Mayor pledges $1 million for targeted tax-relief fund; committee weighs Home Rule petition and eligibility rules

Jessica, an assessor with the Board of Assessors, told the committee the City Council already voted to create a donation-supported fund under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 60, §3D to assist low-income, elderly or disabled homeowners. The program establishes a Taxation Aid Committee that will define "elderly," "disabled" and "low income" and set eligibility and award amounts.

"The mayor has already made a commitment to fund the program with a million dollars if the home rule petition is approved," Jessica said, and she added the Home Rule petition was in third reading at the State House. Staff said donations could be solicited via a checkbox on tax bills, but that the city cannot use Home Rule funds until the state approval and administrative rules are in place.

Council members and citizens pressed for broad eligibility to catch households that are ‘‘just over’’ existing program thresholds (for example, someone $100 or $200 above current limits). Staff emphasized the committee will write the eligibility criteria and that applying any Home Rule funds would likely begin in the current fiscal year only after state approval and administrative setup. No funding amounts beyond the mayor’s pledge were guaranteed; staff said donation yields are unknown and will be reported when available.