The district said it took about a year and a half to get approved for the states grant.
funds
On Tuesday afternoon Gov. Phil Scott unveiled his fiscal year 2025 budget. Scott said were now back to pre-pandemic times where spending has to be more sustainable which is why his budget only increases roughly 2% to $8.6 billion.The general fund had a roughly 3.5% growth rate to $2.3 billion, the education rose to $2.4 billion, and transportation fund sits at $353 million. Key items this year are building more housing, improving public safety, and the opioid crisis, along with making Vermont more affordable. Scott called for millions of dollars of new investments into housing programs like VHIP to ease the housing shortage, and wants to give the judicial branch more money to reduce the backlog of pending criminal cases.However, the elephant in the room was the estimated 17%-19% property tax increase to pay for public schools over the next year. Scott wants lawmakers to look at potentially consolidating schools and said he is open to working with majority democrats.His administration says it would cost over $200,000 million to buy it down and not a feasible option. He also re-pitched other ideas he’s brought up in recent biennium’s. “From rightsizing schools and classrooms, to better addressing healthcare and retirement costs to property tax caps and adjustments, or more. Maybe we need to revisit and undo some of the things we have done that added to school pressures.” said Scott. However, Democratic leadership wanted a more tangible plan. “He didnt offer any solutions on the December 1stletter of the 18% potential tax increase and we were listening for that and didnt hear it. If your governor you have the ability to address only what you want and he talked a lot about fixing problems rather then funding them when he didnt want to spend money,” said Sen. Phil Baruth, the President Pro Tem of the senate. Scott said over and over he wants to work with the legislature but admitted democrats hold a supermajority in the house and senate and said he knows they may ignore his wishes. Scott also appealed to what he called the middle majority in the house and senate asking them to work with him on a spending plan Vermonters can afford.The legislature will begin crafting their budget this week.
Nine Helena educators have been awarded up to $500 through the Karen Cox Memorial Grant.This grant is given out by the Montana Professional Teaching Foundation
The annual Red Kettle Campaign brought in $317,000, surpassing their goal by about $12,000.
More than $1B has been awarded to schools for the fifth year running. Check out how each dollar is used to fund prizes, education, and MI Lottery operations.
The commission approved a $500,000 allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds to Helena Food Share.
PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID SPREADING THE ILLNESS. TODAY — LENNY’S SHOES…MAKING A WHALE-SIZED DONATION TO HELP END HUNGER IN OUR REGION. THESE WHALES TAILS SOCKS WERE SOLD EXCLUSIVELY AT LENNY’S IN OCTOBER… TWO DOLLARS FROM EVERY PAIR SOLD WENT TOWARDS ENDING HUNGER. THE SHOE AND APPAREL STORE, RAISING MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS, FOR THE VERMONT FOODBANK AND THE J-C-E-O PLATTSBURGH FOOD SHELF… AFTER COLLABORATING WITH DARN TOUGH — FOR THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW.
Whats better than a hearty stack of flapjacks?
The nonprofit groups 50 Mile March and Moving Veterans Forward are working together on Operation Home Base.
The funds from the Department of Energy will improve the quality of service to 90,000 OG&E customers.
Locally made pottery bowls are collected from students and artists and serve as momentum for a fundraiser to help fight hunger.
Avera Health donation helps Feeding South Dakota’s mobile food distribution group provide a half-million more meals in the state.