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Date: 12/15/2021
NORTHAMPTON – With 2021 coming to an end, the Northampton Senior and Veteran Tax Work-Off Program is currently accepting applications for 2022.
According to Marie Westburg, the director of Northampton Senior Services, not too much has changed regarding the makeup of the program compared to past years. Generally, the program allows income-eligible seniors and veterans to earn up to a $1,500 abatement off their property taxes in exchange for volunteering in city departments and other entities.
In this format, the program is open to seniors who are 60 and older, who own property in and pay real estate taxes to the city of Northampton and who meet the income limits as provided by the Massachusetts median income levels. The Veteran Tax Work-Off program is open to all veterans who own property in and pay real estate taxes in Northampton, regardless of their income status.
“I’m anticipating getting more applications,” said Westburg, adding that she has already received some as of press time. “A lot of people return to the program year-after-year, and often to the same placements they’ve been at.”
Westburg said that she is not sure how many placements will be available for applicants regarding volunteer work, mainly because some city departments do not have a lot of space available for proper social distancing. Regardless, Westburg said that an effort will be made to place everyone.
There has been a wide array of volunteer placements for eligible seniors and veterans who have applied. Many placements are found in the Planning Department, the city clerk’s office, the Department of Public Works (DPW), schools, libraries and other areas of the city. In the past, the DPW has allowed veterans and seniors to assist them with invasive species work with plants, according to Westburg.
“There’s really a wide array of things for people to do…office work, outdoor work or gardening,” said Westburg. “Sometimes, if someone has a specific set of skills, we’ll call up a department and say, ‘this person can do this,’ and people are often thrilled when they find out someone has the skill they need.”
Participants in both programs must complete at least 105.26 hours of volunteer work to receive the full $1,500 tax credit. The program runs from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2022, but Westburg said that some people like to finish their hours sooner than the end date. “Sometimes they have positions that they are able to do in a couple of months,” said Westburg.
Interested seniors and veterans can apply for the program online or pick one up at the Assessor’s Office at City Hall; the Senior Center on 67 Conz St. or the Veterans Services Office in Memorial Hall at 240 Main St. Applications will be accepted continuously over the following weeks, or until the spaces are filled. According to the Northampton website, applications filed by Dec. 17 will receive priority.
“The sooner people can get their applications in, the more likely they are to get a position,” said Westburg. “I often have more applicants than positions.” The year before the pandemic, Westburg said 37 applicants were placed in the program, but there were a couple that did not participate because there were not enough positions available.
Since the inception of this program in 2014, the city has provided a total of $200,071 in property tax relief to 197 seniors and veterans.