MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont’s Tax Department forecasts an average 12% property tax increase based on projections from two-thirds of preliminary school budgets.

Per-pupil spending is up nearly $1,000 over last year, about a 7% jump. If the increase takes effect, Vermonters’ property taxes for education will have gone up nearly 41% over the past five years.

The increases come as Vermont schools report declining enrollment and test scores.

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“We are contending with two enormous challenges: property taxes that families cannot afford and an education system that

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