Lister Doug Poulter warns Winhall faces reappraisal staffing squeeze under new state rules

Doug Poulter, the town’s Lister, told the Select Board that "residential property is 54% of market value in aggregate" and that several condominium areas are at roughly 40–45% of market. He presented preliminary grand-list figures and flagged a state-mandated six-year reassessment schedule that will require sustained funding and capacity to complete the next reappraisal cycle.

Poulter outlined the town’s likely fiscal exposure: the State pays approximately $8.50 per taxable parcel annually for grand-list maintenance, which he estimated at about $18,000 per year and roughly $108,000 over a six-year cycle. He also warned that, "as of January 2026, Listers must become certified" within 12 months and said two of the three current listers have indicated they will not pursue the required certification, creating a potential staffing shortfall.

The board discussed options including matching state funds into a reserve, keeping tax-abatement and appeals funds available to cover potential reimbursements tied to appeals, and the possibility of dissolving the elected Board of Listers in favor of a paid assessor (Poulter cited an expected pay range of roughly $40–$65 per hour for a hired assessor). Poulter recommended the Select Board monitor state scheduling and funding changes and avoid taking any irreversible votes until staff can firm up timing and costs; the board added a modest $10,000 above the original request for now and deferred larger structural choices for later consideration.