Vermont

Public finance

The budgets for two fiscal years are submitted by the governor to the general assembly for approval during its biennial session. The fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June.

In 2002/03 Vermont began experiencing revenue shortfalls. $26.7 million in cuts were made in the budget after enacted in across-the-board cuts, and drawings were made on the state's rainy day fund. In 2002/03 more cuts were made on the enacted budget, totaling $13.1 million, in across-the-board cuts. In 2000/01, the state had a beginning balance that equaled 5.1% of expenditures. General fund revenues, at $896 million in 2000/01, fell to $835 million in 2002 and to $854 million in 2002/03. They are projected below the 2000/01 level for 2003/04, at $882 million. In 2001/02, the beginning balance was only 1.5% of expenditures; in 2002/03, 1.7% and in 2003/04, 1.8% of projected expenditures. Fiscal year 2003 base appropriations, combining funds from the general fund, the transportation fund, the education fund and special state funds including the tobacco settlement fund, were for K-12 education (49%), higher education (3%), human services (18%), corrections (4%), protection (6%), general government (7%), transportation (7%), debt service (3%), commerce (1%), and natural resources (2%).

The following table from the US Census Bureau contains information on revenues, expenditures, indebtedness, and cash/securities for 2001.

Vermont

  ($000) PERCENT PER CAPITA
Population (thousands, 2001) 613 (X) (X)
Total Revenue 3,143,100 100.00 5,127.41
General revenue 3,106,668 98.84 5,067.97
Utility revenue
Liquor store revenue 32,864 1.05 53.61
Insurance trust revenue 3,568 0.11 5.82
Exhibit: Salaries and wages 535,854 15.90 874.15
Total expenditure 3,370,929 100.00 5,499.07
General expenditure 3,200,408 94.94 5,220.89
Education 1,315,939 39.04 2,146.72
Public welfare 763,765 22.66 1,245.95
Hospitals 9,205 0.27 15.02
Health 77,440 2.30 126.33
Highways 256,299 7.60 418.11
Police protection 43,112 1.28 70.33
Correction 71,988 2.14 117.44
Natural resources 82,291 2.44 134.24
Parks and recreation 13,572 0.40 22.14
Government administration 203,496 6.04 331.97
Interest on general debt 124,945 3.71 203.83
Other and unallocable 238,356 7.07 388.84
Utility expenditure 4,384 0.13 7.15
Liquor store expenditure 31,220 0.93 50.93
Insurance trust expenditure 134,917 4.00 220.09
Debt at end of fiscal year 2,325,609 100.00 3,793.82
Cash and security holdings 4,679,114 100.00 7,633.14