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Vermontess t1_j9v5c9y wrote

Reply to comment by Blindsay04 in Anyone familiar with the 'Worker Relocation Incentive Program' by Blindsay04

It was an idea cooked up by the State to increase tax revenue before the Covid immigration wave crashed on VT. Different times

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No-Ganache7168 t1_j9w1075 wrote

Except Gov. Scott keeps renewing it when they are not filling open jobs here and the housing market is a mess

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Loudergood t1_j9wit12 wrote

The whole point was for them to bring high paying jobs with them, not staff 24hr maple fields.

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No-Ganache7168 t1_j9yj6ja wrote

Why not offer it to those who can fill the good paying jobs here like tech and nursing? Otherwise they are just bringing their income tax. Both would be better.

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Loudergood t1_j9yk22t wrote

Those jobs are already guaranteed to pay their taxes here. Bringing in new taxpaying jobs means this program pays for itself. We have plenty of underpaid locals I'd rather train up for these jobs instead.

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Blindsay04 OP t1_j9vcd48 wrote

A bunch of people came to VT during covid? and that is causing an issue? Just trying to understand the problem is all

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Vermontess t1_j9vj2g0 wrote

The huge influx of well heeled remote workers has almost doubled average home and rent prices over the last five years. Folks that cannot afford the huge increases are being forced to move and there is a massive dearth of workers for entry level, service, and trades jobs. There are definitely other factors at play, but that was the main driving force behind the huge run up in housing prices.

It’s highly questionable why the State would continue to use tax dollars to incentivize rich people moving here while they are slashing/ending all the emergency housing programs that are keeping people off the streets

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Blindsay04 OP t1_j9vlrl2 wrote

I see, thanks for the explanation. Even if the state is offering this money up front, wont they get significantly more in the long run from the taxes off of these people? Looking at the population data, it looks like VT increased in population about 3.5%, Also home prices are insane everywhere right now, not just in VT

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Vermontess t1_j9vybzu wrote

There isn’t good data yet about how much the population has grown over the last couple years. We have been operating at a negative growth rate for decades so even a 3.5% increase year over year would impact the housing stock as it compounds very quickly to a significant number.

I hear what you are saying about tax revenue, but remote workers are straining our housing and labor markets and crippling our economy in ways that will cost us far more than they are able to contribute in income taxes. The money is better spent on those less fortunate. Covid, climate, and red state refugees will continue to flock here without tax incentives

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