BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Many Vermont taxpayers will face sharp increases in school property taxes this year as districts face inflationary pressures and a loss of pandemic relief funds. In Burlington, the school budget is also being driven higher by the cost of the new high school. Our Katharine Huntley got an update on the construction and the tax bill voters are facing.
Burlington High School is more than two years from being complete, but this year’s property taxes will reflect the $165 million the district needed to bond for to get the project started.
“We recently saw the first kind of pouring of concrete and buildings are coming down behind us and the works moving along as we would hope and we’re really excited about the progress that the team is making,” said Tom Flanagan, the superintendent of the Burlington School District.
The district says kids will be in the classroom by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year.
The bill for the new school begins to hit taxpayers in full force this year, adding $9.5 million to the school budget. But that’s not all. Rising school costs and an adjustment in the state education funding formula called the common level of appraisal will push the overall budget to $119 million. That will leave voters facing a 14% tax increase on Town Meeting Day.
“It’s a little bit complicated and complex, and it’s a little bit frustrating on our side to have to explain this the common level of appraisal as one of the elements of our overall school budget when that has absolutely nothing to do with school spending and our school budgeting,” Flanagan said.
All totaled, the owner of a $370,000 home– the median price in Burlington– would pay nearly $750 more next year, while the owner of a $500,000 home would pay about $1,000 more.
Flanagan says the tax increase would have been even greater if Burlington had not benefited from a separate change in the education funding formula known as pupil weighting.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep costs down,” Flanagan said. “We knew this next year was going to be the big year of borrowing for the bond. And that’s where we are now.”
That might not be the only tax increase on the ballot. The mayor’s office says they are looking into an increase in the municipal property tax rate, something that hasn’t been done in five years. They say significant inflation is one of the reasons behind the potential ask for higher taxes.
“It is something we’re considering. Not because we want to but because if we’re going to continue to offer the same level of services and make the investments in public safety that I think the public is clamoring for, continue to re-grow the police department, we have some real financial challenges in doing so,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger, D-Burlington.
The mayor’s office says a special City Council meeting to discuss the future budget and the potential need for an increased property tax rate is being called for next Monday, Jan. 22.
Related Stories:
Who should pay for school upgrades in Vermont?
Cost of building new Burlington High School going up
BHS students return to Macy’s campus for another school year
Demolition delays on Burlington High School project
Monsanto asks court to be involved in Addison district PCB testing
More than 90 Vt. school districts join PCB contamination lawsuit against Monsanto
Vermont sues chemical giant Monsanto over toxic PCBs in schools, waters
BHS demolition to take 6 months
Burlington High School demolition begins 3 years after campus condemned
WCAX Investigates: The demise of Burlington High School
WCAX Investigates: The demise of Burlington High School – Pt. 2
Former students, staffers share memories as Burlington High School demolition starts
Groundbreaking and Goodbye: Demolition starts at Burlington High School
A look inside Vermont’s unprecedented school PCB testing program
Monsanto to begin PCB testing at former BHS campus
Monsanto asks court to dismiss Burlington School District lawsuit over PCB contamination
Lawyers in BHS contamination case agree to delay demolition
Judge hears arguments in PCB case that could delay Burlington’s new high school
Monsanto asks judge to delay demolition of Burlington High School
$698M deal to end Monsanto PCB pollution lawsuit in Oregon
Burlington School District sues Monsanto over PCB contamination
Fighting a chemical giant: cases mounting against PCB manufacturer Monsanto
Vt. officials fast-track $2.5M for PCB school testing, remediation
Lessons learned from Vt. school PCB testing valuable in nationwide solution
How PCB contamination lawsuits in Washington could affect plaintiffs in Vermont
Burlington to sue Monsanto over BHS PCB contamination
Burlington educators sue, claim PCB contamination at high school made them sick
As bond vote approaches, Burlington officials seek supplemental funds for high school
How much will taxpayers be asked to pay for new Burlington school?
New Burlington High School cost exceeds bonding capacity
School board discusses $200M plan for new Burlington High School
Vt. health officials present school PCB testing protocols to lawmakers
Vermont rolls out PCB school mitigation program
Burlington school officials to consider recommendations on reoccupying high school
Burlington School Board takes up new PCB guidance
Burlington High School families livid over state’s PCB do-over
Vermont lowers bar on recommended PCB levels in schools
Burlington School Board approves existing site for new high school
Almost all Vermont schools to be tested for PCBs
State lawmakers react to Burlington High School rebuild
Teachers, students make new downtown BHS location their home
BHS students settle into former shopping mall for first day of class
Old Macy’s building ready for Burlington High School students
Work underway to turn Burlington Macy’s into temporary high school
Group opposing BHS PCBs closure addresses school officials
Some BHS parents push for return to school, PCBs or not
How widespread is Vt. school PCB problem?
Health officials: BHS PCB contamination far exceeds state, federal safety levels
