What Type of Property Is Assessed?

All real property commonly known as real estate is assessed. Real property is defined as land and any permanent structures attached to it. An assessment is a valuation (appraisal) of the property for ad valorem (town) tax purposes.

Who Makes Property Assessments?

Listers are unique to Vermont. The primary responsibility of the lister is to determine the fair market value of your property. They strive to provide all property owners with fair and accurate assessments. Towns will either have elected listers, an independently hired assessor, or a combination of both.

How Property Is Assessed

Generally speaking, property is to be appraised at its fair market value. Fair market value is defined as the price which the property will bring in the market when offered for sale and purchased by another, taking into consideration all the elements of the availability of the property, its use both potential and prospective, any functional deficiencies, and all other elements such as age and condition which combine to give property a market value.

On May 13, 2025 the Town held a special town meeting (by petition) to reconsider the elimination of the office town Listers to replace with a professionally qualified assessor who shall have the same powers, discharge the same duties, proceed in the discharge thereof in the same manner, and be subject to the same liabilities as are prescribed for Listers or the Board of Listers. 80 legal voters attended this special meeting.  The article passed 68 yes to 11 no.  The town has now contracted/hired an assessor and data clerk to perform the duties of the elected Listers.

 Real and Personal property value is listed each year by April 1st .   Grievance hearings for those taxpayers who wish to contest their appraisals are held in June or July of each year.  

Tax Appeals: For information on how, when and if to appeal your taxes, download the following documents (scroll to bottom of page)

Reminder: File your homestead declaration annually by April 15th.   

Listers: Phone  802-672-3334 x 4.  Email address - listers@bridgewatervt.org

 Assessor: David Buckley           802-236-6392

 Data Clerk: Natalya Bochkov     802-672-3334 X4   

https://gis.vgsi.com/bridgewatervt - Vision Appraisal Website