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Tax Fairness Charter Change

At a glance

  • What: A resolution from the Ad Hoc Tax Fairness Committee (forwarded by a 3-2 committee vote) proposing a Tax Fairness charter change. See also Ad-Hoc Tax Fairness Committee update.
  • Status: Adoption vote failed 5:7 on June 1, 2026; the resolution was referred back to the committee 11:1.
  • Next: The committee is to refine it with public input and report back with enough time to warn a recommended charter change for the March 2027 Annual City Election.

Detail

Neubieser moved, seconded by Sanchez-Parkinson, to waive the reading and adopt the resolution, and then moved to divide the question. Roll call: ayes (5) Bergman, Broderick, Grant, Neubieser, Sanchez-Parkinson; nays (7) Barlow, Carpenter, Litwin, McKnight, Schachter, Singh and Traverse. Failed 5:7 (the minutes do not say which motion this vote decided). Schachter moved, seconded by Singh, to refer the resolution back to the Ad Hoc Tax Fairness Committee for further refinement and public input. Ayes (11); nay Neubieser. Passed 11:1.

Public Forum comments earlier that evening touching on tax fairness came from Gil Livingston, Will Anderson, Troi Bachmann (tax fairness charter change), Leslee MacKenzie (proposed 5 percent property tax) and Ali Jalili (proposed 5 percent tax on million dollar homes); positions are not recorded in the minutes.

Sources

Log

2026-06-01 - City Council

Item 5.5. Adoption failed 5:7; referred back to the Ad Hoc Tax Fairness Committee 11:1.

2026-11-02 - Public Forum on Tax Fairness Proposals

Public forum on tax fairness proposals held 11/2/26 at 6:00 PM (agenda: https://burlingtonvt.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=21496,plainText=false)); minutes not found. A Tax Fairness Ad Hoc Committee meeting is listed for 12/2/26 at 3:00 PM.

2026-11-04 - Ward 3 NPA

  • Residents were told the property tax fairness proposal is expected before the City Council in December for possible placement on the ballot.