Selectboard sets tax rates after reappraisal; officials urge clear communication

The Jericho Selectboard voted July 16 to set the town’s fiscal year tax rates following a reappraisal that raised the Grand List roughly 84 percent. The board approved a general fund rate of 0.3024, a fire department rate of 0.0464, an Old Red Mill rate of 0.0014, a Conservation Reserve Fund rate of 0.005, a Deborah Rawson Library rate of 0.0177 and a local agreement rate of 0.0016, and to continue a 3% penalty for late homestead declarations; the motion passed unanimously.

Brian Stevens explained that the tax rate equals the amount the town needs to raise divided by the Grand List and noted that because the Grand List rose substantially due to the reappraisal, rates look different compared with last year. Using last year’s Grand List as a baseline, he said the new tax rate would reflect about a 9.54% increase for the town portion. Board members emphasized that roughly two‑thirds of the total change in taxpayers’ bills was driven by education taxes rather than the municipal share. Chair Erik Johnson said, “We miscommunicated,” acknowledging prior messages that the reassessment would not drastically change taxes.

Selectboard members instructed staff to try to place explanatory information in the tax mailings and discussed timing constraints because mailings are handled offsite. Lori Dykema described state law that in reassessment years resets a town’s Common Level of Appraisal to 100%, which increased tax‑rate pressure in Jericho’s reassessment year. Staff estimated that new construction accounted for roughly 1.5–2% of Grand List growth, with most of the change tied to revaluation and state CLA rules.

The board approved the motion to set rates; staff said they will pursue an explanatory insert for the billing and prepare talking points for residents who call with questions.