Williston board grants $6,190 abatement for Maple Tree Place

The Town of Williston Board of Abatement approved a $6,190.05 tax abatement for Maple Tree Place after hearing from the assessor and a representative of Champlain Housing Trust.

The assessor told the board that Maple Tree Place qualified for a 10% reduction tied to the VHFA (Vermont Housing Finance Agency) certification for low‑income housing and recommended abating $6,190.05, representing that statutory adjustment. Michael Monti, speaking for Champlain Housing Trust, said he accepted use of the VHFA spreadsheet and certification so long as the spreadsheet was used to determine the income‑approach valuation the agency provides. After discussion, the board voted to approve the abatement and the chair announced the ayes had it.

Board members discussed the mechanics of valuation: several said the VHFA income‑approach spreadsheet is the customary method for subsidized housing valuation in Vermont (citing Title 32, section discussion), while the assessor described covenants, investor tax‑credit structures and complex mortgage terms that shaped his initial assessment. The board framed the Maple Tree decision as an abatement applied to the tax bill; they clarified that an abatement at the hearing does not itself change the assessor’s underlying grand‑list assessment for future years.

The board asked Champlain Housing Trust to provide supporting calculations as needed and recorded the abatement amount in the minutes. The assessor offered to run the VHFA spreadsheet and supply the math for the board’s records; the board agreed to that follow-up.