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This website is operated by Vermont Property Publishing, Inc., publisher of the e-mail newsletter Vermont Current Use Report and the print newsletter Vermont Property Owners Report. For State of Vermont information about the current use program, see the bottom of this page. History of Current Use Program “Current use” is the unofficial name of Vermont’s Use Value Appraisal law. The program permits anyone who owns 25 acres or more of forest or farmland (less farmland in some cases) to enroll their property and pay property taxes based on a substantially reduced assessment. This can reduce a Vermont property tax bill by 90% or more. A lien is placed on property enrolled in current use, and if it is ever developed, the owner at that time must pay a land use change tax. The current use law was originally enacted in the late 1970s, at a time when the state was under considerable development pressure. As stated in the law, the purpose of current use includes preserving productive agricultural and forestland, preventing accelerated development, and preserving Vermont’s scenic resources. The program has grown to include over 2.1 million acres. Current Use Reforms Changes to the current use program have been under discussion in the Legislature for at least two years. Initially, some of the drive for reform was sparked by serious budget shortfalls, with some proposals focused on raising money from current use participants. In the spring of 2009, after considering and rejecting cuts to current use, the Legislature passed a bill stating it was open to suggestions on how to make cuts of $1.6 million in the current use program during the 2010 session. In that session, a bill (H.485) was passed that would have boosted the so-called “development penalty,” and would have assessed each enrolled landowner $128, but it was vetoed by Governor Jim Douglas. In 2011, the House passed a bill, H.237, that would make several reforms to the current use program, including altering the development penalty and changing the way the penalty is calculated when a portion of an enrolled land parcel is withdrawn and developed. A variety of other changes are included in the bill, but at present it does not include any assessment on enrolled property owners. The bill will be taken up in the Senate in 2012. Keep Up to Date In order to help enrolled landowners and others keep track of the current use debate in the Legislature and the implementation of any changes to the program, Vermont Property Publishing, Inc. is once again publishing an e-mail newsletter called Vermont Current Use Report. The Report is being published on an as-needed basis. Publication could be as often as twice a week, twice a month, or whenever news arises. In 2011, over 20 e-mail editions were sent. We expect the e-mail newsletter will be most active during the legislative session this winter and spring, but when there is relevant news about current use over the balance of the year, we’ll send out an e-mail newsletter then, too. The Vermont Current Use Report includes stories and analysis about the latest legislative proposals; interviews with legislators, foresters, state officials, and others involved in the current use debate; notice of public hearings; and contact information for legislators and committees working on current use. It is written and published by the staff at Vermont Property Owners Report (VPOR), a print newsletter, for owners and buyers of land, vacation homes and primary homes, that’s been in business since 1986. For more information about VPOR, go to: www.VermontRealEstateToday.com Additional information and documents about possible current use changes will be posted on this website in a section accessible only to subscribers of the Vermont Current Use Report. To see PDF samples of VCUR e-mail issues sent during 2011, click the issue number and date below: If you wish to subscribe to this current use e-mail service for 2012, the price is $24. However, those without e-mail, who want the publication printed out and mailed to them, may subscribe for $38 ($40.28 including 6% sales tax if mailed to a Vermont address). To sign up, you can: • call our office in Montpelier at 802-229-2433 • mail or fax our subscription form with payment information. State sources of information on the current use program: Tax Department: http://www.state.vt.us/tax/pvrcurrentuse.shtml Division of Forestry: http://www.vtfpr.org/resource/for_forres_useapp.cfm Agency of Agriculture: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/agdev/currentuse.htm |
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Copyright 2012 by Vermont Property Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. |
