Good Jobs First found no instances of economic development subsidies in this state, but given the absence of centralized data, it is still possible that deals have quietly occurred.

Many Wal-Mart workers are ineligible for health coverage from their employer or choose not to purchase what is available, because it is too expensive or too limited in scope. These workers often turn to taxpayer-funded health programs such as Medicaid. In April 2005 the Vermont Guardian reported that it had obtained data from the state's Department for Children and Families on families enrolled in Medicaid that had someone employed by a large company or a government agency. Although Wal-Mart has only four stores in the state (none of them Supercenters), it ranked 4th among the private-sector companies, with 286 workers using Medicaid. Source: Kathryn Casa, "Employees at Vermont's Top Companies Enrolled in Medicaid Health Plans," Vermont Guardian, April 18, 2005 and a copy of the data prepared for Casa that was provided to Good Jobs First by the Department for Children and Families.

For an estimate of how much Wal-Mart is costing the state of VT for taxpayer-funded healthcare, see http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/healthcrisis/map.html#VT

In the course of researching our report Rolling Back Property Tax Payments , Good Jobs First did not learn of any property tax assessment appeals at Wal-Mart locations in Vermont.

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