24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 501 Taxes
501. Taxes
Taxes shall be assessed by the Town based on the fair market value of real property, in accordance with State law.
Amended 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.
Taxation
V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 103, subch. 5
in effect24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 502 Discounts elimination
502. Discounts elimination
At such time as the discounts given on the tax rate to those who do not have water or sewer provided by or available from the Town may be eliminated, all costs of operation, and previously incurred debt, shall be paid from funds established for those purposes and funded by user fees, as may be established from time to time, by the Select Board, and applied against users of water and sewer services only.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 503 Fair market value of real estate
503. Fair market value of real estate
(a) In the event that the fair market value of real estate is materially changed because of total or partial destruction of or damage to the property, or because of alterations, additions, or other capital improvements, the taxpayer may appeal as provide by law.
(b) When the fair market value of real estate is finally determined by appeal to the Board of Listers or to the Board of Civil Authority, then the value so fixed shall be the fair market value of such real estate for the year in which the appeal is taken.
(c) When the fair market value of real estate is finally determined by the Director of Property Valuation and Review (PVR) or by a court having jurisdiction, then the value so fixed shall be the fair market value of such real estate for the year for which such appeal is taken and for the ensuing two years, unless the taxpayer’s property is altered materially, is damaged, or if the Town in which it is located has undergone a complete revaluation of all taxable real estate, in the event of which, such fair market value may be changed.
Amended 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 504 Special assessments
504. Special assessments
Despite any contrary provision in general law, the Select Board may in its sole discretion make a special assessment upon real estate for the installation or construction of a public improvement, such special assessment to be such proportion of the total cost of such improvement as the benefit to a parcel of real estate bears to the total benefit resulting to the public in general.
Amended 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 505 Tax within Bennington Rural Fire District No. 1
505. Tax within Bennington Rural Fire District No. 1
(a) The tax assessed by the Town on the grand list shall be reduced with respect to real estate in the Bennington Rural Fire District No. 1. This reduction shall be in direct proportion to the amount of the tax assessed by the Town that is used by the Town to provide fire protection services to property not included in the Bennington Rural Fire District No. 1.
(b) The purpose of this section is to make substantially uniform the taxes assessed throughout the Town for fire protection furnished by all fire departments in the Town. This tax reduction shall remain in effect until such time as the Bennington Rural Fire District No. 1 dissolves itself or merges with the Town of Bennington, in accordance with the charter of the Town of Bennington.
Amended 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 506 Creation of Bennington Downtown District
506. Creation of Bennington Downtown District
There is hereby created in the Town of Bennington a special district to be known as the Bennington Downtown Improvement District (District), which shall be that area set forth on a map approved by the voters of Bennington and filed with the Town Clerk. The area of the District may be changed upon a majority vote of the legal voters at an annual or special meeting duly warned.
Amended 2005, No. M-6, § 2, eff. June 4, 2005.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 508 Purposes and powers
508. Purposes and powers
(a) The District is created for the general purpose of maintaining and improving the economic, social, cultural, and environmental vitality and quality of the Town of Bennington (in particular, the District created by section 506 of this charter); to promote the Town and the District as a regional retail, commercial, and service center; and to serve as an advocate for the orderly development of the District in order to encourage expansion of the retail, commercial, and service base of the District and the Town by attracting new business and investment.
(b) The rights, powers, and duties of the District shall be exercised by the Select Board and shall be broadly construed to accomplish the purposes set forth above and shall include the following:
(1) to advertise and promote the Improvement District;
(2) to represent the interests of the District;
(3) to receive and expend contributions, grants, and income;
(4) to expend funds as provided for in the budget or as otherwise approved;
(5) to manage and maintain public spaces and to assume or supplement the services and maintenance heretofore provided to the District by the Town as recommended to and approved by the Select Board;
(6) to acquire and dispose of property on behalf of the Town;
(7) to install and make public improvements;
(8) to improve, manage, and regulate public parking facilities and vehicular traffic within the District;
(9) to enter into contracts as may be necessary or convenient to carry out the purpose of this charter;
(10) to regulate, lease, license, establish rules and fees, and otherwise manage the use of public spaces within the District;
(11) to plan for the orderly development of the District in cooperation with the Town Planning Commission;
(12) to do all other things necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes for which this District was created.
