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by Rob Roper
The Democrat/Progressive supermajorities that voted to override Governor Scott’s vetoes of laws that resulted in the massive property tax bills most Vermonters are receiving this month are now spinning the line that they did the responsible – nay courageous — thing by kicking the can down the road and appointing yet another panel of (mostly) unelected so-called experts to do yet another study to come up with a “real” solution this time. Really. Eventually. Maybe. Or not.
This new high-falutinly named “Commission on the Future of Public Education” is made of thirteen supposed saviors of our homesteads from tax foreclosure. But who are these people really? For the overwhelming part, they are a collection of the very special interests who have thwarted meaningful education finance reform at every turn for years, and who have every incentive to keep the money spigot open as wide as it can go for as long as possible. This veritable who’s who of what my friend John McClaughry termed “The Blob” for its propensity to devour every revenue source in its path is:
- Jeff Fannon, Executive Director of the Vermont National Education Association (the Teachers’ Union). Yeah. No help there.
- Jeff Francis, who until a month ago was Executive Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association, but on this committee is representing the Vermont Principals’ Association. Lifetime hired gun for The Blob.
- Michael Leichliter, a superintendent himself is on to officially do the bidding of the Vermont Superintendents Association.
- Elizabeth Jennings, President of Vermont Association of School Business Officials (VASBO), aka the public-school administrative bureaucracy.
- Nicole Mace, former Executive Director and General Counsel for Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) is back to protect the interests of that special interest.
- John Castle, another former superintendent now serving as Executive Director of the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, which on its website lists its mission as “collective advocacy for sound educational public policy and funding,” so don’t look for and recommendations of frugality coming from that corner!
- Megan Roy, yet another former superintendent now with the Census Based Funding Advisory Group, which was the lead policy advisory organization behind the disastrous pupil weighting law that in great part was responsible for the rapid increase in spending that led to this lates round of stratospheric property tax increases. No more advice from you, please!
That’s seven. Out of thirteen. So, a majority of the Commission is made up of solid lobbyists for the tax and spend status quo. None of these people has any interest in curtailing spending on pre-k 12. Quite the opposite.
Putting two more thumbs on the scale, the two legislator members of the Commission are Representative Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall) and Senator Ann Cummings (D-Washington), both of whom vote in lockstep with the above listed special interests. Conlon, who chairs the House Education Committee that oversees the policies that led us to where we are now, said at one point during this debate, “Vermonters want an education that is somewhat costly.” Yeah, sure. Thank you, sir, may I have another!
So that’s nine out of thirteen.
Rounding out the team are the new Interim Secretary of Education, Zoie Saunders, Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio, Oliver Olsen from the Vermont Independent Schools Association and a former Independent Representative from Jamacia, and the Chair of the State Board of Education, Jennifer Deck-Samuelson.
Of these four, Deck-Samuelson is a wildcard and the remaining three – out of thirteen – could potentially bring some commonsense recommendations to the proceedings. Where they will be summarily ignored by the supermajority of special interests just as quickly as the legislative supermajorities ignored the Governor’s vetoes of the bills that got us where we are in the first place.
So, in conclusion, this Commission is a farce, and let’s not pretend for the next year and a half that it’s going to do or recommend anything that will lower Vermonters’ education tax burden or reform our schools to do a better overall job of educating our kids for a price tag that’s more in line with what the rest of the country pays for quality student outcomes. Its real mission is to make sure none of that happens.
Rob Roper is a freelance writer who has been involved with Vermont politics and policy for over 20 years. This article reprinted with permission from Behind the Lines: Rob Roper on Vermont Politics, robertroper.substack.com
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Categories: Commentary, Education
That’s as dumb as letting Congress set it’s own term limits and salary! Wait…
The citizens of Vermont should have a representative or two on that committee. After all, we are the ones footing the bill….we should have a voice. And out of curiosity, how much money has been allocated for this stacked deck of a committee….because you know they are not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. The staffing is just one more betrayal by the clowns under the dome. On another note…have you noticed the number of million dollar mansions hitting the market? I guess the state could use them for housing the homeless because the people who could afford to buy them will look elsewhere after researching VT’s taxes. Rich people didn’t get rich by being stupid. The exodus begins.
