By Bob Katzen
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a Senate-approved bill that would allow cities and towns to hike from the current $1,500 to $2,000, the property tax break for veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in exchange for their providing volunteer services to their municipality.
Supporters said that veteran and senior work-off programs were originally designed to operate in parallel but while the Legislature recently raised the senior cap to reflect rising costs of living, the veteran cap was not updated, creating an unintended disparity.
“Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Provincetown). “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned.”