The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 32 : Taxation and Finance

Chapter 135 : Education Property Tax

• § 5402b. Statewide education tax yields; recommendation of the Commissioner [Effective until July 1, 2027; see also 32 V.S.A. § 5402b effective July 1, 2027 set out below]

  (a) Annually, not later than December 1, the Commissioner of Taxes, after consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Administration, and the Joint Fiscal Office, shall calculate and recommend a property dollar equivalent yield, an income dollar equivalent yield, and a nonhomestead property tax rate for the following fiscal year. In making these calculations, the Commissioner shall assume:

  (1) the homestead base tax rate in subdivision 5402(a)(2) of this title is $1.00 per $100.00 of equalized education property value;

  (2) the applicable percentage in subdivision 6066(a)(2) of this title is 2.0;

  (3) the statutory reserves under 16 V.S.A. § 4026 and this section were maintained at five percent;

  (4) the percentage change in the average education tax bill applied to nonhomestead property and the percentage change in the average education tax bill of homestead property and the percentage change in the average education tax bill for taxpayers who claim a credit under subsection 6066(a) of this title are equal;

  (5) the equalized education grand list is multiplied by the statewide adjustment in calculating the property dollar equivalent yield; and

  (6) the nonhomestead rate is divided by the statewide adjustment.

  (b) For each fiscal year, the property dollar equivalent yield and the income dollar equivalent yield shall be the same as in the prior fiscal year, unless set otherwise by the General Assembly.

  (c) Annually, on or before December 1, the Joint Fiscal Office shall prepare and publish an official, annotated copy of the Education Fund Outlook. The Emergency Board shall review the Outlook at its meetings. As used in this section, “Education Fund Outlook” means the projected revenues and expenses associated with the Education Fund for the following fiscal year, including projections of different categories of educational expenses and costs.

  (d) Along with the recommendations made under this section, the Commissioner shall include the range of per pupil spending between all districts in the State for the previous year. (Added 2003, No. 68, § 5, eff. June 18, 2003; amended 2005, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2009, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 50, 51, eff. June 4, 2010; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 285, eff. Feb. 14, 2014; 2013, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 52; 2015, No. 46, § 32; 2015, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2018, No. 11 (Sp. Sess.), §§ H.10a, H.29; 2023, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. July 1, 2025.)

• § 5402b. Statewide education tax rate; supplemental district spending yield; recommendation of the Commissioner [Effective July 1, 2027; see also 32 V.S.A. § 5402b effective until July 1, 2027 set out above]

  (a) Annually, not later than December 1, the Commissioner of Taxes, after consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Administration, and the Joint Fiscal Office, shall calculate and recommend the statewide education property tax rate pursuant to subsection 5402(a) of this chapter and the supplemental district spending yield for the following fiscal year. In making these calculations, the Commissioner shall assume the statutory reserves are maintained at five percent pursuant to 16 V.S.A. § 4026, the amounts in the Supplemental District Spending Reserve are unavailable for any purpose other than that specified in 16 V.S.A. § 4032(b), and the statewide education property tax rate is divided by the statewide adjustment.

  (b) For each fiscal year, the supplemental district spending yield shall be the same as in the prior fiscal year unless set otherwise by the General Assembly.

  (c) Annually, on or before December 1, the Joint Fiscal Office shall prepare and publish an official, annotated copy of the Education Fund Outlook. The Emergency Board shall review the Outlook at its meetings. As used in this section, “Education Fund Outlook” means the projected revenues and expenses associated with the Education Fund for the following fiscal year, including projections of different categories of educational expenses and costs.

  (d) Along with the recommendations made under this section, the Commissioner shall include:

  (1) the base amount as defined in 16 V.S.A. § 4001(16);

  (2) for each school district, the estimated long-term membership, weighted long-term membership, and aggregate adjusted equalized education property tax grand list of its municipal members;

  (3) for each school district, the estimated aggregate adjusted equalized education property tax grand list of its municipal members per long-term membership;

  (4) the estimated school district with the lowest taxing capacity; and

  (5) the range of per pupil supplemental district spending between all districts in the State for the previous year. (Added 2003, No. 68, § 5, eff. June 18, 2003; amended 2005, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 10; 2009, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 50, 51, eff. June 4, 2010; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 285, eff. Feb. 14, 2014; 2013, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 52; 2015, No. 46, § 32; 2015, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2018, No. 11 (Sp. Sess.), §§ H.10a, H.29; 2023, No. 183 (Adj. Sess.), § 15, eff. July 1, 2025; 2025, No. 73, § 48, eff. July 1, 2027.)