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Board waives penalty on late homestead filers over opposition from one member
Summary
The Select Board voted to waive the state-authorized penalty on late homestead filers for FY27; the motion passed with one NO (Vice Chair Justin Hyjek), amid concerns about fiscal impacts and precedent.
The Select Board considered whether to waive the penalty assessed on late homestead filings. Ulla Cook explained that state law allows an 8% penalty on the Education tax and that VLCT guidance means a waiver would have to apply to all late filers. Bruce Schmidt and George Tucker, Jr. urged continuing the historical practice of waivers for long-time residents, while Vice Chair Justin Hyjek opposed the waiver citing tax delinquencies and fiscal constraints.
A motion by George Tucker, Jr., seconded by Noah Schmidt to waive the penalty on late homestead filers passed with one NO: Justin Hyjek. Board members discussed administrative impacts, the town’s fiscal situation, and the need to treat long-time residents fairly. The vote result was recorded as "Motion passed – one NO, Justin Hyjek."
