The Brattleboro Reformer from Brattleboro, Vermont • 2

Page 2 Brattleboro Reformer, Thursday, November 11, 1982 New England Deficit Expected To Hit S3 Million News In Brief By United Press International that will be wholesome, and will not include new taxes. Snelling said twice in recent year the state had ended one fiscal year with a deficit absorbed in the subsequent year. We looked beyond the trough to the next period, he said. It isnt really necessary to ignore the impacts of (economic) cycles. Last year, Snelling ordered a $2 million cut less than 1 percent in spending in December to head off an expected shortfall in Vermonts $277 million general fund budget.

Snelling said he did not veto the $3 million appropriation added to his budget by the 1982 Legislature because revenue forecasting is an inexact science. Clearly, no one can claim to be able to foresee revenues to an accuracy of 1 percent, he said. You can only tell when the economy has changed its fundamental direction after it has happened. tive cutback would probably be in the 1 percent range, and would not necessarily be applied equally to all state agencies and departments. At what point I would order a recision I really cant tell you, he said.

Ive told you I think $3 million (deficit) could be absorbed without too much of a problem. He termed baloney reports key officials have been told to begin looking for areas to reduce spending under a worst-case revenue scenario. Snelling also said he will strongly resist any legislative efforts to raise Vermonts broad-based taxes for fiscal 1984, which begins next July. I am very much of the belief that the fiscal year will be one of the very best years, in terms of revenues, that Vermont has ever had, he said. Hiere are some people who have already determined that Vermont needs to raise taxes.

I will try very hard to present a general fund budget By KEVIN GODDARD MONTPELIER (UPI) It appears certain Vermonts current fiscal year will produce a general fund deficit of at least $3 million the amount added to the states budget by the 1982 Legislature, Gov. Richard Snelling said Wednesday. Snelling also said, however, he expects fiscal 1984 will be one of the best years for the states economy in history, and will produce enough revenues to offset a current-year deficit of $3 million. He said he will wait until the end of the month and he reviews the most recent revenue projections before deciding if a deficit of more than $3 million is likely on Vermonts $330 million budget. If so, Snelling said he might order spending cuts to avoid a larger deficit.

He told reporters, however, that any prospec Hospital Group Offers Plan for Rate Review Both plans are designed to hold down rising health care costs in the state. The commission is reviewing a plan that would fix spending increases at Vermont hospitals to a specific percentage, then require that the total of individual hospital increases not exceed that overall amount. Under the VHA plan, the Hospital Reimbursement Commission would include four representatives from the general public; a representative of state government; two representatives from the insurance industry; two hospital officals and two physicians. Each of the states hospitals would be required to submit proposals for rate increases to the HRC, according to the plan, as well as financial information and other data to support the proposed rate hike. The commission, after reviewing the attendant budget data, could then either approve the rate increase; grant conditional or partial approval; or reject it entirely.

Any rejection could be appealed, and the appeal would be decided by an arbitrator. The VHA, in its proposal, said the commissions authority to review proposed budgets line item by line item would hold down costs to the lowest extent possible. It would provide an incentive for efficient hospital management, the association said, because budgets would be approved prospectively and additional cost data would have to be provided to justify any request for an interim rate increase And, it said the maxi-cap plan, since it would set a percentage limit on increases in overall hospital spending in Vermont, could jeopardize high quality health care in the state. MONTPELIER (UPI) The Vermont Hospital Association, trying to fend off proposals for a fixed limit on budget increases at the states 16 hospitals, Wednesday produced a plan for an 11-member board with authority to deny rate hikes not supported by a line-by-line review of prospective budgets. The board was intended as an alternative to a proposed maxi-cap on increases in overall hospital spending, such as is under review by the Governors Commission on Health Care Costs.

VHA spokesman Timothy Meehan said the associations 11-page alternative will be submitted by Nov. 23, when the commission expects to make final its recommendations for the 1983 Legislature. If it is rejected, he said, the association will organize its forces to lobby against the maxi-cap proposal. Church Members Battle for Custody of Kids N.H. School Aid Suit Headed for State Supreme Court CONCORD N.H.

A suit by seven local school districts and seven parents over New Hampshires system of financing education will go to the state Supreme Court next spring, without a Superior Court hearing. I view the crucial issue in this controversy to be a question of constitutional law, Merrimack County Superior Court Judge William Cann said in a ruling made public this week. Cann said he would transfer the case to the Supreme Court by May 1 and set a timetable for completing all pre-trial procedures so the case may be turned over to the states highest court. The school districts and parents have challenged the states reliance on local property taxes as the primary means of support for public education. They contended the system discriminates against property poor towns and students in those districts.

The suit, which could radically alter the state aid to education and force a major change in the states tax base, was filed early this year and has gone through a series of pre-trial hearings and motions. Canns latest order scheduled a pre-trial conference on Dec. 1. One month later, the plaintiffs must present a list of all expert witnesses they intend to call, while the state has until Feb. 1 to present its list of experts.

By March 1, the discovery process, in which each side may review the others evidence must be completed. Two months after that, the case would be turned over to the Supreme Court. Skiing Will Cost More The Vermont Ski Areas Association says skiers seem to be planning their sports holidays well in advance. And apparently, they ought to plan on spending a dollar or two more per day to hit the slopes. A survey of 14 Vermont ski areas showed a dozen plan on hiking their adult single-day tickets an average of 9.7 percent for weekdays and 7.6 percent on weekends.

