Assessors & Listers

The responsibility of the lister and municipal assessor is assessment equity on the grand list.

The Town of Waitsfield has a contract with Spencer & Mary Jane Potter to provide assessor services. They can be contacted at (802) 496-2218 ext. 6 or vtassessor@ gmail.com. The assessor holds office hours one day a week, on Wednesdays, at the Waitsfield Town Office.

The Waitsfield Listers are elected officials who serve terms of three years.

• Chair: Charlie Goodman III (term expires March 2026) 
• Lister: Ted Joslin (term expires March 2025)
• Lister: Steve McKenzie (term expires March 2026)

• Digital Tax Maps and assessor’s cards
• Digital access to recorded surveys​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ (deeds will be available online by the end of 2023).
• Hard copies of tax maps can be found at the Town Office during normal office hours. Research at the Town Office requires an appointment. Contact the Town Clerk to make an appointment in the Records Research Calendar​​​​​​​.

Assessment equity is the degree to which assessments bear a consistent relationship to market value. In order to achieve this, listers must understand appraisal methods and property assessment administration in Vermont. Inflation, development, and subdivision impact the accuracy of the grand list. Listers need to make corrections, additions, and adjustments to maintain equity among properties in between town-wide appraisals. To determine the value of property, listers must consider the governmental regulations affecting potential uses and value. This includes town plan and zoning regulations, the method for determining a house site and homestead value, the Use Value Appraisal Program, and Health Department subdivision regulations. Listers may have to analyze Act 250, or determine how to assess property subject to federal housing subsidies, or property subject to a conservation easement. 

The cumulative sum of all assessed property values for the town is known as the grand list. The grand list is set on April 1 of each year. Any sales, transfers, or changes made after April 1 won’t reflect on tax bills issued for the coming fiscal year. Tax bills will be mailed to the owner of the parcel as of April 1.

Please see the Vermont Lister and Assessor Handbook for information on:

• The tax grievance and appeal process
• The role of listers and assessors
• Homestead declarations
• Current Use
• The formulation of the Grand List

Or, contact the Town’s Assessor at (802) 496-2218 ext. 13 or vtassessor@ gmail.com.