Making Vermont Affordable

In last week’s Chronicle, John Simons asked, “Katherine Sims, please give us your plan to make Vermont livable for working citizens and property owners.” I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Over the summer, I’ve had the privilege of meeting folks across the Kingdom. One thing is clear: you love this place. Whether your family has been here for generations or you’ve just planted roots, people care deeply about preserving the Kingdom’s values and traditions.

But we also face rising costs—wages aren’t keeping up, healthcare expenses are out of control, housing is scarce, and property taxes are a heavy burden.

Here’s how we can address these challenges and make Vermont affordable for everyday Vermonters:

1. Making Government More Efficient:
   We need to carefully evaluate taxpayer spending, ensuring programs deliver long-term benefits—especially for rural communities. Programs like Vermont Employment Growth Incentive, Efficiency Vermont, and the General Assistance hotel program must be reassessed to ensure they’re effective.

2. Lowering Housing Costs:
   We must streamline regulations to reduce the time and cost of building homes. Vermonters need affordable housing, whether they’re first-time homebuyers or middle-income families.

3. Supporting Small Businesses and Job Creation:
   Cutting unnecessary regulations and offering targeted incentives will create an environment where local businesses thrive, strengthening jobs and wages that keep families here.

4. Making Healthcare Affordable:
   While many solutions require federal action, we can take steps here in Vermont to reduce healthcare costs. This includes allowing Vermont Medicaid to negotiate drug prices, increasing price transparency, cutting administrative overhead, and focusing on preventative care. 

5. Reforming Property Taxes for Education:
   I voted against the recent property tax increase because Vermonters can’t afford it. We need to overhaul the education finance system, exploring income-based tax options, property tax caps, or a foundation formula to ensure fairness without burdening homeowners.

6. Lowering Utility Costs:
   Heating and electricity costs must be reduced. I supported Act 18’s study on cost-saving measures to meet emissions goals, but I share concerns about the potential rise in fuel prices if the Clean Heat Standard were implemented. I voted against the Renewable Energy Standard because of its potential to drive up utility bills and I’ll vote against the Clean Heat Standard if it increases fuel costs for Vermonters.

7. Building Flood-Resilient Communities:
   Recent floods remind us that investing in resilient infrastructure is critical. This will reduce recovery costs and protect communities from future disasters.

8. Tax Reform for the Middle Class:
   We need to shift the tax burden to the wealthiest Vermonters and large corporations. I support a new tax bracket for those earning over $500k, with the revenue going toward tax cuts for the middle class. I’ll also continue fighting to eliminate the state tax on Social Security benefits

The truth is, we face big challenges—but I’m ready to listen and work hard for solutions. I’ll always advocate for the needs of our community and fight for a better future where everyone can live, work, and retire with dignity.

Whether you vote for me or not, if I win, I’ll be there—listening to your concerns and working to move Vermont forward.