By Paul Bean
Since Thursday afternoon, there’s been spirited pushback against a legislative plan to separate non-homestead property owners into nine separate categoaries – and even more spirited pushback against a Barre legislator who explained that it’s the government’s job to pick taxpayer winners and losers.
On Thursday, March 27 the House Committee on Ways and Means heard testimony on the committee’s proposal to segregate the non-homestead property tax into nine classes of property taxpayers, each with its own tax rate.
Right now Vermont has two rates, homestead (primary residences) and non-homestead (commercial, secondary residences, apartment buildings etc).
Committee members assured concerned listeners that the nine categories would be used to set separate tax rates for one or more of the categories.
At least one State House observer wasn’t buying it. “They must either think we’re too stupid to believe them, or they are too stupid to realize we don’t,” he said (withholding his name).
The 9 classes are: Residential, Public, Resort, Affordable housing, Residential A, Residential B, Industrial, Commercial, and Undeveloped. Residential B are non-homesteads valued at over a million dollars.
Barre Rep. Teddy Waszazak (D) explained that the complicated tax code is necessary to ensure the “right people are winning.”
“The market picks winners and losers. And it’s the job of the Government to right size that. So yes we are picking winners and losers, because the market is already starting that dynamic for us, and it’s our job to make sure the right people are winning.”
After VDC posted on X the video of Waszazek making these statements, several readers took exception, responding with the following:
“It is NEVER. I repeat NEVER the government’s place to decide who the “right people” are, for any reason.”
“I never want the government deciding who the “right people” are.”
“This is just a poorly thought out attempt to increase their options for raising revenue in the future. It will never pass given the complexity. The law makers putting it forward should be spending their time on more pressing matters.”
Former House member Heidi Scheuermann of Stowe commented: “Is this a JOKE?!? 9 different classes of non-homestead property taxpayers?!? What a boneheaded idea … but who’s surprised when it comes to our elected leaders’ efforts at education funding reform and property tax relief.”
Date notwithstanding, this is no joke, Heidi.