Board of Civil Authority

The Board of Civil Authority (BCA) is a municipal body responsible for maintaining the integrity of elections and ensuring fair property tax assessments.  By Vermont law, the BCA is made up of the town's Select Board, the Town Clerk and the Justices of the Peace.

Primary Responsibilities

• Elections: The BCA oversees the conduct of all local and state elections. This includes maintaining the voter checklist, reviewing applications for voter registration, purging the list of ineligible voters every two years, and assisting with ballot counting.
• Property Tax Appeals: If a taxpayer disagrees with a property assessment made by the Board of Listers, they can appeal to the BCA. The board holds a hearing and performs a site inspection of the property before rendering a decision to sustain, increase, or decrease the valuation.
• Tax Abatement: Most members of the BCA, along with the Town Treasurer and Listers, also form the Board of Abatement, which has the authority to reduce or cancel tax burdens for residents facing specific statutory hardships (e.g., financial need or disaster damage).