Amended 2005, No. M-6, § 3, eff. June 4, 2005; 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 509 Annual budget
509. Annual budget
The Town Manager shall submit each year an operating budget of anticipated expenditures and revenues to the Select Board for approval for the next fiscal year. In the event the Select Board does not approve the budget as submitted, the Select Board shall return the budget forthwith to the Town Manager with its recommendations for the Town Manager’s reconsideration. Appropriations other than from contributions, grants, and income shall be raised solely through District taxes, which shall be assessed and collected as a tax on property as provided for in section 515 of this charter. The Select Board may borrow money in anticipation of District taxes.
Amended 2005, No. M-6, § 4, eff. June 4, 2005.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 510 District taxes
510. District taxes
(a) District taxes are charges levied upon the owners of taxable properties located in the District, excepting properties used exclusively for residential purposes, which taxes shall be used to defray the expenses incurred in connection with the operation, maintenance, and repair of the District.
(b) The District tax for each property in the District subject to the tax shall be based upon a rate on each $100.00 of listed value of the property as adjusted under subsection (c) of this section. The tax rate shall be determined by dividing the amount to be raised by taxes, by the total value of the taxable properties on the grand list as adjusted located in the District that are subject to the District tax under this subchapter.
(c) The District tax shall be set by the Select Board upon approval of the budget by the Select Board and notice in writing thereof shall be given to owners of record as of April 1 of each year of property so assessed, or to their agents or attorneys, stating therein the amount of such District taxes, and such taxes shall be due and payable to the Town Treasurer when normal Town and school taxes are due. The Town Treasurer shall collect unpaid District taxes as provided for the collection of taxes in the charter. District taxes shall be a lien on the properties when assessed and until the tax is paid or the lien is otherwise discharged by operation of law.
(d) In the case of any property used for both residential and nonresidential purposes within the District as of April 1, the Board of Listers (Board) shall adjust the listed value for the purposes of determining the District tax under this section to exclude the value of that portion of the property used for residential purposes. The Board shall determine the adjusted grand list value of the business portion of the property and give notice of the same as provided under 32 V.S.A. chapter 131. Any property owner may file a grievance with the Board and appeal the decision of the Board as provided for under 32 V.S.A. chapter 131; however, the filing of an appeal of the determination of the Board and pendency of the appeal shall not vacate the lien on the property assessed, and the District taxes must be paid and continue to be paid as they become due.
(d) In the case of any property used for both residential and nonresidential purposes within the District as of April 1, the Board of Listers (Board) shall adjust the listed value for the purposes of determining the District tax under this section to exclude the value of that portion of the property used for residential purposes. The Board shall determine the adjusted grand list value of the business portion of the property and give notice of the same as provided under 32 V.S.A. § 3419. Any property owner may file a grievance with the Board and appeal the decision of the Board as provided for under 32 V.S.A. § 3419; however, the filing of an appeal of the determination of the Board and pendency of the appeal shall not vacate the lien on the property assessed, and the District taxes must be paid and continue to be paid as they become due.
Amended 2005, No. M-6, § 5, eff. June 4, 2005; 2025, No. 170 (Adj. Sess.), § 40, contingently eff. January 1, 2031.
24 App. V.S.A. ch. 103, § 511 Local option tax
511. Local option tax
(a) If the Select Board by a majority vote recommends, the voters of the Town may, at an annual or special meeting warned for the purpose, by a majority vote of those present and voting, assess any or all of the following:
(1) a one-percent meals tax;
(2) a one-percent rooms tax;
(3) a one-percent alcoholic beverages tax; or
(4) a one-percent sales tax.
(b) Any local option tax assessed under subsection (a) of this section shall be collected and administered and may be rescinded as provided by the general laws of this State.
Added 2019, No. M-8, § 1, eff. June 10, 2019.
Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/103Fetched: 10/21/2026