Springfield: A long -awaited tax reduction program that it will give the elderly the opportunity to work for 67 hours in exchange for a $ 1,000 reduction in their taxes, starts this year.
Senior tax work program will be added to several existing Real estate reduction programs and a state program. By 2026, the city will also offer a new one for veterans through the State Hero Law and the City Council works on the creation of a Relief trust funds With resident donations to help home owners.
The tax reduction program was proposed Already in 2013 and adopted in November 2019 by the City Council and signed by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. Before the final details could be erased, Covid-19 made a success and the program paused. There was also an attempt at Revive In 2023.
Although the program offers those who are 65 years old to work in the city to reduce their tax bills, it does much more, Sarno said.
“The elderly will bring a lot of wisdom and knowledge to the city and are very dedicated to work,” said Sarno.
Helen Caulton-Harris, curator of the Department of Health and Human Services, said that one of the advantages is that some of the elderly will work with young employees and to share their life experiences and serve essentially as mentors.
Several other communities, including neighboring Chicopee, have had the program for years.
The program is being administered through the city’s affairs department, and there are at least four departments that have been registered to take a senior: Health and Human Services, Early Broadcases, Veterans’ Affairs and Libraries in the city. Others are being added, Jose Hernandez, a tax on the tax program, said.
Although some have asked why the seniors have to work to reduce, many others are retired and are interested in having a new challenge and a place to go, he said.
“There are many seniors excited about this program,” said Hernandez. “There are many who are at home and they want to go out -and contribute something.”
Applications will be available on the city’s website and hard copies can be collected from all Senior Centers from Monday. They must return -on March 31 and a lottery will be held on April 4 if there are more than 20 applicants. Hernandez said that the elderly will work between July 1 and October 1, and their deduction will appear in their taxes 2026.
The city is planning an information session in the future that will be announced on the city’s website and the senior centers. He said that people can also call 311 to see if a date and time has been scheduled.
There are revenue eligibility requirements that coincide with the standards of state circuits. Since seniors are technically considered employees, taxes will be deducted to an estimated $ 97, said Patrick Greenhalgh, President of the Evaluation Board.
Like all employees, they will also have to go through a criminal record, he said.
Hernandez said he will do his best to combine the experience, interests and capacity of applicants with the available job. Seniors and their supervisors will work together.
If the participant cannot complete the full 67 hours due to illness or other circumstances, the hours they have worked will be valued and deducted from the property taxes.
“If you have this reduction and you have a different tax credit, you should not affect -” said Hernandez. “This is the most wonderful one you can save a little more money.”
But people will not be able to return to the program the following year. As there is limited slots, the city wants to say that other people have the opportunity to participate.
Some of the other available real estate reductions include:
- The 41C, age and income program, was recently increased from a $ 500 to $ 1,000 and the age limit was reduced from 70 to 65 years. To be eligible for reduction of home reduction cannot exceed $ 42,667 a year for a couple or 28,444444. for a single person. Applicants cannot have more than $ 55,000 in assets, which is essentially translated into money in savings and other investments such as a retirement account, but does not include the value of the home, said Hernandez.
- The 17D program offers a reduction of $ 175 on property taxes for people over 70 or a surviving spouse who has not reached 70 years. This clause is essentially to help a resident who already receives the reduction through a spouse who dies later, said Hernandez. There is no income restriction, but the total number of the applicant’s assets, excluding the value of the house, cannot exceed $ 40,000, said Hernandez.
- Blind residents are eligible for a $ 437.50 reduction. There are no age or income limits on the benefit, but the application must include a certification of the Massachusetts commission for the blind. The evaluator’s office will consider the doctor’s note instead of the certification, especially if the applicant was recently declared blind, said Hernandez.
- Veterans can also opt for a $ 400 tax reduction range to their full bill, depending on what category they enter. Greenhalgh said that surviving spouses may also receive the advantages if the veteran died from a disability connected to the service such as exposure to Orange Agent.
- Circuit switch tax credit is offered through the state and to receive it, the elderly Tax must be submitted. The elderly may receive the profit if the property taxes are more than 10% of their income or their rent is 25% of their income. It also takes into account water and sewerage bills.