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VLCT News - May 2012 

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News Briefs

• FY13 Town Highway Aid
• 05/10/2012

• This table incorporates Vermont Agency of Transportation's estimates for the FY13 Town Highway Aid allotment to each town, based on the mileage and type of town highways (Class 1, 2, and 3) in each municipality. These figures reflect the $1 million increase to Town Highway Aid as allocated and approved by the legislature in the 2012 Transportation Bill. The agency plans to contact municipalities about the final allotment numbers in the near future.

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• VFDA - Green Up Day Advisory
• 05/04/2012

• The Vermont Fuel Dealers Association has issued this advisory about what to do if someone discovers a propane tank during Green Up Day activities:

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• Complete Streets
• 05/02/2012

• Complete Streets principles require designers to consider how a project will incorporate the needs of all facility users throughout a project’s planning, design, construction, and maintenance phases. This methodology may improve safety for all users, enhance the quality of life and livability, provide an aesthetically pleasing surrounding, support economic vitality, and reduce the release of pollutants into the environment. For details, read the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s “Complete Streets Guidance” and its companion “Report to the Transportation Committees of the Vermont House of Representatives and the Vermont Senate Complete Streets Implementation at the Vermont Agency of Transportation.”

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• EPA Webcast Series on Funding and Financing Local Government Clean Energy Programs
• 04/26/2012

• In May and June, EPA's Local Government Climate and Energy Program will host a three-part webcast series about funding and financing clean energy programs.

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• New Telephone Numbers at PVR
• 04/25/2012

• The Division of Property Valuation and Review (PVR) at the Vermont Department of Taxes will change its phone numbers as of May 1, 2012. The changes are due to the gradual adoption of a new phone system designed to improve service throughout the Department of Taxes. A list of the new numbers is available here. Also, you may always use the state directory to look up the phone number and email address of state employees. While individual phone numbers are changing, the main line for PVR (802-828-5860) remains the same.

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• Wellness Pays for Wellness Leaders
• 03/27/2012

• Health insurance program returns money to municipalities and individuals for fostering and participating in healthy lifestyles. Fifty-nine Vermont municipalities recently received checks from the association through which they buy their health insurance because of their participation in a multi-level wellness initiative. Here’s a link to the whole story.

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• VLCT Municipal Internal Controls Checklist
• 01/20/2012

• VLCT and the VLCT Board of Directors’ Financial Responsibility Committee are pleased to announce the availability of the new Municipal Internal Controls Checklist and accompanying guidelines. The checklist, which complies with current professional standards, can help municipalities improve their financial controls, and the guidelines describes the checklist in detail.

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• New Online State and Local Resource Available
• 01/17/2012

• Communities are increasingly investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy to achieve their air quality, economic, and energy goals. In doing so, they have found that the up-front costs of improving energy efficiency and increasing renewable energy generation can be a barrier for many homeowners, building owners, and businesses. One way to address these barriers is by adopting clean energy financing programs that can make efficiency and renewable energy more affordable for these sectors. EPA's State and Local Climate and Clean Energy Program is supporting these efforts with the launch of a new online Financing Program Decision Tool and a Financing Program Decision Guide.

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• Model Abatement Forms
• 01/05/2012

• As a result of Tropical Storm Irene, many towns received an unprecedented number of requests for abatement, the quasi-judicial process for relieving taxpayers from the burden of property taxes, penalty, and interest. To assist VLCT members, the Municipal Assistance Center has produced a set of model abatement request forms, hearing schedules, rules of procedure, and decision forms. The forms are in Word format and you can download them here.

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• Property Transfer Tax Returns and Mobile Homes
• 11/10/2011

• The Department of Taxes recently released this memo to clarify when a property transfer tax return must be filed with respect to a mobile home.

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• VLCT Dues for Dues Year 2013
• 10/26/2011

• The Vermont League of Cities and Towns Board of Directors has set the organization’s dues for the dues year beginning in July of 2012 (DY13). Specifics are outlined in this memo from the VLCT Board President and in this table of all member dues.

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