Bristol and Vergennes say “yes” to local option tax

Voters in Bristol and Vergennes have agreed to establish a local option tax in their respective communities. They join Middlebury as the second and third Addison County communities to approve one.

Bristol officials have said the move would allow the town to expand its tax base and support initiatives like economic development and capital projects.

Officials in the Little City continue to nail down language to place on the annual town meeting ballot.

Bristol officials are exploring what a local option tax could look like for the town, an idea the Bristol selectboard is expected to continue discussing at future meetings.  

Middlebury’s local option tax, established 17 years ago to cover debt and maintenance on the town’s $16 million Cross Street Bridge, has evolved into the proverbial goose that lays golden eggs. In this case, the town has invested surplus tax revenues in l … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury residents at next year’s town meeting will again be asked to use some of the $2.5 million in accrued local option tax surplus to reduce property taxes. Town leaders will spend the next few months asking residents how much of the su … (read more)

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury residents will be asked at an Oct. 29 meeting to advise town leaders on what to do with the more than $2 million in local option tax surplus that has accrued since the special 1-percent assessment on sales, rooms, meals and alcohol … (read more)