Vermont House passes bill to provide property tax relief to individuals hit by Irene

The Vermont House of Representatives took action this afternoon to pass a bill to help individuals and towns devastated by the spring flooding and Tropical Storm Irene.The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Taxes to reimburse municipalities for property tax abatements granted in the wake of those natural disasters. The bill passed unanimously and is now on its way to the Senate.
Speaker Shap Smith and Representatives Oliver Olsen and Ann Manwaring released the following statements on the passage of H461:
‘In the storms of the past year, significant damage was done to private properties across the state,’ said Speaker Shap Smith. ‘I am glad we were able to expedite this bill to provide help to those hit hard by natural disaster.’
‘This bill provides important tax relief for communities and individuals who were already struggling with the burden of storm related expenditures,’ added Representative Olsen.
‘For me, this early action on the part of the House is personal.It comes as people who had suffered so much needed to see clear evidence of how the state would help them recover from Tropical Storm Irene,’ said Representative Manwaring. ‘It makes me very proud to be a Vermonter and a member of this Legislature.’