FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT

Some of the key responsbilities of the department include:

• Proper accounting of all revenue, expense and general ledger transactions for all funds for the Town/Village & Sewer District.
• Assist in the preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets
• Day to day financial administration
• Coordination of the Annual Audit
• Day to day Accounts Payable & payroll
• Employee benefits administration
• Federal and State grants administration
• Collection of Property and Sewer Taxes
• Administration of equipment financing
• Investing General Fund Revenues

2009 PROPERTY TAXES

TOWN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TAX: $1.8263              TOWN $0.3213 STATE EDUCATION TAX $1.4663 POLICE DISTRICT $0.0387                          TOWN NON-RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TAX: $1.7857              TOWN $0.3213 STATE EDUCATION TAX $1.4257 POLICE DISTRICT $0.0387 VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TAX: $1.9766 (.1900 Village Tax is Included)              TOWN $0.3213 STATE EDUCATION TAX $1.4663 POLICE DISTRICT $0.19 VILLAGE NON-RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TAX: $1.9370 (.1900 Village Tax is Included)              TOWN $0.3213 STATE EDUCATION TAX $1.4257 POLICE DISTRICT $0.19

TAX PAYMENTS: The Town/Village of Woodstock runs on a fiscal year from July 1st through June 30th. Property tax bills are payable in two installments. The first installment is due the first Friday in November (11/06/09). The second installment is due the first Friday in May (05/07/10). Checks should be made payable to the Town of Woodstock. They may be mailed to Town of Woodstock, PO Box 488, Woodstock, Vt. 05091. Late payments are assessed a 8% penalty and accrue interest at 1% for the first three months and 1 1/2% per month thereafter.  Transfer of Property: If all or part of the property is sold, it is the Seller’s responsibility to forward the bill to the new owner, and it is the new owner’s responsibility to take note as to when the tax installments are due and payable. Your attorney should review this with you at closing. By law, only one owner will receive a tax bill. If you purchased property in Woodstock after April 1st of any given year, you will not receive a tax bill in your name until after the following April 1st. Failure to recieve a bill does not relieve the new property owner of the responsiblity for paying for taxes when they become due and payable, nor does it relieve the addition of penalties and interest as required by law. The office must be notified in writing of any address changes. If you did not receive a copy of the tax bill at the time of the property closing, please stop by the Municipal Manager’s office, and a copy will be made for you. What if I didn’t get a tax bill? Bills are sent to the address of the last know owner by state law. The Lister’s Office updates its records according to transfers recorded and received from the Town Clerk. Your attorney or closing company should have checked the status of taxes due. If you have questions about this, refer to your closing statement and/or give us a call. Betty Ann Scammell will gladly process a change of address for you after receiving a written request. Written requests may also be faxed or e.mailed. What if my taxes are escrowed by my mortgagee? Your bank or mortgage company should instruct you as to whether or not you need to send them a copy of your tax bill. It is always best to verify that they have paid your bill each time. Where to make payments: Tax payments may be made at the Municipal Manager’s Office, located at Town Hall, second floor during regular office hours, or may be mailed to Town of Woodstock, PO Box 488, Woodstock, VT 05091Questions: Questions about tax bills and tax payments or delinquency issues may be directed to Betty Ann Scammell at 457-3456. The Homestead Declaration (HSS122) - The Homestead Declaration is the form which needs to be submitted (ANNUALLY) as a resident of Vermont to the Vt. Department of Taxes to prove that he/she is a resident of Vermont.  State of Vermont Department of Taxes SEWER FEES Sewer charges are billed annually and are due on the last Friday in January. Payments received late are accessed interest at 8% plus interest of 1% per month for three months and then 1 1/2% per month thereafter. Neither the Treasuer not the Tax Collector have the authoirty to waive or abate the interest and penalty charges. DELINQUENT TAXES: Tax payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid a penalty of 8% plus interest of 1% per month for three months and then 1 1/2% per month thereafter (per Title 32 of the Vermont Statutes Annotated Chapter 133). Neither the Treasurer nor the Tax Collector have authority to waive or abate the interest and penalty charges. The Delinquent Tax Collector sends out bills and every effort is made to accommodate people who try to satisfy their obligation and also provides an accounting of these records to the auditors for inclusion in the Town Report. According to State statute, within twenty days after the final due date (or the date at which the final installment is due) the treasurer must issue to the delinquent tax collector a warrant against the delinquent taxpayers in the amount of taxes remaining unpaid. This warrant remains in effect until all taxes on it are paid or otherwise discharged. The treasurer delivers the warrant to the delinquent tax collector who then must proceed to collect the taxes. Accounts in arrears may be sent to the Town Attorney for tax sale. The collection of delinquent taxes has a direct bearing on the Town/Village’s financial condition. In almost all tax sale cases, full payment is made before the tax sale actually becomes final.