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Council asks manager for feasibility report to raise state‑governed senior property tax exemption thresholds
Summary
Councilors voted to request a report on raising income thresholds for senior property tax exemptions and on what steps, including special legislation, would be needed to change limits set in Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41.
The Lowell City Council voted to request that the city manager and finance staff prepare a report on the feasibility and process for raising the income threshold for senior property tax exemptions.
Councilor Morozia (who introduced the motion) said the current state statutory thresholds for residential exemptions have not kept pace with inflation, excluding many older homeowners who face rising property tax bills. "Senior property tax exemptions are important for reducing the financial burden of our most vulnerable older homeowners," the councilor said during discussion.
Finance staff and the city solicitor were cited in the discussion: councilors and staff identified Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 41, as the governing statute and noted that any increase beyond current state allowances would likely require a request for special legislation at the statehouse. CFO Baldwin confirmed staff can prepare a report and that a tailored special‑legislation approach for Lowell is an option; the report would outline steps and costs and whether local overlay funds could be used to implement changes.
Councilors stressed the effect of rising assessments alongside fixed incomes and discussed including an inflationary adjustment mechanism in any proposal. The motion passed unanimously.
