What are Betterments and why are they added on my tax bill?

There are basically three types of Betterments: Street Betterments, Water Betterments, and Sewer Betterments but the town may from time to time create other types. A Betterment represents the cost of an improvement, such as a new water or sewer line or a new sidewalk, made to a limited area of the town.  Betterments are assessed as a way of apportioning the cost of these projects, that are limited in scope, to the property owners that actually receive the benefit of these improvements rather than apportioning the cost to all taxpayers in town through the regular property tax.