Colchester Property Taxes: What Happened in 2024 and 2026

Property taxes are one of the biggest financial pressures facing Vermont families — and Colchester has felt that strain more than most. For years, Montpelier has allowed government spending to grow faster than Vermonters’ paychecks, and the result has been predictable: higher taxes, higher costs, and fewer families able to afford to stay in the communities they love.

In 2024, lawmakers pushed through a major property tax increase by overriding Governor Scott’s veto of the statewide yield bill. That decision locked in a 14.1% increase for Colchester, one of the largest jumps in recent memory. It was a clear signal that the Legislature was more committed to expanding spending than protecting taxpayers.

Now, just a short time later, Vermonters are facing another significant increase — this time a proposed 7% statewide hike. And once again, all four of Colchester’s State Representatives have supported the legislation moving this increase forward.

Even though the second increase is still proposed, the message is the same: when costs rise, Montpelier’s first instinct is to take more from Vermonters rather than reform the system, control spending, or prioritize affordability.

These back‑to‑back tax pressures show exactly why so many families, seniors, and young people feel squeezed. Vermont’s affordability crisis isn’t an accident — it’s the direct result of policy choices that prioritize government growth over household stability. Colchester residents are living with the consequences every time they open their tax bill or try to plan for the future.

Many Vermonters believe it’s time for a different approach — one that respects taxpayers, reins in spending, and recognizes that working families cannot be treated as an endless source of revenue. The decisions made in Montpelier matter, and they have real impacts on the people who call Colchester home. I will always 


2024: A 14.1% Increase After the Veto Override

In 2024, Colchester residents experienced a 14.1% increase in property taxes.

This happened after the legislative supermajority voted to override Governor Scott’s veto of the statewide “yield bill,” which determines school property tax rates.

The override locked in one of the largest statewide increases in years, and Colchester taxpayers felt the full impact.

2026: Another Increase — 7% average Statewide

During the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers approved another property tax increase, with the statewide average rising by 7%.

Importantly, all four of Colchester’s State Representatives voted in favor of this increase. In my district that's Reps Pezzo and Bishop.

This means that in just two legislative cycles, Colchester residents could be hit with another substantial tax hike, both supported by the town’s full democratic delegation.

Why This Matters

Property taxes affect every homeowner, renter, and business in our community.

These votes directly influence:

Residents deserve transparency about how their representatives vote — and how those decisions impact their daily lives.