The yearslong debate over the future of Vermont’s education system took on renewed urgency Monday when the Scott administration announced that it’s projecting an average increase of nearly 12% in property taxes next year.

Should that projection come to pass, Vermonters would see their property taxes jump by about 40% on average in a span of five years.

“The rate of increase we’re talking about is simply unacceptable and certainly defines unaffordability,” Commissioner of Taxes Bill Shouldice said Monday. “The average young family getting started, seeing these types of increase is not in their budget.”

The projection , based on a survey of school districts, lands as elected officials attempt to execute one of the most ambitious education reform laws in Vermont’s history. Act 73, signed

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