Listers

Townshend’s Board of Listers consists of three elected officials who serve staggered three-year terms. One seat is up for election every year at Town Meeting. If a vacancy occurs, the Selectboard may appoint a replacement until the next Town Meeting or call a Special Town Meeting for an election.

The Listers’ primary responsibility is property assessment — establishing fair, equitable, and defensible property values that are used to determine each property owner’s portion of Town taxes.

Townshend alternates between three-member and five-member boards over the years, depending on voter decisions. Regardless of size, the work remains the same: establishing fair values, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with state law.

According to the Vermont Department of Taxes and the Lister’s Handbook, the Listers’ core responsibilities include:

1. Property Assessment 

Listers inspect properties, review changes (new construction, renovations, damage, etc.), and assign values based on:

• State guidelines
• Fair market value
• Comparable sales
• Physical inspections
• Annual updates and corrections

2. Grand List Maintenance

The Grand List is the official record of all taxable properties in Townshend. It determines:

• The tax rate for the Town
• Individual property tax bills

You cannot appeal your tax bill, but you can appeal the assessed value on which it is based.

3. Grievance Hearings

Once per year, usually in late spring, the Listers hold a grievance period for property owners who believe their assessed value is inaccurate.

If your property value changes, you will be notified and provided the grievance date.

4. Personal Property Assessments 

Townshend no longer assesses personal property, such as:

• Machinery
• Shelving
• Computers
• Commercial equipment

(Exceptions apply for specific utility transmission lines or specialized property defined by State law.)

5. Reappraisals

From time to time, the Town conducts a full reappraisal to ensure values remain current. Reappraisals are required when:

• Sales ratios fall out of state compliance
• Property values become outdated
• Market conditions shift significantly

A certified outside firm may be hired when required by State law.

Historically, Vermont’s property lists included everything from livestock to pianos and even bee swarms — an early attempt at measuring a resident’s ability to pay taxes. Modern assessment is more structured, consistent, and regulated by state standards.

Listers must be able to:

• Understand real estate appraisal
• Maintain accurate data
• Apply consistent valuation methods
• Ensure equity across all properties

Townshend property maps, ownership information, and assessed values are available online via a third-party  provider, Mango. 

Townshend's online property map system

Note: Mango is not operated by the Town. It is used for convenience and updated by the Listers, but the Town is not responsible for third-party content.

The Vermont Department of Taxes publishes the Lister’s Handbook, a comprehensive guide outlining the duties, standards, and assessment practices required of local listers. This resource provides essential background and helps ensure fair, consistent property valuation throughout Vermont.

Lister’s Handbook – Vermont Department of Taxes resource

Access the Townshend tax maps and parcel information through our online mapping service. This tool allows you to view property boundaries, parcel numbers, and basic ownership data for all properties in Townshend.

Tax Maps and Lister Cards

Search detailed property record cards, including assessment data, parcel descriptions, and valuation history. This  database provides the most complete and current lister information available for each property in Townshend

Property Records Database

A helpful handbook from the Vermont Institute for Government on preparing for an appeal.

Tax Appeal Handbook (pdf)