The day tickets will range from $12 to $24 this year. Of those surveyed, Bromley and Magic Mountain were the only two ski areas which said prices will remain the same as last season. Bromley charges $20 per day ticket, with no differential for weekends; 'Magic Mountains fee is $14 on weekdays and $20 on weekends. The Montpelier-based ski association said resorts statewide were reporting an increase in season ticket sales and reservations. A spokeswoman said last years record-breaking season apparently sparked enthusiasm and the desire to plan ahead.

Thanksgiving Day weekend marks the traditional opening for most ski areas, although several major areas plan to open for business this weekend. Killington Ski Area in Sherburne, which prides itself on trying to have the longest season of any area in the state each year, opened Oct. 17 and has only closed three days since then. Sanders Writes to Reagan BURLINGTON Mayor Bernard Sanders has become a regular White House pen pal. The mayor this week released a letter he wrote President Reagan to let him know Burlington voters approved a local referendum calling for an immediate halt of U.S.

aid to El Salvador by a 3-1 margin. Sanders, a socialist, told the Republican president he was also being asked to recall all U.S. military advisers now in the war-tom Central American country. And, the mayor took the opportunity to suggest that Burlington, as well as cities and towns throughout the nation, are in desperate need of increased federal revenue sharing. personally, regard it as absolutely absurd that our government continues to spend tax dollars supporting the repressive government of El Salvador, Sanders wrote.

Several weeks ago, the mayor wrote Reagan to inform him the citys Board of Aldermen had rejected a controversial civil defense plan drafted as a response to nuclear attack. Sanders said it was felt the plan offered people false hope about the chances of survival after nuclear attack. Assistant Bar Director Named MONTPELIER A former director of the Vermont Education Association has been named assistant director of the Vermont Bar Association. Association officials said Charles Ochmanski was one of four finalists selected from nearly 40 applicants for the position. The job was recently created by the associations board of managers.

Ochmanski was credited with having an extensive background in the legal organizations activities and lobbying efforts. Porn Store Appealing Eviction WnerS 8 Prno8raPhic book and peep show store w(aapfef41 fiction order to the states highest court. did 15triCf Judge Edward Cashman ruled V-T Books frm 0,6 Taft CornerS Prodding was initiated by the Vermont Justin the mall Is new owners. The stores lease expired in March and Ver-mont Justin dechned to renew the retnal agreement. V-T Books, however, argued a lease signed with the buildings previous owner included a renewal option wluch wasstilUn effect nine-year veteran of the church.

He said that he was beaten with a thick paddle while he was a teenager. Mrs. Mattatalls lawyer, Duncan Kilmartin, told Gibson that all the testimony involved the church and did not specifically address the custody issue at hand This has become the world versus the religious freedom of my client, Kilmartin said. Gibson said either party in the custody action may request additional hearings before the divorce settlement is reached. Kilmartin could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

prescription drugs. No arrests have been made. During a day-long hearing in the Mattatall custody dispute, several former members of the Vermont church community testified that toddlers were beaten with rods or belts. David Anderson, 24, said he comforted one mother as a church member whipped her 3-year-old son on his legs, chest and arms for about 40 minutes. He said he also saw two other youngsters the same age beaten until blood flowed down their legs.

These children were crying in fear and in horror, said Anderson, a divorce proceeding sometime after April. Mattatalls attorneys argued his children aged 1 to 8 years old were being reared in an environment where youngsters were routinely disciplined by beatings. The fundamental religious sect, which migrated to Island Pond from Chattanooga, in 1978, has recently come under the scrutiny of state and law enforcement officials. Vermont social services officials say they are probing various reports of alleged child abuse. State police, meanwhile, raided an Island Pond delicatessen run by the church group and seized financial records.

State prosecutors say they are checking allegations of tax fraud, as well as reports that members of the group are unlawfully dispensing GUILDHALL (UPI) A Newport father Wednesday was awarded temporary custody of his five children by a judge who heard exmembers of their mothers church group testify that tots as young as 3 in their religious community were whipped until blood dripped down their legs. Superior Court Judge Ernest Gibson III said testimony on the allegations of child abuse by members of the Northeast Kingdom Community Church was a large factor in his decision. I was concerned about the best interests of the children and I thought theyd be better off with their father, said Gibson. Juan Mattatall, 40, and his wife Cynthia, 26, are each seeking permanent custody, Which will not be decided until the resolution of their Portland Being Considered As Site For Navy Base VETERANS DAY STOREWIDE FALL CLEARANCE WE HAVE TAKEN The plan has the support of the states Congressional delegation, said Sen. George J.

Mitchell. There is a strategic value to Maines location, which is the closest point in the United States to Europe, and I think it makes a great deal of sense to capitalize on that and utilize it not only with respect to our Air Force, which we now do with Loring Air Force Base, but with our Navy, too. The unfinished study said it would be in the national interest to place Navy ships in as many ports as possible to present a difficult situation to the enemy to barracade or attack ports, Miller said. Miller said the proximity of the Bath Iron Works shipyard, the ports naval history and available space make Portland a logical choice. PORTLAND, Maine (UPI) Portland is the third New England city to come under consideration as a home port for Navy ships if a new basing system is adopted, Navy officials said Wednesday.

Navy spokesman Lt. Tom Miller said the city is under consideration as a home port for some of the 140 additional ships the Navy expects to add by the year 2000. Boston and Newport, R.I., have already been mentioned as possible home ports. The Navy is considering basing ships in the Northeast as a part of a proposed strategic dispersal policy designed to reduce the fleets vulnerability to attack, Miller said. In Portland, both the citys port and housing facilities are both being reviewed.

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