Vermont Legislative Committee Updated on Irene Recovery

The fiscal committees of the Vermont Legislature received an update on Irene recovery efforts on Thursday, including when FEMA might tell the state how much federal funding it will get.

The Legislative Joint Fiscal Committee’s meeting included updates on several budgetary issues, including LIHEAP, a tax computer system modernization and public meetings on the 2014 budget. But most of their meeting assessed Vermont’s progress in recovering from Tropical Storm Irene. Agency of Administration Deputy Secretary Michael Clasen provided the fiscal committee a FEMA update related to the Waterbury state Office Complex and the Vermont State Hospital.

At this time, Michael Clasen says Vermont officials do not know what baseline funding FEMA will provide, in part because damage is varied and complicated.

Legislative Joint Fiscal Committee Chair Senator Ann Cummings called the meeting fairly routine.

Vermont officials earlier this year said FEMA would cover up to 90 percent of the estimated $120 million in recovery costs. But by mid-summer, the Shumlin administration indicated available FEMA funding was less certain.

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Credit Courtesy NOAA

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