It’s that time again! Another year in the Mad River Valley has flown by and it’s time to compare last year’s predictions with what actually happened.
We predicted a great ski season and last season delivered! It was a season that was hailed as “early, cold and consistent” with Mad River Glen reporting over 157” of snow and Sugarbush 217.”
Mad River Glen had record numbers of ski visitors and Sugarbush’s season extended into May. Well-played Mother Nature.
We hoped for the fruition of some housing projects and the reviews are mixed. Sugarbush’s employee housing projects are on an extended hiatus apparently, but Shea Property Services got two-duplexes started in Waitsfield and Warren is contemplating whether its former town garage site can be redeveloped as housing.
We thought there may be some changes (any changes!) to the state’s education funding system, but there were not and the special legislative committee tasked with shrinking Vermont’s 100-plus school districts into five large districts basically said ‘no’ to the concept.
We hoped our health care center would be remain open in its current form and that did not happen, despite a lot of effort.
Let’s look ahead to 2026 and what it might bring. Local towns are reconsidering adopting Local Option Taxes, especially since online sales are now counted as part of retail sales that yield 1%. This may happen next year, especially with federal funding either MIA, reduced or simply non-existent. Infrastructure needs don’t stop accumulating when funding stops coming.
We know Warren’s speed humps, bumps and tables are coming back. Pretty sure they’ll get installed correctly this time. Waitsfield’s Meadow Road bridge is posted at eight tons. Let’s hope that is sufficient to keep the bridge open long enough for it to be replaced (see Local Option Tax above).
We know health care costs are going to be a bear for everyone in 2026 and we understand that pain. Health care is the primary driver of education cost increases but will not likely result in any changes to education funding this year either. (Remember to lobby your legislators!)
Going into 2026, ski it if you can, ski when you can, play outside as often as possible, help your neighbors, volunteer and keep the faith despite the predictions.
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