurance prices for these populations.

The College of Vermont Medical Middle’s request for a ten% enhance equates to an additional $150 million in fiscal yr 2023. The 562-bed medical heart in Burlington is a regional hub for advanced medical care, medical resident coaching and extra.

This yr’s funds hearings start in mid-August. The board expects to resolve every hospital’s funds by September. The controversy the board will think about sometimes pits shoppers with industrial insurance coverage towards hospital executives.

Hospital executives usually argue they want extra money for facility repairs and very important providers, and sometimes warn that cuts of their funds proposals would translate into painful cuts in providers.

Shoppers, however, fear about being priced out of their insurance coverage, or being pressured to pay cash they don’t need to cowl their medical care.

The 2 factions are notably at odds this yr as inflation ratchets up the price of residing for shoppers. The identical pressures play a task in hospital funds, however, in contrast to earlier years, Vermont’s hospitals aren’t relying on state or federal support to save lots of them.

Most hospitals have famous that little to no Covid support is coming their method in fiscal yr 2023, however shockwaves from earlier surges proceed to have an effect on budgets. By some predictions, this fall might convey one other large Covid wave, however executives aren’t anticipating vital support, based on their funds projections.

Precisely how the board will steadiness these competing wants might be determined within the subsequent month or two. Both method, this yr’s funds season might be particularly necessary for hospitals and shoppers alike.

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Vermont

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

Published

8 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Vermont H.S. sports scores for Saturday, Jan. 11: See how your favorite team fared

The 2024-2025 Vermont high school winter season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from basketball, hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, Nordic/Alpine skiing and other winter sports.

TO REPORT SCORES

Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.

►Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

SATURDAY, JAN. 11

Boys basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Hartford at Middlebury, 12:30 p.m.

Missisquoi at Lake Region, 1:30 p.m.

Milton at BFA-St. Albans

Williamstown at Northfield, 6:30 p.m.

Girls basketball

Games at 2:30 p.m. unless noted

Danville at Winooski, 11 a.m.

Spaulding at Milton, 11:30 a.m.

Mount Mansfield at Colchester, 12:30 p.m.

Otter Valley at Mount Abraham, 12:30 p.m.

Montpelier at Stowe, 1 p.m.

Richford at Enosburg

Peoples at Twinfield/Cabot

Brattleboro at South Burlington

Burr and Burton at Champlain Valley

Rutland at St. Johnsbury

Williamstown at BFA-Fairfax, 3:30 p.m.

Boys hockey

Essex at Hartford, 2 p.m.

Burlington at U-32, 2:30 p.m.

Mount Mansfield at St. Johnsbury, 3 p.m.

Milton vs North Country at Jay Peak, 4 p.m.

Harwood at Stowe, 4:15 p.m.

South Burlington at Champlain Valley, 4:45 p.m.

Brattleboro at Woodstock, 6:45 p.m.

Rice at Burr and Burton, 7 p.m.

Spaulding at Middlebury, 7 p.m.

Rutland at Colchester, 7:30 p.m.

Girls hockey

Spaulding at Rutland, 11 a.m.

Woodstock at Brattleboro, 4:45 p.m.

Harwood at Burr and Burton, 5 p.m.

Rice at Burlington/Colchester, 5 p.m.

Stowe at Middlebury, 5 p.m.

Essex at BFA-St. Albans, 7 p.m.

U-32 at Kingdom Blades, 7 p.m.

Gymnastics

Harwood at Burlington, 2 p.m.

Montpelier, St. Johnsbury at South Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Michael J. Baker Classic at Essex

MONDAY, JAN. 13

Boys basketball

Games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Randolph at North Country, 6:30 p.m.

Harwood at U-32

Winooski at Twinfield/Cabot

Northfield at Milton

Brattleboro at Champlain Valley

Thetford at Williamstown

Oxbow at Hazen

Girls basketball

Vergennes at BFA-Fairfax, 7 p.m.

Essex at Burlington, 7:30 p.m.

(Subject to change)

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Vermont

Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

Published

19 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Scott’s plan to cut school spending worries some educators

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont educators are leery of plans from Gov. Phil Scott to control costs in Vermont’s education system. In Thursday’s inaugural address, Scott pitched sweeping plans to rein in spending which has led to skyrocketing property tax rates.

Last year, one-third of Vemont’s school budgets failed and voters sent more Republicans to Montpelier in years in what some dubbed a tax revolt.

Democrats say everything should be on the table to fix the tax troubles, but some in the education community remain wary.

In his address, the governor outlined a multiyear plan to overhaul how we fund public schools and rein in the cost of spending which has skyrocketed to $2.3 billion.

“In too many districts, teachers aren’t paid enough, administrators are tied up in bureaucracy, schools have too much empty space and many are in disrepair,” said Scott, R-Vermont.

He proposes consolidating dozens of school districts and supervisory unions, putting guardrails on local school spending and completely rewriting the school funding formula with the aim of cutting back on staff and the 80% of school costs that go to wages and benefits.

But some in Vermont’s education community see it another way.

“We have to be clear what is the problem we’re trying to solve. We’re not spending too much money in public education; we’re having a difficult time funding it,” said Don Tinney the executive director of the Vermont NEA.

The Vermont teachers union contends the state has enough taxing capacity to fund schools and students’ complex needs. But they say the state should instead fund schools through state and income tax instead of a property tax.

“We believe the income tax is the fairest way of doing that because people are paying what they can afford to pay,” Tinney said.

As for the funding formula, Scott argues more affluent towns that can afford higher property taxes spend more and approve their local budgets, which drives up costs in the statewide education fund.

“Those higher spenders can actually increase the rates of those districts whose kids and teachers are getting less,” Scott said.

The governor is expected to introduce a formula where districts are paid a flat rate and any additional spending would have to be raised locally.

But some worry that will lead to inequitable opportunities for kids.

“There are states that use foundation formulas to keep poor people poor and drive down public education costs and allow for more opportunities for private schools and school choice schemes. I can’t see Vermont allowing that to happen,” said Jay Nichols of the Vermont Principals’ Association.

Vermonters are still staring down a 6% property tax increase if school budgets as drafted pass on Town Meeting Day.

Scott says in the weeks ahead, he will unveil ideas to hold taxpayers harmless and keep taxes flat.

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Vermont

Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Vermont expected to get light snow Saturday. Here’s the forecast

Wintry weather spreads across the South

Significant snow and icy precipitation are moving from Texas to the Carolinas.

Following a week of cold temperatures and harsh winds, this weekend will see light snow across New England, including Vermont.

While the snow is expected to cover the entire state of Vermont, this weekend’s snowfall will be calm, with no strong winds to create a storm and only a small amount of accumulation.

Here’s what to know about the timing, location and effects of Saturday’s snowfall in Vermont.

Where in VT will it snow Saturday?

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Burlington, light snow is expected throughout the day on Saturday, with the greatest chances of snow in the morning. Most areas of the state will see one inch of snowfall, with two inches possible in the middle region of the state.

While Vermont has seen extremely strong winds over this past week, the wind is expected to die down Friday night and stay mild throughout the snow Saturday. As of right now, the NWS has not issued any hazards or warning for Saturday, as the snowfall is expected to be calm.

VT weather next week

Temperatures will stay in the 20s throughout the weekend, with slightly warmer temperatures coming in next week. Snow showers are expected overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

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