Salem Accepting Senior Citizen Tax Work-Off Abatement Applications

From the City of Salem: The City of Salem currently is accepting applications from qualified individuals age 60 years or older for its tax work-off abatement program. Seniors who meet income eligibility guidelines set forth in the Ordinance can apply to participate in the program, which reduces their property tax bill in exchange for volunteer community service to the City. Since 2010, 131 abatements totaling almost $100,000 have been given.

To be income eligible to participate this fiscal year, the senior applicant must hold an annual income that is no more than $47,080. Married couples must have a combined annual income that is no more than $53,346. Accepted applicants will be matched up with work opportunities in a variety of City offices and may volunteer up to 100 hours for the full $1,000 maximum abatement allowable. Abatements will appear on the 3rd and 4th quarter tax bills.

Under state law no more than 30 seniors can participate in the program each year. The City currently has eight openings for the current fiscal year’s program. If there are more applicants than there are openings, then the participants will be selected by lottery. To apply, call Kathleen McCarthy, Program Manager, at the Council on Aging at 978-744-0180 or 978-744-0924 to schedule an appointment.

“I hope Salem seniors will consider applying to participate in this important program,” said Mayor Driscoll. “The tax work-off abatement is just one of the many ways that we are working hard to manage the tax burden on our neediest residents. In addition to this program, I’m proud that over the last eleven years while I’ve been Mayor we’ve been able to secure, nearly $2.9 million in exemptions for qualified veterans and seniors, in addition to the tax work off program. We’ve worked hard to try to keep tax increases modest and over the last eleven years our average tax bill change has been 15% less than the state-wide average. I invite Salem’s seniors to contact our COA to find out if they might be eligible for this program. It presents a double-win for our community: seniors save on their taxes and better meet their other costs of living, and the City gets the valuable benefit of their service and efforts.”

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