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19 Sep

Tax Abatement Possible for Flood-Destroyed Properties

Posted September 19, 2011 by Julia Carlisle in Vermont.

This letter has been issued by the Woodstock Board of Listers who are Paul Wildasin, Carol Wood and Charlie Degener. The letter concerns possible limited property tax abatement (of this year’s taxes) for Woodstock residents who have lost property as a result of the August 28th flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene.

(A very relevant point is that even if a property owner receives abatement through Woodstock  ordinance, the Town of Woodstock will nonetheless be responsible to the State of Vermont  for education tax monies based on the original property tax):

To the Editor,

In light of the recent disaster and the property destruction that has occurred due to Tropical Storm Irene, it is important for property owners to be aware of a process known as “abatement.”

Each town in Vermont has a Board of Tax Abatement (BTA) made up of listers, the Selectboard, Justices of the Peace, the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer.  “The BTA may in accord with 24 V.S.A. 1533, abate in whole or part, taxes due under specific circumstances including: Taxes upon real property lost or destroyed during the year.”

Each case of “abatement” is decided on its individual merits by BTA. It is important to note that the statute specifically says “lost or destroyed” as the criteria. When taxes are “abated” the town still has to remit the state of education tax portion, therefore, any tax abatement will have to be absored by the other taxpayers in the town.

A request for abatement must be filed with the Town Clerk.  The clerk will then call a meeting of the Board of Tax Abatement. There is not specific deadline for this meeting of the BTA to be held. It can be done anytime. Property owners who have filed a request for abatement appear in person or may present written testimony to the Board. After a decision is made by the Board, the reasons for the decision are stated in writing and the property owner receives a copy of that decision.

The listers can give you guidance on how to start this process. The Town of Woodstock Listers office is open Monday through Friday from 8am until noon. The phone number is 457-3607. The office is located on the second floor of the Town Hall.