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Williston board approves tax abatements after two houses destroyed by fire
Summary
The Williston Board of Abatement approved abatements for two properties lost to fire, applying proration through the 2025–26 fiscal year and directing staff to calculate final credits to taxpayers' bills.
The Williston Board of Abatement voted to abate property tax liability for two parcels whose dwellings were destroyed by fire, applying prorated credits through June 30 of the 2025–26 fiscal year and directing staff to calculate final refunds or credits against taxpayers' outstanding bills.
The board opened the first case at 3020 South Road, where members were told the dwelling was destroyed on May 17, 2025. Board discussion centered on whether to prorate from the date of loss through June 30, 2025, or to set the taxable liability for the whole fiscal year beginning July 1 and adjust payments later. One member summarized the difference: the assessment date is April 1 but tax collection runs July 1–June 30, and daily-rate proration is used to credit the taxpayer for days the dwelling was not present.
Tony, a committee member who moved the prevailing motion, said the board should “abate the taxes on this property for 05/17/2025 through 06/30/2026” and adjust the assessed value to the land only, leaving the structure’s value abated. Staff confirmed a daily abatement rate of $8.82 and presented a computation that produced a $3,501.54 reduction applied to the taxpayer’s liability; the board approved the motion.
The board then considered a second case, the Grace Farley Revocable Trust at 200 White Birch Lane, where the building loss occurred on July 23, 2025. Using the same methodology the staff calculated a proration of 343 days at $10.21 per day, producing an estimated credit of $3,502.03 against a full bill of $6,552.27. The board moved, seconded and approved that abatement as presented.
Board members emphasized that the motions set the tax liability and that cash refunds or credits will be resolved later by staff once payments already made are reconciled. The board recorded no formal dissent and adjourned the Board of Abatement after the votes.
What happens next: staff will complete the arithmetic to determine whether taxpayers are due refunds or credits based on installments already paid and will adjust the tax rolls to reflect land-only values for the affected parcels.
