By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that would allow cities and towns to impose a cap on local property taxes paid by low-income seniors over 65. The cap would apply to single filer seniors with incomes of less than $50,000 and married filers with incomes below $60,000. The senior’s assets would have to be less than $75,000, excluding their primary residence and they would also be allowed to own one motor vehicle.

Supporters said the bill would not have any financial impact on the state but would simply create a process for cities and towns to impose property tax caps for seniors within the specified income and asset limits. They argued that the bill would mean municipalities can decide if and how they provide real estate tax relief to lower-income seniors, allowing cities and towns more flexibility to address the needs of their communities and further the state’s commitment to lowering costs for seniors and ensuring our aging population can remain in their homes.

“I’m glad to see this bill continuing to move through the process,” said sponsor Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough). “We accomplished a lot last year with the $1 billion tax cut we passed, which included legislation I filed to raise the senior circuit breaker tax credit. We need to do as much as possible to lighten the load on seniors who have built their lives here and are now on fixed incomes, and that’s why I filed this bill to give cities and towns flexibility to cap property taxes for low-income seniors.”