H.573

Introduced by Representatives Larrabee of Danville, LaVoie of Swanton, Lawrence of Lyndon, and Shaw of Derby

Referred to Committee on

Date:

Subject:  Taxation; property tax; current use; 20 percent reduction for recreational access

Statement of purpose:  This bill proposes to allow an additional 20 percent tax reduction for property enrolled in current use which is open for recreational use and not posted.

AN ACT RELATING TO TAX REDUCTION FOR UNPOSTED CURRENT USE LAND

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1.  32 V.S.A. § 3752(12) is amended to read:

(12)  “Use value appraisal” means, with respect to land, the price per acre which the land would command if it were required to remain henceforth in agriculture or forest use, as determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of this subchapter; and that price per acre shall be reduced by 20 percent for any parcel which the owner has agreed to make available, and did make available in the twelve months prior to the April 1 grand list date, to the public for recreational uses including hunting, if that written agreement has been submitted to the director and to the clerk of the town in which the parcel is located.  With respect to farm buildings, “use value appraisal” means zero percent of fair market value.  The director shall annually provide the assessing officials with a list of farm sales, including the town in which the farm is located, the acreage, sales price, and date of sale.