Poll says Vermonters value landscape, community, & worry about costs of living

Vermont Public Radio reports that a telephone survey conducted last winter by the the University of Vermont's Center for Rural Studies has found that  Vermonters cherish the state's working landscape, its sense of community, and its independence. The survey was conducted for the Council on the Future of Vermont which has spent several months holding forums around the state to explore Vermonters' values, challenges, opportunities, and priorities. Of the 700 people questioned for the survey, 97 percent said they value the state's landscape and heritage, and 93 percent said they are proud of living in Vermont. The respondents also said that "Vermont's future is bright" but worried about things that threaten Vermont's values including "the cost of living, high tax rates, and the difficulty of surviving as a farmer." Notably, "the council's goal over the next six months is to take all of this information and use it to tell Vermonters what their neighbors think about the state of affairs" in the state. The Council hopes that the infomration will "give policymakers and average citizens the perspective that will help them preserve their values and solve future challenges."

Link to article