“Farce” is putting it mildly. Self-interested bureaucrats. Like I have stated before, this state is turning into another Californian fiasco and this just a small part of it.
There is a bottom line to this if the question is answered “who i selecting these lobbyists”? That’s where the problem lays. Those are the people that needs to be filed 13. Some group, committee, etc? Gotta love your town’s Delinquent Tax Collector who violates the DTC State Handbook all the time. Also has another job to financially live in VT. They are also corrupt, your friendly neighbor.
The town’s tax collection, 80% goes to the school empires. The tax collections should be paid by the school system, not the town. The DTC gets a portion of taxes collected.
Fox(s) watching the chicken house again!! since one of them, and a major one, lives near me, maybe I should contact him directly about my property taxes!
This group is a screaming nightmare. Same bunch of hacks who gave us Act 46. And other boondoggles. To put it another way, the people who are mainly responsible for creating the mess we are in. Just….ouch.
The first guy says essentially ‘don’t limit our supply of money’ and the next one says ‘no reason to contain costs’ as the lady next to him nods like bobolimk or whatever those crazy head nodding dolls are. Great!
Just a short bit of info about property taxes, property value, Listers, BCA, State Appraiser, Grievances, been through it all many times.
It starts with Listers. IT’s all endorsed by the VT Tax Dept and they lecture people elected to their positions. More to come about the town’s Listers later.
1. Listers evaluate property for the Grand List. It is suppose to be based on Fair Market Values (FMV) mentioned in their Handbook some 51 places. But they don’t, but based on :what we feel: The book is on the Net to download. Fought them at their grievances, no where. They said they compare comparable properties in the town, that’s false. Court judgement Ames v Town of Danby 1078 said said comparables can be within the state. I did so. Traveled 1340 miles to various Town Clerks in the state that gave me info about the properties sold. I had two articles by Bruce Parker of True North Reports written about this, gave him data and got my property reduced about $60K. Your local RE offices have the data on their computers for MLS properties, I used Barrett & Valley in Spfld VT very helpful, no cost.. This establishes FMV. They printed pages for the grievances. An example, Bradford VT had a property like mine, listed for about $200K, it was sold for about $125K. They were paying taxes on the Lister value, not FMV.
If the Lister grievance does get you anywhere, next is the town’s BCA ,(Board of Civil Authority), a complete farce group of no nothings. They select three people to inspect your property. They don’t need to walk your property, just drive by and write their opinion. Not one has property RE experience. One guy price my basement door at $1200. I challenged him, he said look at the hinges. I bought them for $15 all three. Like to value his building doors as he did mine and let him fight my valuation as he did. Another year another BCA grievance, just walked into my woods, never entered the building and said I had features which I didn’t and the State Appraiser said they were wrong. The BCA is mainly a hurtle to create a frustrating road block for the property owner. So I appealed to the state appraiser, cost 50.
Cutting this short due to potential length. Will continue. Still to come, State Appraiser and the Supreme Court.
I too have litigated my property tax evaluation in court, …twice. Fair Market Value is the lawful standard based on recent sales of similar properties. Litigating one’s valuation isn’t rocket science, and it is incumbent upon us to protect our own personal interests. It’s not the Town’s responsibility nor the responsibility of the Listers. As with everything, it’s a negotiation based on the terms of a contract.
But here’s the deal. Don’t get lost in the weeds. The problem we face isn’t the property tax process. Property taxes DO NOT increase simply because our appraisal changes to more accurately reflect fair market value. The ONLY reason property taxes increase across the board is because THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING MORE MONEY. When the government diverts attention from itself by claiming tax increases are due to the process of increasing property valuations, THE GOVERNMENT IS LYING!
