Vt. to chip in $6.1 million to home heating aid - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Vt. to chip in $6.1 million to home heating aid

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont will add $6.1 million to heating aid for low-income, elderly and disabled Vermonters to make up for federal cuts to the program.

Gov. Peter Shumlin and legislative leaders said Tuesday that most of the money will come from funds the Legislature set aside in anticipation of federal cuts to a broad range of programs.

Vermont is expected to get about $8 million less than last year in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP.

Shumlin says the state funding will ensure that Vermont's most vulnerable residents will not freeze this winter. He also asked state officials to look at how to make the program more sustainable and report their findings to the administration and governor by the end of the upcoming legislative session.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)