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Selectboard forgives homestead penalties for this year after Treasurer's review
Summary
Treasurer Mary LaBrecque explained that the state imposes the homestead penalty and the town retains the funds when the town has voted to impose it; because the town did not enact the penalty this year at tax‑rate time, the selectboard voted to forgive the penalty for homesteaders this year.
The Isle La Motte Selectboard voted to forgive the homestead penalty for the current year after a presentation by Treasurer Mary LaBrecque.
LaBrecque told the board that the homestead penalty is imposed by the state but retained by the town only if the town has chosen to impose the penalty at the time the tax rate is set. The board determined it had not voted to enact the penalty this year and, after discussion, voted to forgive the penalty for homesteaders (motion by Mary Catherine Graziano, seconded by Pat Treckman, carried unanimously). The board discussed potential future votes on whether to enact the penalty at tax‑rate setting time but did not resolve that question at this meeting.
The forgiveness means affected taxpayers will not be assessed the penalty for the year in question; the town did not vote to collect or retain the penalty funds.
