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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 The current use law was originally enacted in the late 1970s, at a time when the state was under considerable development pressure.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. Budget Problems Due to the recession and a big drop in revenues, the State of Vermont is facing seriousbudget shortfalls and is expected to make significant changes to current use in the 2010 legislative session. The changes are expected save the state money but raise property taxes for some of those enrolled in the program. 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. A group of forest, farm and environmental advocacy groups has come up with a plan that would involve raising property taxes on those current use parcels that have a dwelling, and boosting the so-called development penalty, among other things. 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 during the balance of 2010, Vermont Property Publishing, Inc. is 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. 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 will be 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. If you wish to subscribe to this current use e-mail service for 2010, the price is $12 for the remainder of the year. [You may also want to subscribe to VPOR (VPOR costs $49.95/year, plus tax if applicable).] 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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