Assessor
Online GIS parcel mapping for the Town of Pittsford is now available. Also available online are the property record cards (aka Lister Cards) for each parcel as a drop-down option for each parcel. Note that the property record cards are from 2021 as the 2022 Grand List has not yet been finalized. Click here to view.
2022 Notice to Taxpayers re Grievance
2022 Town of Pittsford Grand List
By Town Meeting vote on March 2, 2020, the Listers’ office was replaced with a professional Assessor, who has the same powers and duties once held by the Listers.
The Assessor’s Office is open from Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE
The primary responsibility of the Assessor is to appraise all real property in Town in compliance with applicable Vermont State statutes. This includes annual maintenance of the records such as updating changes resulting from additions to homes, construction of outbuildings, transfers of property, etc. as well as periodic revaluations when mandated by the State.
In addition, the Assessor’s Office provides property owners with:
- Property record cards
- Assessment history information
- Detailed explanation of the assessment process
- Tax maps which are updated annually
If you have any concerns regarding your current assessment, general questions or suggestions, please feel free to call this office (802 483 6500 ext. 15). You may also visit our office located in the Town Office building at 426 Plains Rd. where Lister Cards and Tax Maps are available for review. Copies are available on request.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
Click here to see the notice to taxpayers about grievances during Corona Virus
In Vermont, appeals of the valuation of a property are in the form of “grievance hearings” held with the Assessor. They typically start in the beginning of June, at least two weeks after notices of new property values are mailed to property owners. Only property owners with assessment changes receive these notices, though anyone can submit a Grievance Appeal. Other taxpayers who wish to appeal should contact this office by the end of May to request notification of the date hearings will begin and obtain the necessary paperwork.
You may grieve in one of three ways: in person; by authorizing a representative to appear for you; or by mail. In all cases you must contact our office for a grievance application form or you may download one by clicking here. Appointments should be made by the first day of grievance hearings and mailed grievances must be received by this date. That said, we will make every effort to “hear” grievances up to the last scheduled day of hearings. In any case, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in our office or at your property to review the information on your Lister Card and property valuation in general.
Pittsford’s Assessor requires an interior inspection of all properties under appeal. The Assessor’s Office will arrange with the owner for an appointment to make this inspection. Without access to perform this interior inspection, the grievance will typically be denied. For vacant parcels of land, no inspection appointment is necessary unless the taxpayer wishes to accompany the Assessor.
Grievance results will be mailed within one week after hearings are closed. This notice will contain information regarding the procedure for appealing the decision of the Assessor to the Pittsford Board of Civil Authority. (The Board of Civil Authority is comprised of the Town Clerk, the Justices of the Peace and the Select Board.) Appeals beyond the local level go to either the Vermont Superior court or to the Director of Property Valuation and Review. Each level of appeal must be completed before the next can be scheduled.
THE TOTAL OF ALL PROPERTY AND BUSINESS EQUIPMENT DETERMINES THE GRAND LIST
The total of these values comprised the Grand List. The Select Board uses the Grand List and the Town’s budget in a formula to determine the municipal tax rates necessary to raise sufficient funds to pay for town services and maintenance of town roadways. The school tax rate is determined by the State of Vermont using a complex formula including per-pupil spending in Pittsford. The Town’s Grand List has no impact on the education tax. The State formula and an explanation are included in the tax bill every year.
DATES TO REMEMBER
January 1 to April 15
All full-time residents should file HS 122 Homestead Declaration (found in VT tax booklet)
January 1 to April 20
Businesses file business personal property (equipment) form
January 1 to May 20
Period for veterans with 50% or more disability to apply for the veterans exemption
September 1
Last day for gaining resident status by filing form HS 122, Homestead Declaration. A small penalty is assessed for filing after April 15.
Last day for submitting applications to the State for the Land Use Program
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Appraised Value – the estimated value of real estate as determined by a Lister before any adjustments are made to that value for taxing purposes
Category – All taxable properties in Vermont are classified into 15 categories based on their use. The goal is to group properties with similar uses together. For example, R1 refers to small acreage residential.
Class – There are three classes of property that are formed by the aggregation of the 15 categories into like-use groups. They are residential, commercial/industrial and open land.
Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) – The coefficient of dispersion is a measure of uniformity of assessments for all properties on the grand list. For example, if a town has valued every single property at 100% of fair market value, then there is zero dispersion, hence 0.00% COD. Similarly, if each and every property is assessed at 80% of fair market value there is also zero dispersion. If the town average assessment to sales ratio is 80% but individual assessments vary either above or below the average then this disparity of assessments will reflect in a COD greater than 0%. Because of fluctuations in the market and because properties are constantly being improved or changed a perfect score is impossible. A COD lower than 10 is unusual.
Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) – The CLA is essentially a measure of how close a town or city’s local assessments are to fair market value. Vermont municipalities will be required to re-assess when the CLA falls below 80%
Current Use – Also known as use value appraisal is the value of property for a specific use as opposed to the “highest and best use”. Qualifying farm and forest land and farm buildings may enroll in Vermont’s use value appraisal program. Enrolled land and buildings are required to be assessed at their current use. The Current Use Advisory Board sets the use values for farm and forest land annually.
Grand List – The local Grand List is the assessed value of all real estate in a town used to raise municipal taxes. Taxes are based on 1% of the listed value as established by the local assessing officials.
Homestead – Homestead is the principal dwelling owned and occupied by a Vermont resident as the individual’s domicile. A homestead includes the entire parcel of land surrounding the dwelling.
Housesite – A housesite is that portion of a homestead that includes the principal dwelling as a home but is not more than two acres per dwelling unit.
Parcel – A parcel is defined as all contiguous land in the same ownership together with all improvements.
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