DAV asks city to double disabled‑veteran real‑estate abatement; committee asks assessor for impact analysis
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Summary
The Disabled American Veterans chapter proposed doubling Lawrence's real‑estate tax abatement for service‑connected disabled veterans to align with neighboring cities following the state's HERO Act. The committee voted to request an assessor's impact analysis and to invite the director of veterans services to the next meeting.
Bill Collins, past commander of DAV Chapter 2, urged the committee on Oct. 14 to increase Lawrence's real‑estate tax abatement for service‑connected disabled veterans to match practices in neighboring municipalities.
Collins presented a survey of nearby communities showing higher abatements (examples cited: Haverhill $800 with a COLA, Andover $800, Methuen $1,200 and other municipalities with larger benefits). He cited provisions in the state's HERO Act (August 2024) that permit municipalities to raise veteran abatements and to add a cost‑of‑living adjustment. Collins said Lawrence currently provides $400 for some tiers and $1,000 for 100% service‑connected veterans and argued the city should raise lower tiers to enhance equity.
The committee supported seeking more information before acting: members asked the assessor's office to provide an impact analysis (estimated fiscal effect and the number of eligible veterans receiving benefits) and invited the director of veterans services to the next committee meeting to discuss implementation details. The committee voted unanimously to send correspondence to the assessor and invite the veterans director, and tabled the item pending that information.
