Strategic Statement:
"We will make Vermont a more affordable place to live, work, start or build a business, by growing the economy and workforce, and building capacity in state government services through innovation, improvement and efficiencies."
Why is this important?
Breakthough Indicators:
► Percent of Household Income Spent on Housing/Utilities, Health Care, and Taxes/Fees.
Why is this important?
We must give Vermonters who currently live here the opportunity to keep more of what they earn, so they can build a brighter future for their families, contribute to a stronger economy, and can afford to stay, thrive and retire right here in Vermont.
Vermont frequently ranks as the safest, happiest and healthiest, and the state has a lot to offer young professionals, families and retirees. But unfortunately, quality of life alone hasn’t been enough to grow our working-age population.
Here are a few facts to consider:
- From 2013 to 2016, 2,000 more tax filers moved out of state than moved in, according to IRS data.
- We have 23,000 fewer people under the age of 20 than we did in the year 2000;
- We now have nearly 30,000 more over the age of 65 than we did in that same year;
- There are 30,000 fewer people between the ages of 25 and 45 than we had 10 years ago;
- Ours is the second oldest population in the country. If we do nothing, we’ll soon be number one.
This is exactly why a focus on affordability is so critical to the Administration’s work. In addition to a strong economy and high quality of life, we can make Vermont more affordable, and therefore more appealing and accessible to those who want to live here.