Unemployment Trust Fund tapped for fraction of potential relief
2276 words / VTDigger.org
Vermont legislators agreed in May to offer up to $8.67 million in refunds and discounts to businesses that laid off workers in the wake of 2011′s disastrous floods.
But only 75 employers, among the untold eligible businesses hailing from every county in the state, applied for the unemployment insurance relief. Instead of giving breaks for a “worst-case” scenario of 11,247 layoffs, the state forgave at least partial charges on just 299.
On their July 1 unemployment insurance bills, 54 businesses accepted $264,178.53 in refunds.
“Really, that’s all? Wow,” said Steve Moyer, CFO of Woodstock Farmers’ Market.