2. About Listers. I had a family member that was voted to be a town Lister. Went to the State for instructions regarding their duties. The bottom line that was disgusting was the attitude of that Tax Dept. The new Listers were told if the people don’t like your property assessment, you can reduce the value by a small amount and that may them off your back. (This happened to me initially when I complained). If no more complaints, you won. On the other hand if you evaluate property at a high value and no complaints, the town has free money. My family member quit in discuss as it wasn’t fair to owners. The State Tax Dept
and Listers take advantage of this mandate. Vermont is being over taxed by hidden values. Do you like your Lister neighbor that treats you this way? When you walk into the Lister’s office and see the State diplomas on the wall, you know they have been brainwashed.
3. The State Appraiser. You have to file with the Town Clerk that you ant the State Appraiser, and pay $50. A time is et up to have the property viewed, be there. After inspection you’ll receive a document that gives their opinion and what they believe the property value. This goes to the town & Lister for value modification Could be up or down, mine was down by 1/3, so it paid off. That value is transferred for many years in the future usually three years. Takes the property value out of the town’s hands. My state appraiser came from Putney VT. The first time meeting him was at the town hall, then at the property. Gave him all my FMV documents, which is required.
4. Just a short about the Supreme Court. If you remain deficient of the assessment,’you can file a suit with the Court, $250. May desire to have a lawyer, an expertise in RE. Still if a positive result of a value reduction, it’s good for three years. This is another roadblock for the property owner.
Other than that leave the aggravation and go to a more friendlier state, like Alabama. Most people in town offices are Flatlanders, wanting to gt rid of the natives and taxing them off their lands (many generations past).
5. Footnotes: Vermont town’s have usually 3-5 Listers. The total I haven’t researched. Yet in Michigan each county has one Lister, not some 50 as in Vermont. Michigan is a much larger state having a bigger population. Why can’t VT be similar. Lister office is a drone Dept. Also control the State Dept to be fair. I came across a Lister in Wolcott in my search of properties. Told him about the Court decision of Ames v Town of Danby regarding FMV that’s state wide. He said NO, only within the town. He was an elected crap head unknowing legalities, or didn’t care to know.
I feel that a legal business should be set up in each county consisting of 1-2 RE lawy6ers, if wanted, to help residents with their false property assessments and high taxes. Their fees should be reduced if the business is non-profit. Only at tax time is this needed. People don’t know what to do to fight the system, in need of assistance. Flatlanders have taken control of people in the state, I’ve encountered such.
This is a sort of what I’ve through over a few years. In my town I know one Lister who’s quite good, fair and we talk often. A country doctor delivered both of us, so we have something in common. Others not so. I’ve also have a CPA brother that has helped me, and owns well over 600 acres and has fought the system many times.
Have other ramifications about the tax collection system–a future expose. Hope this is an eye opener.
To H. Jay Eshelman
Property taxes have to increase with property valuation, it’s the major basis on income for the town. If a property was valued at zero (0), zero taxes. At 100K at 10% is $10K. Anything they wish to value a property (we feel value, not FMV) is what the town can expect. The 100K is for the town’s Grand List that is noted at the State Level. The town hired an “licensed” appraiser from Westmore NH who had a mandate. Establish the Grand List for a value of the town. He overvalued my property by 2/3, I fought it and won. The select board was mad at him for over valuing town property. Don’t have other examples, but learned many people were pissed. In my learning, it what then can get and get away with is their gain.
Tom, in the simplest terms, if you own a house appraised at $100K, and I own a similar house in the same town appraised at $100K, and we each pay $1K in property tax, our taxes will not increase when both our houses increase equally in appraised fair market value to $150K the following year, as long as the town doesn’t spend more money the following year.
Of course, according to the law, the valuations should be deemed to increase equally, unless you’ve made home improvements, for example, or I’ve torn down my garage. Those changes affect our relative fair market values. But if we don’t make any changes, our house’s fair market values are still appraised equally. And we each still pay $1K in taxes, again, as long as the town doesn’t spend more money the following year.
What changes is the tax rate. Paying $1K in tax on a $100K property is a 10% tax rate. Paying $1K in tax on a $150K property is a 6.66% tax rate. While our property valuation increased, our property tax rate decreases proportionately. As long as the town doesn’t spend more money the following year, we still each pay $1000 per year in property tax. The ONLY reason we pay more tax is if our town SPENDS MORE MONEY.
