Lawmakers, Tax Department Weigh Regional assessment districts, state role in reappraisal reform

Members of the House Ways & Means Committee on Feb. 19 heard Department of Taxes staff present a draft reappraisal reform bill aimed at putting Vermont’s property reappraisal system on a regular, statewide cycle and creating regional assessment districts.

The Tax Department said provisions in the draft would formalize a six-year reappraisal cycle that took effect Jan. 1, 2025, and create assessment districts with a state-appointed assessment supervisor. “So as of, today, we have 129 towns that are under a reappraisal contract,” said Jill Remmett, Director of Property Valuation and Review at the Tax Department, describing progress toward the new cycle. She said 39 towns remain what the department calls “out of compliance” because they are past the six-year mark and do not have plans approved by the department.

The legislation discussed, cited in the meeting as draft STRAC 250152, would authorize regional assessment districts and include language establishing an assessment supervisor and related staffing. “It would actually be a state employee who was examined and appointed by the commissioner for each assessment district,” Rebecca…