Town Councilor Mark Gould Jr. has introduced a Special Act aimed at shielding qualifying senior residents from potential tax increases associated with the new North Attleborough High School.
The debt exclusion vote is scheduled for June 3, and Gould’s proposal seeks to address concerns raised by seniors on fixed incomes who may struggle with the financial impact of the project. The exemption will be brought before the Town Council at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 27.
When asked about what initiated this proposal, Gould emphasized the importance of protecting residents.
“Mostly I was concerned for seniors, that the most vulnerable would be impacted by the potential tax increase,” Gould explained. “The most feedback from anyone against the high school comes from fixed-income families and seniors… and that hasn’t been addressed…The building committee is concerned with building the best school they can for children; the council should be concerned with keeping it fair for the residents.”
The exemption will use the Massachusetts Circuit Breaker tax credit as its foundation. To qualify, seniors must meet specific income and asset requirements set by the state, which are updated annually.
According to the Massachusetts state website, for 2024, seniors aged 65 or older may receive a maximum credit of $2,730 based on property taxes or rent paid for their primary residence. If the credit exceeds their total tax liability, the excess will be refunded.
Additional details on eligibility can be found on the Massachusetts state website, www.mass.gov.
Gould briefly explained the application process, “There are a couple exemptions currently,” Gould stated. “Seniors can go to the assessor’s office to apply annually… seniors should be aware that if they satisfy the asset and income requirements, they can already apply for an annual tax benefit.”
Gould concluded by reiterating the importance of balancing the needs of different segments of the community.
“We have to do what we can for our children to make our town a better place and balance it for our seniors,” he said.
The proposed exemption aligns with measures adopted by other Massachusetts communities, such as Hopkinton, which implemented a similar program during a school project.
Hopkinton Town Manager Elaine Lazarus said the tax exemption “has been successful. The only drawback is that we wish it would apply to more people.”
Hopkinton also based their exemption around the Massachusetts Circuit Breaker tax credit.
The proposal is expected to be a critical point of discussion leading up to the June 2 vote, as residents weigh the importance of investing in education against the financial realities faced by fixed-income households.
