Citywide Reappraisal of all Properties
The City of St. Albans has contracted with Tyler Technologies to reappraise all properties in the city.
Now is your chance to help with the reappraisal!
Letters have gone in the mail to homeowners and commercial property owners. Staff are finishing up knocking and leaving door tags with reappraisal information.
Please return the property information form that is mailed to you and also schedule a site visit with our appraisal team.
For commercial property owners please click here to fill out the Income and Expense Data Worksheet AND the Purchase Price Verification Forms.
Even if it is after the December 15th deadline, please still complete and return the forms. They can be emailed, returned via mail, or brought directly to the City Hall Assessing Office.
You can email us to schedule your site visit or call (802) 524-1500 ext. 262.
Thank you!
Why do a reappraisal?
The City raises the funds for our general budget by applying the municipal tax rate to the values of all of taxable properties on the "Grand List." The grand list is an official document with assessed property values assigned to each parcel. The State of Vermont also uses our grand list to raise education funds via the education tax rate.
During the City's last reappraisal in 2011, our grand list was updated to reflect the real estate market at that time. Since then, every time the City assesses or updates a property, our software uses the value tables from the 2011 reappraisal. Over time, our grand list has gotten out of step with the current real estate market.
Our grand list has reached a stage where the State of Vermont has ordered us to update all property values to reflect the current market.
Click here for more information and FAQs on the Reappraisal. There you can learn more about what to expect and the next steps.
How will the reappraisal affect my taxes?
Your taxes may go up or down or stay the same, but they won't go up for everyone. The reason being that the City tax rate will go down as the total value of the grand list goes up. It is assumed that the reappraisal will raise all property values in the grand list, in order to reflect current real estate values. But that doesn't necessarily change the City budget, which is a separate item considered by voters on Town Meeting Day. As grand list values increase, and if the City budget stays relatively the same, then a lower tax rate will be used to raise the relatively same amount of tax revenues.
When will the reappraisal be done?
The goal is to have the reappraisal finished for the April 1, 2025 grand list. But there will be time to make updates and hear grievances during the summer of 2025 before things are officially finalized.
Click here for more information and FAQs on the Reappraisal. There you can learn more about what to expect and the next steps.
Contact:
Sara Bennett, City Assessor
s.bennett@stalbansvt.com
(802) 524-1500 x262