Volunteers needed for AARP Foundation tax-aide program

Vermont District 10–AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season in Springfield, Chester, and Bellows Falls. Soon approaching its 50th year, Tax-Aide offers free tax filing help to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can’t afford a tax preparation service.

Opinion: Contradictions of biomass project

The Dec. 31 deadline for a $40 million federal tax credit for the North Springfield biomass plant is approaching. As the deadline draws near, the explanations and statements by the developer’s representatives and town officials get stranger and stranger.

IVEK gets once-denied solar tax credit

The local company that installed 936-solar panels at its North Springfield factory is going to be able to take advantage of a state tax credit after all.

Petition to keep school’s tax exemption

Members of the North School Preservation Society have only until January 21st to get at least 350 signatures from Springfield registered voters to keep North School and its five acres of recreation land exempt from property taxes.

Guest Donald Gurney (left) listens as board members discuss plans for the year ahead at the North School Preservation Society's first annual meeting held December 7th in the ice skaters' warming hut at North School recreation park.

School Board to appeal town assessment

The Springfield School Board plans to appeal the town’s assessment on the former North School, which will be turned over to a community group in the future.

Select Board rejects tax break for rec center

On a 3-2 vote, the Springfield Select Board voted Monday night against giving the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center a tax stabilization agreement.

Finance director proposes 15% increase for schools

District Financial Services Director Steve Hier presented a report to the School Board Monday night that illustrated how the budget as proposed by administration would raise the education portion of the residential tax rate 17.87 cents per $100 of assessed value, from $1.1963 to $1.375. The change is a 14.9-percent increase.

Town's property taxes set to rise

Property taxes are going up 2.6 percent for residents of Springfield, and about double that increase for nonresidential property owners and owners of commercial property.

Tax rate increases six cents

Residents will see a six cent increase in the town's overall residential tax rate following the select board's vote Monday night to set the 2008-09 rate.

Rec center granted tax exemption

The Southern Vermont Recreation Center got a $20,000 tax break on its school tax bill from the just-adjourned 2008 Legislature, which granted it an exemption from the statewide education tax.

Contractor charged with tax evasion

A Springfield man who is a self-employed contractor was charged with six felony counts of income tax offenses Thursday for allegedly not filing or paying Vermont taxes for the years 2004-2006.