By Bob Katzen
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would amend a current law that gives seniors 70 and older, who meet certain low-income qualifications, an exemption in the amount of $4,000 of taxable valuation of real property or the sum of $500, whichever would decrease the property tax by the most.
The bill would allow a city or town to exercise a local option to increase the $4,000 to up to $8,000 and/or the $500 to up to $1,000; or by only increasing the $500 exemption to up to $2,000. The bill also retains current law that already permits cities and towns to reduce the age of eligibility to 65 or older.
“I filed this bill to make life a little more affordable for our senior citizens, by giving our cities and towns more flexibility to do so when it comes to property taxes,” said sponsor Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough). “Seniors who have done so much for our communities and have deep roots here should not be pushed out of their lifelong homes by property taxes. I want our towns to have the freedom to expand this senior property tax exemption to be able to get seniors this tax relief.”