Williston board reopens assessment hearing, records provisional $17 million value and orders state appraisal

The Town of Williston Board of Civil Authority reopened a continued property tax assessment hearing at 6:02 p.m. Dec. 1, 2025, and recorded a provisional agreed valuation of $17,000,000 for the 2025/26 Grand List. Chair Andy Mikell noted the parcel under appeal was identified for the record, oaths were administered and no ex parte communications or conflicts of interest were reported.

Ashley Castle, representing GF, said the current assessment “does not reflect current fair market value, as it is nine years out of date,” and reported increased vacancy and a drop in tenant occupancy to 17% with an expected fall to 1% in 2026. Castle told the board that Global believes “$10,000,000 would be fair value,” but that negotiations with the town produced an agreed amount of $17,000,000 to carry on the 2025/26 Grand List while the parties pursue an accelerated re‑evaluation through the State of Vermont’s Commercial Appraisal and Litigation Program (CALAP).

Assistant Assessor Mychaela Harton presented maps, land and building valuation and a cost approach supporting the town’s prior assessed value of $24,646,960. Board members discussed neutrality and cost of an outside appraisal; Bill Hinman and Harton explained that the town intends to retain an out‑of‑region firm through CALAP and estimated the service cost in the range of $30,000–$50,000. When Member Carter Smith asked what would happen if either party disagreed with the outside appraisal, the board was told the number produced by the outside appraisal company will be used in the 2026/27 Grand List.

To gather on‑site information before the next hearing, an inspection team of Chair Andy Mikell, Carter Smith and Sarah Mason will visit the property on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 10:30 a.m. The hearing was recessed to Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. for the inspection team to report findings and for further proceedings.