[mustmove]

If you are going to buy in VT and FL make FL your primary residence. Much cheaper. But heck you are only 50 pick up a second career and throw some money into the system lord knows we need it.

[LisaMc46]

In Vermont your property tax is based on two factors: the municipal tax rate (which is based on your town government's budget) and the school tax rate (which is based on the local school budget).

If you earn less than $90,000, your school taxes are capped at 2 percent of your income. I don't believe the municipal portion of your taxes are capped. Of course, your taxes are calculated based on the town-assessed value of your home. Second homeowners pay a higher tax rate.

Vermont is a high tax state. It's fine for retirees who come here with lots of money (although they could do better elsewhere) but I think it would be a horrible place for a low to middle income person to retire. My husband and I love living here but expect to move somewhere with lower taxes and cost of living when we retire.

[mustmove]

Due to act 60/68 the local school budget is meaningless Ed funds are slushed across the state with some winners and some losers. But everyone thinks someone else is going to pay so school budgets rarely get voted down.

[acentre]

I thought of making FL my primary residence, but there is no affordable health insurance in FL. The health insurance premiums, by private companies, is very high in most states. The savings in premiums, by living in VT, over NY is $1000 per month, not including the property savings, the capping of property taxes, based on earned income, puts the advantage at VT.
Thus by moving to VT primary residence and have a FL vacation home, the combined property tax and health insurance premiums savings, more than offset living in NY. The bonus is that VT is close to NY for us to visit children.
If we had national health insurance and lower property taxes in NY, we would probably stay, but life goes on and we must enjoy the time we have.
Thank you for your insights.

[DanBev]

We bought home in tax happy Vernon CT $3700 for 1060 sq ft home,actually 24 by 30,with up and down.
My point being we live in North Fl where your taxes are adjusted to income and age.We pay no taxes.I will be a part timer to Ct.

[Logs and Dogs]

So you want to move from NY to VT primarily to take advantage of the low health insurance rates in teh state run system? I'm not judging you either way, as you said you are looking out for yourselves which is prudent, however I can see how this line of thinking could get some Vermonters pretty fired up.

At the end of the day the state health insurance program is subsidized by the small population of people still left working and paying taxes in VT, so people could interpret this is as you being a net "taker" from the system vs. a net "giver".

I just find it an interesting dynamic.

[arctichomesteader]

If you could afford to buy two homes (one in VT, one in FL), you could afford to buy health insurance by just buying one house...

[68vette]

One more point to make. The state government knows it's financial burden. Just because a portion of your property tax is capped does not mean it will not increase. The state is in the process of figuring out how to pay off all it's debt. If it was not for the Fed loaning money to the state. Unemployed workers would no longer be getting an unemployment check. There is the loaned money as well as the state debt to be paid off. Don't figure a budget based on the current state of affairs. Due to the aging population in the state, everyone is going to pay more. There is no choice, unless programs get cut or modified including the health care system. The rates have increased and will continue to increase for the state run health care. Like any other health program, rates will increase, and/or co-pays will go up or some things will not be covered as well as they were. As of right now this is what is on the table:
Raise Dr. Dynasaur premiums between 33% and 100%
Raise VHAP premiums between 67% and 71%
Increase the Catamount annual deductible by 380%
Increase the Catamount office visit co-pay by 150%
Raise Catamount premiums between 10 and 22% - on top of previous increases averaging over 33%
Another thing to consider is where you will want to settle down. The health care is not the same everywhere and if you need a specialist you will have to travel. The quality of care is not an issue, but the type of care is. The majority of hospitals in the state are less than 50 beds which is correlated to the services offered. As an example, if you lived in Bennington and needed a specialist or a surgury outside of an outpatient procedure, you would need to drive to Rutland(which is a bigger hospital, but still does not offer every service) or drive to Albany, NY. I work at FAHC in Burlington and we outside of Dartmouth and Maine Med are the only level 1 trauma centers in Northern New England. If these two hospitals are full, we transport patients here as far as 4 hours away. If health care is important or if you have some health issues this is something to consider.

[acentre]

I am not trying to get anyone upset. I am just evaluating my options in choosing where to live and maximize my savings so that my wife and I can retire early. I did not create the current economic and tax system and I do really believe that education and health should be national priorities, but I must make my plans. I worked hard for my money in order to raise and educate three children, paying many dollars in tax to everyone. Now it is my turn to lay back and enjoy. I shall be looking for home in Southern VT next month.
Again thanks for all the input.

[mustmove]

Fresh meat for the mean green tax machine. C'mon up the weather is fine.