Matthews-Kane asks council to study senior property tax exemptions
Her first motion asked the council to look at MGL Ch. 59, Section 5, Clause 17F, which authorizes an annual increase in the amount of the exemption granted to senior citizens, surviving spouses and surviving minors under Clause 17D by up to 100% of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous year, and to fix that annual increase at 2.5% or 100% of the CPI, whichever is less, to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, and to refer the motion to the Legislative and Ordinance subcommittee.
'I've heard from many people that they are struggling to pay their tax bills and want relief. There is an exemption that we could increase to give people some relief. Right now it's a $175 real estate exemption. This [motion] would increase the amount, and the next one would increase the asset [limit], so more people would be eligible,' Matthews-Kane said.
The second motion, which Matthews-Kane also asked to refer to L&O, asked the Council to accept Clause 17E of the same law, which authorizes an annual increase in the asset — whole estate — limit for exemptions by the percentage increase in the CPI for the previous year to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1.
'Listening to constituents, I'm hearing more about financial concerns, especially from our senior citizens. I've been looking for ways to provide tangible tax relief, and in my research, I found these two possible ways to assist those struggling the most,' she said.
She said the cost-of-living increase for the 17D would go to those seniors, surviving spouses, and minor children with a deceased parent who apply and fall below the $40,000 asset limit, excluding home and vehicle.
Matthews-Kane described the third motion, to ask the Finance Committee to investigate submitting a home rule petition to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption, as 'somewhat of a heavier lift.'
'The senior means-tested property tax exemption would provide targeted property tax relief to our older homeowners so they can continue to live in Westfield,' she said. She said previously, senior-means testing for the property tax exemption was found to take too much manpower, but another city figured out that they could link the means-test by linking to the state senior circuit breaker tax credit.
After the meeting, Matthews-Kane said tying it to the senior circuit breaker tax credit would be a free way to see if someone needs financial assistance, and her motion was to study the issue to see if it is appropriate and effective for Westfield. 'I'm asking for permission to do this - to investigate this and see if it's a good fit for Westfield.'
'All the cities doing it now are in the eastern part of the state,' she said, adding, 'It remains to be seen if this type of program will be doable for Westfield with our specific tax base and population, but the study will examine if the numbers can work for our community.'
Matthews-Kane said that the Council won't be able to tell if it would be a good fit until they look at the numbers. She said in other cities it's a lot of money, giving the example of Milton, where seniors receive a $1,000 average tax exemption under the rule.
During the meeting, Ward 2 Councilor Ralph Figy, who chairs the FInance Committee, asked that the motion be amended to send the study to the Long-Range Finance Committee chaired by Matthews-Kane.
'I'm happy to do it,' Matthews-Kane said, adding later, 'I'm unsure if it will be possible, but it's important that we at least examine this option as taxpayers demand we find creative alternatives. I look forward to working with the City Assessor, Ashlie Brown, to see if the numbers make this option feasible for our community.'
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