For a typical middle-aged citizen in the US, a regular day looks something like this. Waking up in the morning and eating a meager breakfast, followed by a cup of Great Value coffee. Then, on the drive to work, worrying about the check engine light and pondering whether your car will last until the drive home. This is a citizen who works a regular 9-to-5 and, not to mention, lives alone and doesn’t have to help raise a family. We often look towards the federal government to solve our problems, whether it’s taxes or food prices. In large part, the federal government has a drastic say in how our lives look. However, zoning laws, local infrastructure, and many taxes are applied to lives in your county or state. So often we look towards our president to solve many issues that are handled at a state level.

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Vermont’s tax system includes a wide range of taxes: Alcoholic Beverage Tax, Capital Gains, Corporate and Business Income Tax, Current Use, Homestead Declaration, Land Gains Tax, Land Use Change Tax, Local Option Tax, Meals and Rooms Tax, Miscellaneous Tax, Personal Income Tax, Property Tax, Property Transfer Tax, Property Tax Credit, Renter Credit, Sales and Use Tax, Uniform Capacity Tax, and Withholding. For most people, however, the day-to-day taxes they encounter are income and property taxes. The median household income in Vermont is $86,400, and the standard tax rate is 8.75%, which ranks 9th highest in the US. Vermont does not use a flat tax rate; instead, taxpayers may qualify for deductions based on criteria such as dependents, medical expenses, or military service, as listed on the state’s tax website. As affordability remains a challenge for many Vermonters, the idea of lowering tax rates could become a key issue in local elections. This highlights why local politics are so influential: decisions about how funds are allocated and whether to prioritize social services at the state level are determined by local voting. The most efficent way to change unfair taxation is voting out representatives for new ones.

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Many of the systems, such as roads and pivotal systems such as power plants, are what candidates go into office for. As in the case for northern Vermont, surrounding elementary and middle schools are reaching their age limit and due to the fact the OCSU school board has proposed many plans on what to do with the existing infrastructure. We look to stronger central powers for guidance when a lot of state infrastructure has to do with state taxation. Deciding how funds are managed whether you’re in support for higher funding of a public library or against are issues in local elections.

When it comes to local elections, local and state laws have a major impact on everyday life. However, many ordinary working citizens may choose not to participate in local elections because they do not see immediate changes resulting from their votes. This is especially important because local elections often determine issues such as property taxes, zoning laws, and land development. Zoning laws decide how land can be used, including where homes, businesses, farms, and other buildings can be located.

For example, Barton, Vermont, has zoning restrictions that limit where livestock can be kept and where certain businesses can operate. In contrast, Orleans Village has experienced controversy over a livestock farm operating within the village, with residents complaining about the smell. This comparison shows how different local zoning rules and decisions can affect residents’ everyday lives. Ultimately, local voters have an opportunity to influence these policies by electing officials who make decisions about zoning, taxation, and community development.

Voting is a foundational right, and local politics affect your lives more than anything else. Federal laws do have a say over states; however, the federal system is set up so citizens of states can focus on smaller issues. While glaring issues like gas prices can’t be changed with local zoning laws, taxation policies, support of local infrastructure and devotion of funds, and laws, they can change aspects of everyday life. When you head to ballots make sure you register online or in person with a photo ID.