[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6360114,"mediaKeyId","2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3","parentId",2175341,"title","State archivist urges coordinated records modernization to support assessments and land records","audioSeconds",1092,"startMs",4088000,"endMs",5180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3&start=4088&end=5180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3/thumbnail_4088000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360114/Vermont/State-archivist-urges-coordinated-records-modernization-to-support-assessments-and-land-records","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360114-4f69919769b92ec0e4c194c0d92cfa87/orig.mp4?Expires=1775296620&Signature=nHyhE-3vzA850eILQViAOtOZR5RyB9y4FaJuifBFbxhQ6-tvCm~-wv~mejmzN01NcCmt43ABDm---4JkXvV~UpCo8CSkHFLHNHo80N1m~LK6t5lxBbVh3ZIfaE7kNax10g14C0HPtOOSSkWT2c0RucuN3AjpnDNZbWNt9d4~cMB5CAPRgh8grl99S3cJcnSp50WsDYDjcSK-gn2nOpWtrWgwTO9qWF3PVyEnlhzUW8dgm0Hvcgqtwx4F3AYdIX7kW8ZV4syVwz~rWyeMpgJlx38uDt1EASY--Gk40nBAKJTFiHA9032RKX1qelOZ3VbA4SWIJBPe1XDkxyvxN94WnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-31T07:54:51Z","article","Tanya Marshall, the Vermont state archivist and chief records officer, told the House Ways & Means Committee the state should take a coordinated approach to modernizing municipal records—particularly land records—so assessment reform and other state programs can rely on accurate, uniform information.

Marshall, who directs the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration in the secretary of state's office, said the agency was created in 2008 to organize recordkeeping across state and local governments and to operate a statewide archives and records center. She described work begun after enactment of land-records legislation and a 2022 implementation request: a move toward eRecording and an effort to develop a multi‑jurisdictional platform so smaller towns that do few transactions are not left behind.

Why it matters: assessors, town clerks and other state agencies depend on consistent, accessible records for valuation, permitting and disaster response. Fragmented recordkeeping creates redundant work and gaps—Marshall specifically cited the difficulty of tracking mobile homes and different types of recorded instruments when records are not standardized or searchable.

Marshall said the state’s 2022 land-records modernization directive (referred to in testimony as X171 of 2022) set an initial path to eRecording; the next step is technology decisions and a proof-of-concept that accommodates small towns that cannot justify standalone systems. She said the clerks’ offices uniformly told the archivist they do not want “to leave any town behind.”

Marshall noted the technical and governance challenges: multiple state systems have been created for different functions (elections, health, tax), and Agency of Digital Services (ADS) staff told the archivist they would need enabling legislation and appropriations to assist with a statewide platform. The archivist said the statewide approach could reduce redundancy, improve searchability for property owners and support consistent inputs for the grand list and appraisal processes.

Committee members asked whether modernized records would be searchable; Marshall said that is the intent. She also described ongoing data collection comparing town fees and grand-list entries to estimate costs, and suggested that the archives office could support data-gathering about assessor appointments and municipal roles.

Ending: Marshall asked for legislative consideration of technology and governance to enable a statewide, uniform approach to land records and offered the archives office as a partner in the work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Ways and Means 2025-01-30 1:15PM","oneSentenceSummary","The state archivist told Ways & Means that modernizing municipal records and moving toward eRecording or a shared, multi-jurisdictional platform would improve accuracy and efficiency across property, permitting and land-record workflows.","taxTitle","Ways & Means, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35157,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6360118,"Assessors' association asks for cautious, collaborative approach on assessment districts and appeals",800,2806000,3606000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3&start=2806&end=3606","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3/thumbnail_2806000.jpg","/articles/6360118/Vermont/Assessors-association-asks-for-cautious-collaborative-approach-on-assessment-districts-and-appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360118-79151c5c3137166fa6c035f5628b2b42/orig.mp4?Expires=1775296620&Signature=LQeUIAnGcEPO32fYSvRMR-rfdZy0PHwNGA4aKbTDHRses0wSGgF9G8p4SQh0Rk1AmO5SiBYjsy72RTcgmB1TLJomoX6jJafaqCFTC13lARG9FgF0zdAqRzrJBPpwL-EAK4bmSgE9rTYGdPxHOb7E6zf-amHg6doy7rni1uoE8hrbi2adzAkctLpSanYp3tHD3Y3bQooQai4yPeQKf~RzJZ39jGUKJiWQy9hsOKTXO2rVe7DVV2LvjVVbpj9TEOzEU8S3i9eJlb6NdgFvXEBtI201yQbQNbD7Q9Y0GcizZdKh0t8y-yf9PRSppTcpdL32IoxhvyPNFrrwJi~C4YsX1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Linda Sherman, president of the Vermont Assessors and Listers Association (VELA) and an assessor for Dover, Weston and Somerset, told the House Ways & Means Committee she and her membership support careful, inclusive planning as the state considers changes to assessment districts, valuation dates and appeals processes.

