Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott answers questions about a standoff with the Legislature on Thursday, June 14, 2018, in Elmore, Vt. Scott says he will likely veto a second budget bill, but will see if Democratic lawmakers offer last-minute solutions. Scott has until the end of day Thursday to decide. Democrats say they can't change the budget. (AP Photo/David Jordan)
Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott answers questions about a standoff with the Legislature on Thursday, June 14, 2018, in Elmore, Vt. Scott says he will likely veto a second budget bill, but will see if Democratic lawmakers offer last-minute solutions. Scott has until the end of day Thursday to decide. Democrats say they can't change the budget. (AP Photo/David Jordan) Credit: David Jordan

Dear Governor Scott,

I think we got off on the wrong foot. We haven’t met before so I don’t think it was anything I said; perhaps it was something I did? I am a school board member, so that may have something to do with it.

Last November, you asked me to be mindful of property tax rates in Vermont and to restrict school budget growth to no more than 2.5 percent. Then you invited me and other board members to an education summit in December to discuss the educational challenges the state faces. At that meeting you asked us to “take a collaborative approach and agree to pull in the same direction.”

I took those requests to heart. To be honest, I agreed with you — we do have some fundamental issues related to education spending that we really need to address. My family pays more than $1,000 a month in property taxes — I get it. So I worked with my colleagues on the School Board in Norwich to develop a reasonable (and conservative) budget. And because I am part of an interstate school district, I found myself repeatedly appealing to my colleagues in New Hampshire for sympathy and restraint in budgeting. They were receptive, but I believe that many grew tired of my mantra by the time budget season was over.

But in the end both boards pulled through. The Norwich expenditure budget was up 1.85 percent over the prior year. The Dresden expenditure budget was up 1.9 percent. I was proud of the work that we did. We maintained a very strong educational program at all of our schools. In some cases we even managed to expand offerings through some creative staffing scenarios and careful resource allocation.

No, we didn’t level-fund our budgets. But I did spend a lot of time telling people that, even if we had, we would still be looking at a property tax increase. I walked through the tax rate calculation at Town Meeting. I explained to folks why Norwich was looking at a significant property tax rate increase despite very modest budgeting. And no, I didn’t blame it all on Montpelier. I explained to everyone that we, Norwich, and every other school district in the state played a role in our current situation.

I’ll admit, I’m not that happy with a tax rate increase. But I understand why — and I’m pretty sure those folks who came to Town Meeting, or who watched it on CATV at home, understand as well. Using one-time money to pay down the tax rate put us in that situation.

But you seem unhappy too, and I’m not sure why. Collectively, school boards met your request, yet you’re now asking for even more. If you’d just let us know at the beginning, perhaps we’d be able to help. But now it just feels like you don’t trust me and want to handle this on your own — with your terms. If that’s the case, what is my role in all of this going forward?

Neil Odell

Chair, Dresden School Board

Member, Norwich School Board

Neil Odell, of Norwich, serves on the Norwich School Board, chairs the Dresden Interstate School Board, and is a member of the board of directors of the Vermont School Boards Association.