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Northfield COA pursues senior tax work-off rules and seeks a new part-time staff position
Summary
The Council on Aging endorsed HUD income limits for a revived senior tax work-off program and a subcommittee recommended adding a 19-hour non-benefitted part-time position to support services; data will be presented to the finance committee and select board.
At its Feb. 17 meeting, the Northfield Council on Aging discussed next steps for a revived Senior Tax Work-off program and a related staffing request.
Chair Meg Livingstone said the subcommittee will use U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development upper-income limits for program eligibility: $50,220 for a single household and $57,360 for couples. Meg said a new application and an informational handout are ready and that program funding is subject to approval at the town's annual meeting.
Deb Lanou reported that a subcommittee (Deb, Chris Harris and Jan Herlihy) compiled statistics on Franklin County towns using information from the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, showing population, percent elderly and the number of paid senior center staff and hours worked. The subcommittee will share these data with the town finance committee and the select board to support a request for a new, 19-hour-per-week, non-benefitted part-time position.
Board member Chris Harris also provided a legislative update, noting two Beacon Hill proposals that could affect local programs: Senate Bill 2900 would let municipalities create local tax rebate programs for residents who already have a local residential exemption, and Senate Bill 2901 would expand eligibility for the Senior Tax Deferral Program by reducing required state residency from 10 years to seven years.
The COA set a follow-up subcommittee meeting for March 10 at 2 p.m. to continue work on the program and materials before approaching town decisionmakers.
