Budget Testimony Highlights Translation Cost

During a recent budget hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Vermont officials cited a specific example of what multilingual access can cost: approximately $18,000 to translate one statewide policy into 13 languages and produce an American Sign Language (ASL) video version.

The policy referenced was the Vermont Criminal Justice Council (VCJC) Model Fair and Impartial Policing Policy, a 12-page document used as a model by law enforcement agencies across the state.

No cost breakdown was provided during the testimony between written translations and the ASL video production.

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What Was Translated

The policy in question is publicly available on the VCJC website and runs 12 pages in its current PDF version.

The webpage lists the policy as available in the following formats and languages:

• ASL video with captions
• Arabic
• Burmese
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Dari
• French
• Kirundi
• Maay Maay
• Pashto
• Nepali
• Somali
• Spanish
• Swahili
• Vietnamese

That list corresponds to 13 written language translations, plus a separate ASL video version.

The model policy establishes guidance for law enforcement agencies regarding fair and impartial policing standards. Agencies statewide use it as a template for their own policies.

A Concrete Example in a Larger Language Access Framework

The $18,000 figure was presented as an example during budget discussions, not as a standalone line item. But it provides a rare real-world price tag for a single translation effort.

The translation cost sits within a broader statewide language access discussion that began with Vermont’s 2023 Language Access Report issued by the Office of Racial Equity.

That report outlined how state agencies should provide access to residents with limited English proficiency and recommended a standardized notice format listing 14 written languages for state communications.

The report also included a cost estimate for translating “vital documents” across the Executive Branch:

• $3.5 million one-time to complete initial translation work
• Up to $790,000 annually to maintain translations and provide ongoing services

The report noted that its estimate did not include ASL video production costs.

Current Funding Structure

Budget materials in recent fiscal years have referenced approximately $700,000 in base General Fund support for statewide language access planning and implementation.

In addition to central planning funds, individual agencies have also requested smaller one-time appropriations for translation work related to specific policies or statutory requirements.

The VCJC example appears to be one such instance: a discrete policy translated into multiple languages to comply with language access expectations.

Why ASL Is Separate

The webpage confirms that the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy is available not only in written translations but also as an ASL video.

Unlike written language translation, ASL access typically requires video recording of a qualified interpreter signing the document, along with editing and hosting.

ASL is not a written foreign language but a distinct American sign language used by Deaf residents. Under federal disability law, state agencies must provide reasonable communication access, which can include ASL interpretation.

Not Unique to Vermont

Language access policies are common nationwide. Many states maintain translation requirements for key public-facing documents under federal civil rights and disability access laws.

Vermont’s approach reflects a structured statewide framework, with identified languages based on census data, resettlement patterns, and agency demand.

The specific languages listed for the VCJC policy align closely with languages identified in the state’s language access planning documents.

The Fiscal Question

The $18,000 example does not represent a statewide total for translation spending. It does, however, provide a snapshot of what one policy translation effort can cost when multiplied across more than a dozen languages and paired with an ASL video.

If similar policies across agencies require comparable translation work, costs can accumulate. Conversely, not every state document is designated as a “vital document” requiring translation under the 2023 framework.

For lawmakers reviewing budgets, the question is not whether language access exists — it is how broadly the state defines what must be translated and how often those documents require updates.

For taxpayers, the $18,000 figure offers a concrete starting point in understanding how translation requirements translate into dollars.

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Dave Soulia | FYIVT

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