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Resident suggests quarterly tax installments; board notes hurdles
Summary
A Fayston resident proposed switching from an annual to quarterly property tax payment schedule to ease taxpayer burden; Selectboard members noted state fiscal-year timing, administrative burdens, and that a charter or fiscal-year change may be required.
Resident Jim Donkersloot told the Selectboard that recent increases in the education tax are stressing taxpayers and suggested Fayston consider quarterly tax payments rather than a single annual payment.
"Given the recent increases in the education tax, and to relieve some of the stress on taxpayers, perhaps the town should consider a quarterly payment system rather than a single annual payment," Donkersloot said. He added that quarterly payments can also improve cash flow for a municipality and noted that some other towns, including Waitsfield, use installment systems.
Board members raised practical obstacles. Ron Graves noted that the tax rate is typically set in early July with payment due in August and pointed out differences in fiscal years for neighboring towns that make direct comparisons difficult. Michael Jordan said accepting installment payments could require additional administrative work to track interest and late fees for multiple payments. Chuck Martel invited Donkersloot to raise the issue at the Town Meeting article about the timing of tax due dates; Sarah Stavraky said implementing quarterly payments would likely require switching to a fiscal year.
