With federal stimulus money filling what otherwise would be huge budget holes, Vermont lawmakers are moving to wrap up work on the general fund, transportation and capital construction budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
All three of the state’s major budgets are being kept in balance, thanks to big contributions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus package worked out by President Barack Obama and Congress earlier this year.
Even with the money coming in, there will be some tax increases and budget cuts. Taxes on capital gains income, hard liquor and tobacco products appear to be headed up. Scholarship, job training and land conservation are among the programs facing cuts.