Towns Give Tax Flexibility To Flood Victims

(Host) Cities and towns across the state are trying to give some flexibility to people still reeling from Tropical Storm Irene who are currently having trouble paying their taxes.

In Killington, voters have overwhelmingly agreed on a 40-day grace period before imposing an 8-percent commission on delinquent taxes.

Steve Jeffrey is the executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. His office is recommending that towns give taxpayers displaced by the storm the benefit of the doubt, or even consider abating penalties altogether.

(Jeffrey) "The best thing to do is to wait and see what the actual time that these people are going to be out of their properties will be to determine what the actual taxes should be."

(Host) Jeffrey says it's difficult to compare statistics on late taxes, because each community has different due dates and different strategies for dealing with delinquencies.

In Waterbury, town officials have waived penalties for households affected by the floods.

Statewide, Governor Peter Shumlin has allowed education property taxes to be abated under certain circumstances.