This comment concerns Vermont business leaders. Their names are listed under the text.
On January 28, Governor Scott unveiled his state budget for the 2026 fiscal year, and he included a disturbing proposal that threatened to derail critical progress in the fight against the aging crisis of our state. Despite the promise of the legislators of law 76 to remedy the urgent crisis of the Vermont day care – the governor proposed to divert more than $ 20 million allocated to childcare services at unrelated government expenses. If legislators support his proposal, this would come back to the commitment that has been made to Vermonters and put in danger in the progress we have made to date on childcare services.
Let’s be clear: Vermonters massively support the resolution of the childcare crisis because they know that it is essential for families, businesses and our economy. With the new funds allocated so far, we have made significant progress. Thanks to expansions of assistance in tuition fees under law 76, nearly 2,000 families have experienced lower child care costs, attenuating financial charges which too often prevent parents from participating in the hand in hand -The work.
More than 1,000 new daycare areas have been created, allowing more Vermonters to work and provide more reliable workforce to businesses. And, critically, remuneration and benefits for early childhood educators – the backbone of this system – have increased, helping us to preserve and attract talented professionals that our children deserve.
But this progress is fragile and fully solve the childcare crisis will take years and the continuous investment of our state. In other words, we have much more work to do. Entertaining funds far from daycare – Even temporarily – is a terrible approach to the development of policies that threatens our progress and our economic viability.
The governor himself said that we should interrupt the raid on the transport fund to pay the expenses of the general fund. Why then, in the same budget, would it propose to reduce the funds available for the childcare system? The administration’s proposal would establish a horrible previous one and take the Vermont at a time when we cannot afford to vacillate our commitment to resolve the childcare crisis.
The evidence is clear: investing in the daycare pays dividends. Each dollar spent supports parents on the job market, promotes the development of children so that they are ready to learn when they enter school and strengthen local savings. The reduction of our investments when we have just started to see the gains is short-sighted and counterproductive, canceling the progress we have made and delaying the promise of a future where each family of Vermont has access to a guard affordable and high quality children.
We urge our state legislators and the governor to do the right thing: to use each dollar previously allocated to day care – to resolve the Vermont child care crisis. Together, we can hold our responsible leaders and ensure that the Vermont remains a place where families can prosper, companies can develop and children can reach their full potential. Let’s not lose the momentum we have built. The future of our state depends on it.
Michele Asch, officer of chief, skin care of Twincraft
Andrea E. Bacchi, specialist in digital marketing and commercial solutions, Think Dynamic Digital, LLC
Anne Barlow, owner, Anne Meredith Design
John Beal, partner, V / T commercial
Alyssa Blask Campbell, CEO, Seed & Sew
Erin Buckwalter, Deputy Director of Commitment and Development, Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Rebecca Carienti, founder, acupuncture and somatic refuge
Kelly Clements, president, decor of the Gordon window
Emma Couch, director, mountain goat
Jack Crivi-Kramer, Co-PDG, Nick & Jack Studios
Lisa Mr. Danforth, owner and founder, mobile bar tonic
Christine Dodson, CEO, Mamava
Adeline Druart, CEO, Lawson’s fine liquids
Kristin Dunne, executive director, Mary Johnson Children’s Center
Maia Eck, co -owner and sales manager and marketing, back roads food co.
Mark Foley Jr., owner and president, Foley Services,
Byron Garcia, founder, Natural Designs LLC
Dimitri Gardener, co-founder, Global-Z International
Sharron Harrington, Executive Director, VTAEYCY
Sam Hooper, owner and president, Vermont Glove
Theresa Hylander, owner, wild roots
Teddy Kramer, sales associate, Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors
Tawnya Kristen, Executive Director, Green Mountain United Way
Meghan Ksiazek, vice-president of the ESG, torture fur
Sean Lawson, owner and founding brewer, Lawson’s fine liquids
Julie Lineberger, owner, architecture Linesync; President, Wheelpad L3C
Christopher Miller, World Director of Social Mission, Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc.
Tom Moody, director partner, Moody Advisors PLC
Ryan Munn, founder and chief of value, Interchain LLC
Christina Nelson, owner, Mountain View Child Care
Leslie Parker, founder, Sustainvt by LBP Consulting
Jason Parkin, president and leader of creation, composes (d)
Amy-Louise Pfeffer, strategic advisor, leading in nested systems
Peter Plumeau, founding partner, Reframe Lab
Sonja Raymond, owner, Apple Tree Learn Center
Wendy Rice, president and chief executive officer of Vermont Connector
Aly Richards, CEO, let’s grow children
Andy Robinson, consultant and coach, Andy Robinson Consulting
Erin Roche, director of Vermont, First Children’s Finance
Andrew Sambrook, owner, First Roots Roots Wild Roots
Michael Schafer, sales manager, Vermont Smoke & Cure
Barbara Schindler, CO-PDG, empowerment of leadership teams
Liz Schlegel, Executive Director, The Alchemist Foundation
Michael Seaver, former regional president of Vermont (2009-2023), People’s United / M & T Bank
Pat Sheehan, Innkeeper, The One Cat Bed & Breakfast
Lynne Silva, owner, Silva Group LLC
Mary Simmons, project coordinator, Birdseye
Win Smith, CEO, Summit Ventures Ne LLC
Dan Smith, President and CEO, Vermont Community Foundation
Anastasia Surmava, owner, Enterprise Surmava
Tim Volk, strategic advisor, KSV
Roxanne Vought, Executive Director, Vermont Business for Social Responsibility
Lissa Weinmann, partner, 118 Elliot
Alexandria Whitcomb, owner, family daycare of Alex Whitcomb
Rebecca White, Associate Director of Cooperative Identity, Hanover Co-Op Food Stores
Mickey Wiles, founder, working fields
Sarah Camille Wilson, Executive Director, Old Starkes Home
Monica Yannes, Director, Little School Inc