Board of Abatement

The Board of Abatement is made up of the Board of Civil Authority (Town Clerk and Treasurer, Selectboard, and the Justices of the Peace) and the Listers. (24 V.S.A. § 1533).

Abatement is the process for relieving taxpayer/ratepayers from the burden of paying property taxes, water charges, sewer charges, interest, collection fees, or any other municipal charges or fees for utilities or services. Abatement is granted when the request is authorized by statute and when the BOA, in its discretion, agrees that the request is reasonable and proper. The BOA has the authority to abate town taxes and statewide education property taxes. However, if the BOA abates statewide educational property taxes, the Town is still obligated to the State for the full amount of statewide educational taxes due.