[quickdraw]

I just got my re-appraisal in Williston over the weekend. I'm not sure when the last one was done but my house and land just jumped 70 percent.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

I just got my re-appraisal in Williston over the weekend. I'm not sure when the last one was done but my house and land just jumped 70 percent.

Here's a basic primer as to what you need to do to get the ball rolling on your grievance: http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal/pubs/Appealing.pdf

This is a more detailed handbook, however I found the first link more helpful.
http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal...dbook_2007.pdf

According to your Town website, it looks like the grand list should be completed shortly, if not already completed.

Looks like it is time to get your paperwork together and grieve your taxes.

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Here's a basic primer as to what you need to do to get the ball rolling on your grievance: http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal/pubs/Appealing.pdf

This is a more detailed handbook, however I found the first link more helpful.
http://www.sec.state.vt.us/municipal...dbook_2007.pdf

According to your Town website, it looks like the grand list should be completed shortly, if not already completed.

Looks like it is time to get your paperwork together and grieve your taxes.

Thanks Oh, I'll get started. I do own 10 acres of land, but much of it is up
a mountain, so I can't do anything with it. I'm hoping they have just charged me a flat acre fee and don't realize my land isn't a potential moneymaker.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Thanks Oh, I'll get started. I do own 10 acres of land, but much of it is up
a mountain, so I can't do anything with it. I'm hoping they have just charged me a flat acre fee and don't realize my land isn't a potential moneymaker.

My land is so steep (it runs downhill to a brook and then a steep climb back up the other side) and is bisected by a year round brook which requires either a bridge or some really wet legs to cross. I brought that up to the lister, brought pictures in, too, from as many angles as possible to support my point.

This is what was explained to me. There is a scale by which they rate your land, grade 1.0 being average. Two acres are pulled out for your homesite, and they are taxed at a higher rate than the remainder of the land. (In my case, 2 acre homesite, 10.9 acres balance) If you have a nice view, your grade is going to be over 1.0 - 1.1, 1.3, etc. Anything detrimental and your grade slips below 1.0. Detrimental can be steep grade, a junkyard across the road, anything that's negative, really.

My property was graded .70 for the appraisal, but when I brought the up the fact that the property was so steep, and was one of the most unusable parcels on the road, the lister assured me he would go back out and have a look. My housesite value was reduced just shy of $10K. I am waiting to get the revised appraisal sheet to see what my grade has been reduced to: .65? .60?

I saw the house layout on the computer screen, and the dimensions for the 2nd floor were bigger than I thought. I zipped over to the house (hard to zip through town when the speed limit is 25! LOL) and measured out the upstairs. BINGO. They never got inside to measure and I was coming up with a smaller figure. Upon return, I spoke with another man from the lister's department and explained the steep pitch/gambrel roof/knee wall situation. He used some sort of term which meant I was actually losing space because of that combo. He accepted my measurements, tacked 2' on for the exterior walls and came up with a figure which was 200 sq ft less than the appraisal and within 60 sq ft of the real estate's listing (I saved everything from the home purchase.) He saw my proof, my measurements with his additions came into synch with the real estate listing and he changed it on the spot.

I had brought comps from within the community, too, to show them that I was aware of what the going rate was and that I wasn't looking to get over on anyone.

It was a very smooth process. Follow the tips in the link and you'll do fine

[NYtoVT]

And then when the Listers multiply that new figure by the CLA, most of your savings will disappear.

[OhBeeHave]

Yes, I realize that. If I didn't grieve the reappraisal, I would be paying the adjusted CLA on $22K more than my property is worth. If that figure is (hypothetical) $2.00 I'd be paying out $440 more than I had to. If they don't reappraise again for another 17 years, we could be looking at (again hypothetical $2 for example only) $7,480 saved. I'd much rather it in my pocket.

[NYtoVT]

Greiving the reappraisal is the right thing to do if you feel that the Grand List value is wrong. However, due to the geniuses in Montpelier, most of that savings will disappear if your CLA is above 100.
If I understand this correctly, once a towns CLA drops below 65%, the State mandates that a reappraisal MUST be done. It's not going to be 17 years before that happens again. I'm in the midst of a grievance now and will take this to the BCA and the State Appraiser if necessary.
A liitle history. We paid 300k for the property in 2005. A reappraisal was done in 2007 at which time the Grand List value jumped to $470k. With a correctly done reappraisal, the towns CLA should stand at 100%. We put the property on the market in December '06 for $555k and have subsequently reduced it to $375k where it sits now. During that time we have had NO, I reapeat NO offers. Not even insulting ones. After speaking with the listers, I was told the the town's CLA now stands at 125%. This would represent a 25% increase in sales prices over a an 18 month period. Not even Las Vegas or Florida had that rate of appreciation. Something is most assuredly wrong here. Applying the Montpelier-derived formula for Grand List values, the adjusted Grand List value would be $460k. This value is still WAY above market value. Because of ONE student in Whiting, the State scrapped 150 years of local option taxation for a statewide tax that on the face of it is patently unfair.

[OhBeeHave]

Would you happen to have a link to a website with a breakdown of town CLAs? I am getting curiouser and curiouser.

[NYtoVT]

I've been looking for that info but as of yet have not been able to find it. The listers should have that info.

[OhBeeHave]

I'll have to call on Thursday; they are conducting the formal grievance hearings through tomorrow.

Thanks.