“It's already has proven to be a very interesting and, position,” Sherman said, introducing herself and describing her background in municipal assessment work. She urged the committee to form a working group on districting and to include VELA and local stakeholders in decision-making.

Why it matters: Sherman and other local assessors said proposed structural changes could affect the jobs of municipal listers and assessors, alter how appeals are handled and change workloads for small towns that lack full-time staff.

Sherman described a range of local realities: Dover has about 4,000 parcels, she said, while Somerset has about 13. She recounted how some towns have dissolved elected lister boards and moved to appointed assessors to ensure continuity. Sherman also raised concerns about the Board of Civil Authority as the local appeals forum, saying the composition—selectboard members, town clerks, justices of the peace—can make equitable, technical appraisal appeals difficult without mandated training.

VELA members and their education coordinator, Vy Bernstein, told the committee the organization represents roughly 70–80 municipalities. Committee members supplying data in the hearing said roughly 110 towns have appointed assessors and 45–49 assessors contract to serve multiple towns, a dynamic that complicates workforce planning.

Other topics Sherman raised included a possible shift in the valuation date (from an April 1 valuation date to an earlier January 1 date, as discussed by some participants) to give assessors and contractors more time to work with property owners, and caution about moving too quickly on changes that would disrupt local jobs and processes.

Committee members from both parties pressed for more specifics and asked Sherman and VELA representatives to continue participating in working groups to craft implementation details. Sherman said VELA supports a measured approach and recommended mandated or strongly encouraged training for appeal-board members if the Board of Civil Authority remains the appeals venue.

Ending: VELA asked to be part of the state’s working groups on assessments and urged the Legislature to proceed cautiously so that changes do not inadvertently leave municipal offices short‑staffed or taxpayers without clear appeal paths.","Linda Sherman, president of the Vermont Assessors and Listers Association, and VELA members told the Ways & Means Committee they want to be included in working groups on assessment-district proposals, raised workforce concerns and urged training for appeal boards.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6360122,"IAAO adviser recommends more frequent valuations, clearer appeals and updated tech for Vermont property tax system",2604,104000,2708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3&start=104&end=2708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175341-68496684fb5a0c8ac47dc26dd1265da3/thumbnail_104000.jpg","/articles/6360122/Vermont/IAAO-adviser-recommends-more-frequent-valuations-clearer-appeals-and-updated-tech-for-Vermont-property-tax-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360122-6323c8f8c8c837eb6de58c90ca5e4c95/orig.mp4?Expires=1775296620&Signature=UoPQ1GQA2vJIfqk5~SJd0Ft2Jo3EOvQgUigAdpacgU7H0r8M~IHpBOulS-ru0uob79YnWQEikiIXutS9l4msDvbB5AMEXY6QHLenI8Z7jXw5tbnsSZVx2zTgeG48n5CopE9D3ubZ1B6K3Y3mnACGkdKl23NQn9daLUNjNddSCg2AFLgN9rvfiK0glpzaWD8GBPjd6mzFQKm4j51H2msCXoKzJejDDIh0anhbfKvuyBJpQLsdU2iVRWtIbe8dcUFVmeKds-5-z75pw3L0alNNIZxWCMSRe1xLlbdafFos6uDhacqPRy9o7WXIPtURFeOU6e5hRrj-b46TJOSPHg3XaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways & Means Committee heard a broad review of assessment best practices and recommendations for Vermont’s property tax system on the topic of statewide appraisals, presented by Justin Imers, an assessment adviser with the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO).