And again, this is the property tax calculation algorithm in the simplest terms. But the State’s calculations are now so complicated, I know of only one person who can even come close to explaining it. His name is Brad James, AOE Education Finance Manager. I’ve queried Brad on this subject going back more than 20 years.
None the less, no matter how complicated the formulas, the ONLY reason taxes increase overall, is because spending increases.
Another recent author described this education committee phenomenon in his VDC missive ‘What the Trump assassination attempt says about us’.
Don’t you all understand this question? It’s not about this education committee. It’s not about the legislature that appointed it. It’s about us voters. It’s our fault. Because we can’t figure out how to resolve our problems without hurting the feelings of those who are bankrupting (i.e., torturing) us one tax dollar at a time. Don’t we know that what we see as corruption and waste are the jobs and livelihoods of our neighbors?
How do we “drain the swamp”, you ask? How dare we even think to try? Don’t we understand that the world will end if we’re left to our own devices? For our own sakes, we must obey.
“Now I will tell you the answer to my question. It is this. The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from the oligarchies of the past in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives. They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just around the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me.” ― George Orwell, 1984 (albeit 40 years late in coming)
Good analysis Jay
I was working the taxing situation at the street level, not getting into the government mentality other than the State Tax Dept and my experiences fighting the system to survive. and perhaps help others at the same level. True government has to change, but don’t see it happening. I took the street fighter approach. If I did it, they can. Then perhaps the Government powers might pull hair seeing the people can fight somewhat outside the ballot box for their wallets. Then go on living.
Unfortunately, the cows have already left the barn. As I said early on, “Don’t we know that what we see as corruption and waste are the jobs and livelihoods of our neighbors?”
That’s right. Forty percent of the Vermont workforce works in the education, healthcare, and government sectors. Add to that various NGO non-profit organizations and contractors who support the infrastructure, and you have an insurmountable voting bloc. The chair of the Vermont School Board Association, for example, worked for years in an architectural firm specializing in public school design and construction. Just read Rob’s list of committee members.
They have a super-majority in the legislature. They can over-ride any governor veto. They can do whatever they choose to do. And they control the electorate. Not the other way around as it should be. It is a classic tyranny by the majority. It’s Orwell’s 1984 – just 40 years late.
I get your example of the tax rate /local spending scenario, but when I went to school $1000 is 1% of $100,000 not 10 %.
“We don’t have an income problem (or do we) but a spending problem.”
You’re absolutely right of course. The curse of the misplaced decimal point. My bad. 10% should have been written 1%, and 6.66% should have been written .666%. Thanks for the catch.
None the less, my error doesn’t change the fact that property taxes increase across the board because spending increase, not because appraised values across the board increase.
I would like to see a pledge from the VT legislature that they will lower property taxes if student achievement doesn’t rise after these increases. My property taxes are now over $7000 a year.
Why would the legislature agree to do that when they cite the student’s dysfunction as their reason for spending more money?
Obviously, if the legislature were ever successful at improving the liberty, freedom, and well-being of the citizens they represent, they would have much less to do… less reason to take our money.
This is nothing short of a ‘government gangster’ protection racket.
I’d like to see the logos/symbols/avatars of all the special interest groups worn like those old girl scout patches – sewn on a sash, emblazoned for all to see — so we know who the real master is that they serve…
This is Vermont’s idea of democracy; you have all the powers in the administrative state represented. It should be the opposite 80% citizens, 20% administrative state…..Montpelier doesn’t represent the people of Vermont, they represent the lobbyists, the administrative state, the United Nations and assorted minions.
They work for themselves, which is why they get all the money, all the decisions and we get stuck with the bill. Some people are just more equal than others.
“Land Use Review Board” appropriation is $56,250. There’s another committee with a smaller appropriation of $7,700, “Landlord-tenant study committee,” further along in the bill – I neglected to mark the page number – as well as a “Vermont Community Investment Board” for the purposes of reviewing regional land use maps and comment on them, and adds $295 fee to municipalities and regional planning commissions for filing Tier 1A status applications and land use maps. The “solution” for Dems is always to spend more money studying things.