It's October, and with fall we have beautiful foliage, VLCT's Town Fair, and municipal budget planning. Because October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month, this issue of the VLCT Journal has information about IT services and cybersecurity (including how to be reimbursed for training from KnowBe4). It also features our legislative policy for the 2023-24 biennium, the next two legislative policy papers you can use for discussions with legislative candidates, important high-level budgeting tips, information about municipal planning grants, and more.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to follow us on Facebook for daily updates and links to hot topics.

Town Fair 2022 showcased peak foliage and was a highpoint for peer-to-peer connection and learning. Best of all, it snuck in just before Killington turned on their snow guns and started ski season. More about TF22.
VLCT recognized four champions of local government for their outstanding service.
Finance, cannabis, and more trainings are now available to view on demand in our bookstore.
Help your candidates for state office learn the importance of local government priorities.
Find helpful guidance and resources about the various laws governing pets of all kinds.
Our current rates for EyeMed vision care won't increase before 2027! See updated plan comparison and coverage information.
Explore the legislature's role and the funding sources that affect your ability to maintain municipal elements of the road network.

Shine a light on your salary and budget process with the 2022 Vermont Municipal Compensation and Benefits Report. Using this current payroll data — provided by your helpful municipal peers across the state and organized by VLCT — as you make decisions can help improve your recruitment and retention as well as your bottom line. Respondents will receive digital access via email and their free booklet in the mail. Those who didn't respond to the survey, or who would like an extra booklet, can purchase it from the VLCT Bookstore soon. Get yours.

If you know your town needs help with IT but you're not sure how or where to start, this toolkit is for you. It is designed specifically for small to mid-sized municipalities and provides a catalog of service options and descriptions along with RFQ templates you can use to reach out to the companies that provide these services.


Are you ready to budget for the next fiscal year? These important tips from VLCT's Municipal Assistance Center can help guide and keep you focused as you get started and continue along the budgeting journey.


Municipalities are preferred targets for phishing, email scams, and potentially more hazardous cybercrime. Training from KnowBe4 can help your employees learn the skills they need to avoid making a costly error for themselves and for your organization. And the best part is PACIF will reimburse members for two years of this training. Make sure to sign up soon: this is a limited time offer.


Over their 32-year history, municipal planning grants have helped communities build more affordable housing, plan village water and wastewater systems, develop and implement revitalization programs, and more. They are designed to help you tackle the planning phase for a variety of community projects. Make sure to apply for this critical program before the application period closes.


How we fund government at the state and local level, including paying for new legislative priorities, affects Vermonters in their pocketbooks every day. For most Vermont towns, the sole tax revenue source is the property tax. This municipal policy paper discusses the state's budgeting process and the unique ways that the tax system – and Vermont’s education funding structure in particular – constrains the ability of local governments to deliver vital services.


Public safety services are crucial to all Vermonters and are a critical topic for local officials to advocate for in the legislature. This white paper from VLCT Advocacy discusses the need for statewide funding and programs to entice new personnel, making training more accessible, and streamline dispatch services.


The 2023-2024 VLCT Municipal Legislative Policy was approved by the membership at VLCT's Annual Meeting on October 6. The policy focuses on five areas of importance: Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations; Public Safety; Quality of Life and Housing; Transportation; and Environment.


In the 2021 VLCT Annual Report, Ted Brady shares a brief organizational update of VLCT during his first year as Executive Director, including highlights of how VLCT is shaping itself in response to and anticipation of members' evolving needs. Look here also for a summary of VLCT's 2021 finances.


Last month, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, marking the largest federal investment in climate and clean energy. With a mix of federal funding and tax credits, the law includes a new mechanism for cities, towns, and villages to take advantage of many of the law's renewable energy tax incentives. Historically, only taxpaying entities were offered such incentives, but this legislation opens a new door for local governments. Read more.

PS: The Renewable Energy Vermont Conference & Expo is taking place on October 27 & 28 and will have more on this topic as it applies to Vermonters and Vermont municipalities.
Take the quiz, then scroll below for answers!
Do you know what it means to be part of a risk pool like PACIF?
Yes! It means my insurance and related programs are owned by municipalities.
No, I'm not sure how it's different from traditional insurance.
Yes! It means my needs and concerns are the prime motivator for what is offered.

Are any of your municipal buildings or streetlamps still relying on old, inefficient technology? High-efficiency LED lighting lasts years longer, and requires much less energy, than old bulbs and fixtures. That means less time spent replacing burnt-out bulbs and more time & money back for your community.

Efficiency Vermont is offering the biggest lighting discounts ever, making this the perfect time to switch out any old lighting to high-efficiency alternatives. These incentives are scheduled to change after next year, so start your project soon. Learn more.

Visit VLCT's new Sustainable Energy Resources webpages to see more ways Efficiency Vermont can work with municipalities.

VLCT extends a sincere thank you to all of our sponsors and Town Fair supporters, whose participation helps us provide you with the services you need all year long. We especially thank Efficiency Vermont, Vermont Blue Advantage, M&T Bank, NEMRC, Green Mountain Power, and Casella Waste Management. You can view all of our sponsors online at vlct.org/partners.

Recorded

Speakers for this training, scheduled to be held during Town Fair, were unexpectedly unable to attend. However, you can now view the training on demand.

SURVIVEVERMONT, Vermont's new public safety and community caretaking initiative, educates and empowers attendees with actions they can take to protect themselves and family members if they are confronted with an active shooter or other violent threat. View the training.

Wednesday, November 16
Locally Elected Auditors Training

Wednesday, November 30
Zoning Administrator 101

Friday, December 9
Finance Friday: Fixed Assets

More info on these is coming soon from VLCT's Municipal Assistance Center. Save the dates and be sure to check our events calendar to learn more. Bookmark the calendar.
PARTNER EVENTS

Friday, October 28
The Agency of Natural Resources informs and empowers local officials and volunteers through workshops presented by state officials. New additions include a plenary session with the State Office of Racial Equity as well as workshops about environmental justice, developing a municipal climate toolkit, and wetland identification, permitting and allowed use. View the full agenda and register.

Wednesday, November 16
VHFA brings together housing professionals from across Vermont to cover a comprehensive range of topics including housing development, single family financing, affordable housing, housing policy, local planning for housing, homelessness, and more.

We received an overwhelming response to last year's member survey (300+ responses from every region of the state and a variety of positions), which directly informed our five year strategic plan. Your continued feedback is critical in helping us know if we are meeting your needs today, and it will help shape future programs and services that VLCT provides. Click here to take the survey and enter the drawing.

Cyber criminals and the technology they use have been evolving at a rapid rate this year due in large part to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where a significant amount of electronic warfare is believed to have taken place. What does that mean for you? Jason Sgro, Senior Partner at ATOM, writes, "This new type of criminal is far more patient, capable, and tactically diverse than the previous pop-up criminal organizations." Learn about these increasing risks.

You can reach VLCT staff by phone or email Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM or by email at info@vlct.org.


Find all issues of the VLCT Journal at vlct.org/journal.

As always, be sure to follow us on social media and regularly check the updated home page of our website for breaking news and announcements.

Please contact us at vlctnews@vlct.org with any comments or suggestions for upcoming content.
* POP QUIZ ANSWERS
It's true! PACIF and VERB are all about interactions, not transactions. Read more in this handy guide The Power of Pooling: The Value of State League Risk Pools.