Imers told lawmakers that “current market value implies annual assessments of all properties,” a standard the IAAO uses to define best practice, and said his team compared Vermont’s processes with practices in other states and with IAAO standards. The presentation summarized surveys of other state oversight agencies and stakeholder interviews in Vermont, and reviewed tools and governance structures used elsewhere.

Why it matters: the state’s approach to valuation and inspection affects how education funding is calculated and how property-tax obligations are distributed among homeowners. The committee’s work could change the frequency of revaluations, the appeals process, and the technology used by local assessors.

Imers laid out several core findings and recommendations. On reappraisal and reinspection cycles, he said many states produce new values annually and that IAAO recommends annual assessments to meet a strict interpretation of current market value. At the same time, IAAO guidance accepts practical alternatives: a revaluation mandate such as Vermont’s proposed six‑year cycle would place the state “much improved” relative to having no requirement, and IAAO recommends reinspections every four to six years. Imers noted roughly 29 states contributed to the study’s survey data and that about 60% of respondents reported reinspecting every six years or more frequently.

On appeals, Imers described a standard escalation: an informal review by the local assessor, a secondary board-level review with trained members, then a state-level appeals board and finally judicial review. “Appeal boards must be knowledgeable and competent to hear appraisals related to appeals,” he said, arguing that local-level first reviews make sense because those offices generated the initial values.

Regarding software, Imers said states vary between single and multiple CAMA (computer-assisted mass appraisal) systems. Vermont stakeholders polled in the study favored a single statewide CAMA system (about 70% in the stakeholder sample), though the IAAO standards do not require a single vendor; they emphasize that oversight agencies ensure jurisdictions have adequate CAMA functionality.

Imers also reviewed inspection techniques and alternatives to in-person “boots on the ground” visits, including aerial imagery, change-detection software, MLS and listing data, and remote tours. He said many jurisdictions now supplement field inspections with digital tools and that IAAO allows alternative techniques, though the standard still recommends on-site physical review when imagery identifies a clear discrepancy (for example, a demolished outbuilding).

On capacity and workforce, Imers reported stakeholder concerns about insufficient assessment staff: in Vermont stakeholder responses, 88% said the state does not currently have an appropriate number of assessment staff. He recommended stabilizing workload through regular valuation cycles, consolidating jurisdictions where practical, and investing in ongoing training so assessors can run modern valuation software and meet professional standards.

Imers addressed equity and bias concerns, recommending several oversight and education measures: require or encourage assessors to follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), adopt IAAO sales-ratio and quality standards (for example, acceptable sales-ratio ranges and COD thresholds), and consider price‑related differential (PRD) or similar statistics to test for vertical equity. He said removing an automatic interior‑inspection requirement was one idea stakeholders raised to limit potential bias, since exterior-only inspections apply a consistent standard across properties.

Committee members raised questions about privacy and rural concerns tied to aerial imagery and drones; Imers said most mass-imaging contractors use airplanes at high altitude and that much of the imagery is already publicly available on platforms such as Google Earth. Members also discussed the tradeoffs of interior inspections: Imers acknowledged interior data can improve accuracy but said it is costly, hard to obtain consistently across jurisdictions and can introduce bias if access varies.

The presentation repeatedly flagged tradeoffs—frequency versus cost, field inspections versus digital methods, single versus multiple CAMA vendors—and concluded with a call to pair technical changes with investments in staff capacity, oversight, and training.

The committee chair said the group would “dive into this over the course of many weeks” and invited Imers to return for further questions.

Ending: The committee did not adopt any policy at the hearing. Members signaled interest in pursuing the issues Imers outlined—valuation and reinspection cycles, appeals structure, technology choices and capacity building—in subsequent sessions and follow-up briefings.","An assessment advisor for the International Association of Assessing Officers told the House Ways & Means Committee the state should move toward more frequent revaluations and reinspections, strengthen appeal boards and consider a single statewide CAMA platform while investing in staff capacity and biases checks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State archivist urges coordinated records modernization to support assessments and land records

Assessors' association asks for cautious, collaborative approach on assessment districts and appeals

IAAO adviser recommends more frequent valuations, clearer appeals and updated tech for Vermont property tax system