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Select Board approves updated income and asset caps for Chapter 91 senior tax exemption
Summary
After a presentation from Chief Assessor Jane Dooley, the board voted to keep the age threshold at 65 and adopt new household income and asset caps for the Chapter 91 senior tax‑exemption: $70,000 single/$90,000 married household income and $225,000 single/$300,000 married household assets.
The Select Board voted to adopt updated income and asset limits for Hamilton's Chapter 91 special‑act senior tax‑exemption program, following a staff presentation from Chief Assessor Jane Dooley.
Dooley explained that the special act, unique to the town, distributes a $50,000 annual fund to qualifying households using an allocation algorithm that weights household assets, income and age. She recommended keeping the eligibility age at 65 while raising the household income caps to $70,000 for a single person and $90,000 for a married couple, and setting asset limits at $225,000 (single) and $300,000 (married). Dooley said the program typically serves roughly 20–30 households per year; over the past five years the town served about 22 households annually.
A board member moved to approve all three limits in one motion; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote. The board did not change the program's annual funding level of $50,000. Dooley said increasing the income and asset limits reflected changes in the cost of living and would allow the program to reach more seniors in need. "They need the help," she said, referring to seniors who benefit from the reduction in tax bills.
The board directed staff to implement the new limits for FY27 and noted any future indexing or structural changes to the program would require select‑board action consistent with the special act.
