Controversy Erupts at Statehouse Over UVM's Tarrant Center Funding

Discussions at the Statehouse have intensified around the use of taxpayer dollars to see completion of this long-delayed project.

For an extended period, the University of Vermont has sought financial backing for the Tarrant Center, an athletic facility named after a significant donor and the founder of IDX. Recently, discussions at the Statehouse have intensified around the use of taxpayer dollars to facilitate completion of this long-delayed project.

Originally proposed over a decade ago, the Tarrant Center has experienced multiple changes in its design, size, and intended location. The current vision aims to include a state-of-the-art basketball arena, renovations to Gutterson Fieldhouse, and transforming Patrick Gym into a recreation space for students. Despite having made significant progress and completing some smaller improvements, financial issues and increased costs have hindered the construction of the new arena.

Senator Tom Chittenden of Chittenden County highlighted that there are construction materials ready and waiting, however, the global pandemic has disrupted the timeline for the project. 

Advocates, including UVM trustee Frank Cioffi, argue that the project’s economic advantages would extend well beyond Burlington. Cioffi emphasized that developing indoor venues would have a substantial positive impact on the local economy due to their climate-controlled environments.

This year, Vermont saw a significant increase in surplus from the estate tax, totaling around $25 million, which has led to proposals for redirecting some of these funds to the Tarrant Center project, as they are typically allocated to the state's Higher Education Trust Fund for scholarships. 

In the state budget advanced by Senate lawmakers, $12 million has been earmarked for the Tarrant Center, extracted from the Higher Education Trust Fund and compensated for with cannabis excise taxes. However, some legislators have expressed concerns that financing UVM's project may deprive students at other state institutions of necessary resources. Representative Robin Scheu noted that these decisions appear to sidestep proper consultation with the higher education trust fund board and agencies like VSAC, which could be adversely affected.

Opponents of the funding allocation stress the importance of prioritizing new facilities, citing a lack of venues for hosting concerts and events, as well as high school sports. Senator Chittenden remarked on the necessity of matching top-tier facilities with the caliber of the university’s academic and athletic programs.

Meanwhile, discussions in the Burlington area regarding the potential construction of a new convention center remain ongoing, although those developments are still a number of years away.