What is the impact on local property taxes when someone permanently conserves their land? Do taxes increase, decrease, or stay the same? Does it matter if the land is conserved by a conservation easement or if it is purchased by a government entity? In response to these and other questions from landowners, members, town officials, and assessors, the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) asked Deb Brighton, VLT Board of Trustees member and legislative tax policy consultant, to analyze the short- and long-term impacts of land conservation on Vermont property taxes.
The study concluded that more development tends to lead to higher taxes, and on average, tax bills are lower, not higher, in the towns with the most conserved land.