Adopted by the Board of Selectmen
03-04-03
SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX WORK-OFF ABATEMENT
PROGRAM RULES
At the April 6, 2002 Annual Town Meeting, the Town of Harvard accepted the provisions of Section 5K of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws to allow the Board of Selectmen to establish a program to allow persons over the age of 60 to volunteer to provide services to the town in exchange for a reduction in their property tax bills. The following program rules are in effect for Fiscal Year 2004.
Eligibility
- Participating taxpayers must be over 60 years old as of the start of the fiscal year (July 1).
- Only one abatement per fiscal year on any property.
- No income limitations on eligibility.
- Participating taxpayers must own their primary home of residence in the Town for a minimum of one year prior to the start of the fiscal year.
Program Limits
- Maximum abatement per taxpayer is $750.
- Rate of earnings is $8.00/hour.
- Program limit: $9,000 in abatements
- Volunteer hours must be completed by November 30.
Operations
- The program will be managed by the Council on Aging
- The Town Administrator will issue a letter to town departments soliciting the need for services under this program.
- The Council on Aging Director and Town Administrator will review and select the volunteer opportunities.
- Volunteer openings will be posted for a minimum of a two-week sign-up period.
- In the case of multiple applicants for a volunteer position, the order of job interview/placement shall be random.
- At the completion of the volunteer effort, the participants and the department head will be surveyed on the effectiveness of the program.
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