The working group tasked with exploring options for senior tax relief and improving the education around what is already available has begun meetings.
“We went through what the current options are for senior tax relief and identified where we could potentially make a difference in the short, medium, and longterm,” said Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Jennfier Hewitt. “And we tried to outline what the next steps might look like.”
The group plans to meet Monday, Aug. 19.
“I think we all feel very strongly about the need to look at these programs,” said Kathy Keohane, a member of the working group. “It’s not just seniors. It’s also for people with disabilities, veterans, so if you look at the current policy and practices, I think the program is wider today than that label indicates.”
Last month, Keohane, former Select Board member Mark Paollilo, and Precinct 6 Town Meeting member Aaron Pikcilingis were appointed by the Select Board to the working group. They will work to support “town-directed efforts,” according to Keohane.
“We think there’s a real opportunity to not only look at the components of the program but also to educate people about the options that are available to them,” said Keohane. “We’ll be working on all that – changing the components of the program … but also doing a much better job of educating people and making people aware of it.”
Hewitt said the group’s formation followed the Select Board’s interest in looking into what relief was available for seniors, particularly after voters passed the $8.5 million Proposition 2 ½ override in April.
“As a result of those concerns, the Select Board wanted to make sure that people were actively reviewing what our options were to make sure we could mitigate our impact wherever feasible,” she said. “The group is taking a look at what we can and can’t do, and seeing if we can highlight a strategy, some approaches, and what the Select Board wants to do with that—if they want to pursue one option over another.”
She noted the state is restrictive in what municipalities are allowed to do in terms of tax relief.
“We’re somewhat limited in what we can accomplish,” Hewitt said.
Pikcilingis said he thinks one reason people aren’t aware of the exemptions available to them is that it isn’t always easy to navigate their options. Currently, seniors can apply for a Chapter 41C exemption. All exemptions are outlined on the Board of Assessors’ page.
Pikcilingis pointed to towns like Lextington, which has a brochure of available programs, and Newton, which has an organized webpage of what’s available.
“I think the reason people think we don’t have good exemptions is it’s really hard to figure out what’s current,” he said.
Additionally, since the director of the Council on Aging resigned and a volunteer coordinator left, there’s been no work-off program. Pikcilingis said in 2021, he advocated for a similar program for veterans, but it never got started.
“I’m eager to get both those running,” he said. “If we can restart the senior program, we can start the one for veterans.”
He said the group also discussed the potential of establishing a donation fund, in which taxpayers can opt to donate into a program for senior tax relief.
Certain changes would require a Town Meeting vote, but other, simpler changes may just require approval by the Select Board.
“I’ve worked on the ‘Yes’ campaign for both of the last two overrides and recognize that there are people for whom … those are a real hardship,” he said. “I think we need to do a better job of solving our financial issues in the town while recognizing the … challenge it presents for people.”