MONTPELIER, Vt. -
Weeks of work came down to a few hours Friday for members of the Vermont house ways and means committee as they finalized what new taxes they wanted to impose.
Committee chairperson Janet Ancel says while the majority of bills had to be moved between house and senate last week all the money ones had until Friday.
"Are we going to know after 5 o'clock maybe what taxes could be coming down the road?" said FOX44/ABC22.
"I think so. We have a pretty good idea right now," said Ancel.
So let's break it down, remembering that Ancel's committee is working on a budget bill that would raise more than $20-million dollars in new revenues.
Some of the things that appear to be coming Vermonters way include a 50-cent tax on cigarettes, increasing the room and meals tax by half a percentage, and putting the 6% sales tax on soda, bottled water, candy and clothing more than $110 dollars.
The things that didn't make it: a 5% tax on satellite TV and a tax on break-open tickets.
Earlier this session Governor Peter Shumlin told lawmakers he wanted to raise more than $30-million dollars in revenues, but Ancel says that's putting too many new taxes on Vermonters.
"We're not doing all the wish list. We can't and I think that's the right decision," said Ancel.
After learning the direction the house Ways and Means committee took Friday, Governor Shumlin says he disagrees with how it chose to raise revenue.
He says an increase to the sales and meals tax is not something Shumlin supports and plans to work with other lawmakers to adjust the budget before it's passed later this session.
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