State Treasurer Beth Pearce says Vermont will begin to experience serious fiscal setbacks if Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic lawmakers don鈥檛 resolve their budget impasse soon.
, Pearce wrote, 鈥淎s the prospect of a shutdown becomes more and more likely, so does the likelihood that the state will suffer real and permanent costs, even if it is averted at the last moment.鈥�
Pearce said the Vermont Constitution prohibits government from drawing funds from the state treasury, without the legislative authority contained in a state budget bill.
If no budget is signed before the fiscal year expires June 30, Pearce wrote, 鈥渁 shutdown would prevent state agencies from providing critical services to Vermonters.鈥�
With fewer than three weeks until the end of the fiscal year, Pearce has also called on the Scott administration to 鈥渟hare its contingency plans with Vermonters,鈥� in the event a shutdown occurs.
鈥淚t is time for the administration to provide guidance and direction to the public and state employees on what happens in the event of a shutdown,鈥� Pearce wrote.
