To the Editor
As we approach voting season what is the key issue? We all can list eight or ten major issues—high property taxes, expensive schools, lack of workers, weak business growth, increased out-of-state property ownership, etc. There’s one issue that should rise above the noise of all others. That one issue is housing. Increased housing opportunities will allow our workforce to grow, bring in young families, fill our schools, reduce our tax burden, and allow Vermont to grow and make its economy healthy again. As Alex Horowitz of Pew Charitable Trust said, access to housing is the issue that most directly impacts affordability.
To be clear, I mean housing for anyone who wants to own a home, rent a home, lease a home, or maybe just see a home in their future. Note I did not say house—I said home. That touches on one of the driving factors, which may not even be the most important one. When 50% of the houses in our area are second houses that's not good for our economy or our community.
Without homes, we can’t attract workers. The weak business economy is a consequence of a limited workforce, partially because they can’t find housing. And in many cases lack of housing is the only reason workers don't/can’t move here. Businesses, town governments, construction companies, ski areas all suffer from a lack of workers. In the Mad River Valley our current work force commutes from Danville, Morrisville, Montpelier, Barre, Roxbury, Granville, etc; they don’t live here.
The weak business economy is part of the reason our state taxes are so high. There are fewer businesses paying taxes each year, and that is directly tied to the lack of a workforce.
Our schools have falling enrollments partially because we don’t have sufficient housing options. Falling enrollment leads to a failing school system. Smaller and smaller classes mean schools can’t keep going and are forced to consolidate in hopes that our kids will have an opportunity for an adequate education. All of which makes us hopping mad because we love our local schools and we sure hate bussing kids all over the county as the only choice left.
As I listen to candidates campaigning I’m looking for new ideas, a creative approach, and at a minimum, a commitment to accelerate housing development at all levels in Vermont. The lack of homes is Vermont's big issue right now.
Jito Coleman, Warren
