July 2024 Council Recap

Neighbors -

We only had one meeting in July. The two major issues top of mind for me this month have been police oversight and tax fairness reform - more on each below. As always please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, ideas, or concerns.

With Appreciation,
Councilor Neubieser
cneubieser@burlingtonvt.gov

POLICE OVERSIGHT

The city council approved a charter change on police oversight, placing it on the November ballot. This charter change will empower  the Police Commission and increase transparency. Beyond this charter change, more needs to be done to address community safety and build genuine trust between our police department and community. I recognize the imperfections in this ballot item, and are proud that we were able to pass a bi-partisan measure on what has been a divisive issue in our community. It’s a step in the right direction, but is not the destination. 

The council will hold two public hearings on the proposed charter change in August, before the measure is placed on the November ballot. 

TAX FAIRNESS

It’s time to have a conversation about property taxes, and take concrete action to relieve the burden on working and middle class families, those on a fixed income, and young people just starting out.

Since the 2021 property reappraisal, property tax bills for single-family homes went up by an average of  about $960 - that’s an 11% increase.

While the reappraisal was intended to be revenue-neutral, the property tax burden was shifted to homeowners and away from commercial property owners in the midst of a global pandemic that deflated commercial value and inflated residential property values. 

Residential homeowners, most of whom are middle and working class , are now shouldering the lion's share of the city's property tax. Burlingtonians struggle to live, work, and age in place because of the systemic flaws that have led to inequitable taxation. So, what do we do?

Learn more in this video featuring Councilors Kane, Bergman, and myself.