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Farmers urge fixes to Vermont current use rules after surprise tax bills
Summary
Farmers told the Senate Agriculture Committee that confusing current use enrollment and notification procedures led to unexpected tax assessments—one farmer said a missed filing over a new barn cost his operation about $31,000—and urged automatic enrollment triggers and clearer notices to prevent similar losses.
Chair (speaker 1) told the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 10 that members would hear from farmers who said they had been harmed by how the state handles current use enrollment for farm buildings.
Wright Chaput, who identified himself as owner of Chaput Family Farms, testified that his farm built a large barn beginning June 24 and completed by December 5. Chaput said the new structure was treated differently on the property rolls and that he received a notice of a higher assessment, increasing his tax bill by roughly $31,000. "Your slip up cost us $31,000," Chaput told the committee, recounting a meeting with the town assessor in which he said the assessor acknowledged he had not notified Chaput that a separate application was required.
Chaput said his appeal to the current use program was…
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