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Chicopee adopts state HERO Act exemption to double many disabled-veteran property-tax breaks
Summary
The City Council accepted a local option under the state HERO Act to increase property tax exemptions for qualifying disabled veterans; city assessor estimated the local cost at roughly $277,100–$295,200 based on prior-year data and said the change must be adopted before July 1 to take effect for fall tax bills.
The Chicopee City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a local option of the state HERO Act that increases property-tax exemptions available to qualifying disabled veterans under Mass. Gen. Laws chapter 59.
City Assessor Laura McCarthy explained the measure implements provisions adopted by the state legislature in August 2024 and said the local change would double the current exemptions for many veterans. "Veterans receive exemptions depending on their disability, anywhere between $400 off the tax bill... to $1,000 off a real estate tax bill," McCarthy said. "This adoption of this section would double that. So it would be $800 up to $2,000 that would be exempted from the property tax bill."
McCarthy provided estimated local costs from prior years, saying the expense would have been about $295,200 in 2024 and about $277,100 in fiscal 2025. She told councilors the city can cover the added cost from the overlay account used for exemptions and abatements. McCarthy also advised the council the ordinance must be adopted before July 1 for the change to be effective for the fall tax bills.
Councilors praised the adoption as a benefit to disabled veterans and approved the mayor’s order adopting the state provisions. The council passed the order by roll-call vote.
The council's action adopts the state-authorized local option; it does not change eligibility requirements beyond those set by the state. The assessor said the same proof of disability and qualifications required under state law will remain in place.
