Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tax Abatement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Williston board approves tax abatements for two properties damaged by fires
Summary
The Williston Board of Abatement voted June 28 to abate property taxes for two parcels after dwellings were destroyed by fire, applying day‑by‑day proration through June 30, 2026; the board instructed staff to issue credits or refunds based on payments already made.
The Williston Board of Abatement voted to abate taxes for two properties whose dwellings were destroyed by fire, applying prorated credits that run through June 30, 2026, the board decided at its June 28 meeting.
The action covers a house at 3020 South Road, which burned on May 17, 2025, and a dwelling owned by the Grace Farley Revocable Trust at 200 White Birch Lane, lost on July 23, 2025. Committee members and staff disputed how to calculate the abatement period but settled on setting the taxable value to land only and crediting the homeowner for the portion of the tax year the structure was gone.
Chair (speaker 3) framed the legal and procedural distinction that led to the discussion: "I would give credit from 05/17/2025 through the end of that fiscal year, which is 06/30/2025. That is 32 days. It works out to about $282.24," the Chair said, describing the way the first‑year proration was being calculated.
Staff and board members explained the assessment/tax timeline that drives the arithmetic: assessments are set as of April 1 but the town collects taxes on a July 1–June 30 fiscal schedule, so a dwelling destroyed after April 1 requires a day‑by‑day proration across the affected fiscal years. Staff (speaker 6 and speaker 5) provided per‑diem rates used in the calculations; the per‑diem figure for the first property was recorded as $8.82.
Committee member (speaker 7) moved to abate taxes on the 3020 South Road parcel "for 05/17/2025 through 06/30/2026," and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not change the land value; it set the taxable value for the parcel to the land only and abated the portion of taxes attributable to the destroyed dwelling. Board members said the treasurer/assessor's office will compute whether the taxpayer is due a refund (if installments already paid exceed the re‑calculated liability) or will receive a credit against the remaining installment.
On the second case, staff presented a per‑diem of $10.21 and used 343 days (July 23 through June 30, 2026) in the same proration method. "The credit is based on 343 days from the date of loss being July 23 through the end of this tax year, 06/30/2026, at a proration of $10.21 per day," the Chair summarized. Using that math produces a credit of approximately $3,502.03 against the full tax bill; the board moved, seconded and approved that abatement on the same terms.
The board voted on each abatement by voice; no opposing votes were recorded on the transcript. Board members said staff will complete the arithmetic to determine the exact refund or credit once payments already made are reconciled with the abated liability. The board adjourned the Board of Abatement after taking both votes.
The abatement decisions leave the land value intact and relieve the taxpayer of the tax liability attributable to the destroyed structures for the periods specified; staff will notify the property owners and apply credits or refunds after final calculation.
