Vermonters value strong public schools, but many are increasingly concerned about the rising burden of education property taxes. As property values climb across the state, many homeowners—especially retirees and working families on fixed or modest incomes—are finding it harder to keep up, especially when their incomes have not increased.

I believe it’s time to seriously consider shifting Vermont’s education funding system toward a more equitable model based more on income and less on property values. Taxes should reflect a person’s ability to pay, and a family’s contribution to education should be tied more closely to what they earn, not simply to what their home happens to be worth.

Vermont has already acknowledged this principle. Most homeowners receive income-based adjustments to their education taxes, demonstrating that we recognize income matters. Expanding that approach would make the system fairer and provide relief to many Vermonters who feel they are being taxed out of their homes as property values continue to outpace increases in income.

At the same time, we must be honest about what such a change would accomplish. Changing how we raise revenue does not automatically reduce education spending. If we want to make education more affordable, we must also address the underlying drivers of costs while maintaining the high-quality schools our communities expect. There are ways to make education more affordable without cutting valuable programming for students.

The best path forward may be a balanced one: funding education primarily through a progressive income tax while retaining a smaller statewide property tax that ensures second homes and investment properties continue to contribute. Such an approach could reduce the burden on working families and retirees while preserving a stable funding base for our schools.

This conversation is ultimately about fairness, affordability, and sustainability. Vermont’s students deserve excellent schools, and Vermont’s taxpayers deserve a funding system that reflects today’s economic realities. We can achieve both if we’re willing to have an honest and thoughtful discussion about reform.