MONTPELIER, Vt. -
If you live in Vermont, get ready to pay more.
Lawmakers passed several bills before the end of the session that will cost you more money for everything from driving to enjoying the outdoors.
The Shumlin administration says all the increases in fees will mean millions of dollars more for the state. It says the jump in fees is needed to help cover rising costs.
Registration fees for cars, trucks and motorcycles will go up. For cars, $64 to $69 a year. Vanity plates, which used to cost $38, will soon cost $45 a year.
For those people who want to enjoy Vermont's outdoors, lots of those hunting and fishing fees are going up.
A fishing license will jump from $22 to $25 a year.
All these little fee increases are a bit annoying to Vermont State Senator Vince Illuzzi.
"When you raise a tax or fee that only affects Vermonters, I think that's a bit unfair," says Illuzzi.
Illuzzi says out-of-staters could help the budget by increases in the income and sales tax.
But in this year of fee increases, Illuzzi says one tax is going away.
"There's an expression that no good deed goes unpunished," says Illuzzi.
That's because Illuzzi says last year dentists had to start paying sales tax on gifts they gave to patients, including toothbrushes. But that tax is set to end later this year.
While it means the state will lose up to $40,000 it used to collect, Illuzzi says that's a small price.
"I think it sends the right message to the dentist who do the right thing," says Illuzzi.
Many of the fee increases start in July. The rest at the end of this year or next year.
