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The Valley Reporter Newsletter

But there is another problem. Last year, I and other taxpayers presented the select board, led by Elwin Neill at the time, with irrefutable evidence that probable cause existed to believe that the recent property reappraisal was flawed and should be reviewed by an independent auditor. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, upon hearing the same evidence, had concluded the reappraisal "was either incompetent or worse."

The select board, however, seemed annoyed, defending the process and those who had conducted it. When we pointed out that it was their job to represent the town's taxpayers, rather than their hired assessors, Mr. Neill shrugged. "We think it's good enough," he concluded, and that was that. Now they ask us to pay more taxes for their $17 million bonds. Well, what goes 'round comes 'round.  They'll not get my vote. Perhaps there should be a moratorium on all budget increases until the property tax fiasco is properly investigated. Montpelierites, faced with a similar debacle, forced their town to conduct a new appraisal. This town should take a lesson from their activism.
 
Jim Tabor
Waitsfield

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