Senior Citizen Work-Off Abatement Program FY 2020
Mayor Brian Arrigo is pleased to announce the City of Revere will be accepting applications on July 1st for the Senior Citizen Work-Off Abatement Program Fiscal Year 2020. This program provides the opportunity for 50 seniors to work for a $750 property tax abatement and another 50 seniors to work for a $500 water bill credit.
The program will offer qualified seniors the opportunity to contribute 68 hours throughout various city departments for Property Tax abatements or 45.5 hours for Water bill credits.
“The Work-Off Abatement helps provide a break for residents that need it most,” said Mayor Arrigo. “I understand this program is a modest relief. This year’s implementation of the Senior Tax Exemption will provide further support to benefit a wider range of seniors in our community.”
In order to qualify for the program, Revere residents must be at least 60 years of age, assessed owner of the property, and income shall not exceed $45,000 for individual applicants or exceed $55,000 for married applicants. Residents will be required to provide a copy of ONE of the following: birth certificate, driver’s license or passport.
In the event more than 100 applicants apply for the Senior Abatement Program, a public lottery shall be conducted on August 21st at 1:00 p.m. (tentative date).
Applications will be available at the Mayor’s Office or Assessor’s office on Monday July 2nd and here.
Mayor Arrigo and the Assessor Department will hold a series of workshops on Thursday July 12th & July 19th at 11:00 AM at the Rossetti- Cowan Senior Center, 25 Winthrop Ave., to help qualified seniors apply for the program and the Senior Tax Exemption.
The deadline for submission of the completed application is August 1, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
More Details of the Program
The City of Revere has adopted the provisions of MA general law chapter 59 Section 5K, as amended, which allows for a senior citizen tax work-off program. For 2017, the program offers seniors the opportunity to contribute 41.5 hours of service to the City and receive a $500.00 reduction in their water bill. The program will also offer seniors the opportunity to contribute 62.5 hours within various city departments and receive a $750.00 reduction in their property tax bill.
The number of citizens participating in this program shall be limited to 50 seniors eligible for a discount on their water bill and 50 seniors eligible for a credit on their property tax bill. One hundred names will be drawn from a lottery which will take place on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. The first fifty names pulled will be for the water abatement work off program. The second fifty names pulled will be for the property tax abatement work off program.
If selected for the property tax work-off portion of this program, you will begin work on Monday, September 17, 2018 and will need to complete your 62.5 hours by Friday, November 16, 2018. If you are selected for the water portion of the work-off program, you will begin work on Monday, February 11, 2019 and complete your 41.5 hours of service by April 12, 2019.
The city shall make reasonable efforts to accommodate the work requests of participating seniors, but final decisions on work assignments shall be based solely on department needs.
To be eligible for the program, a senior must be at least sixty years of age applications will be available and accepted at the assessor’s office or the mayor’s office within city hall between July 1st and August 1st. No applications will be accepted after August 1st. No exceptions.
By July 1st of the fiscal year in which the application is made, the senior must have a principal place of residence in the City of Revere and have ownership in that principal place of residence. The ownership interest may include a joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety, life tenancy or beneficial interest in a trust which trust has an ownership interest in this principal residence.
In no event shall a person be eligible for this program if such person’s income exceeds $45,000 for individual applicants or exceeds $55,000 for married applicants. Income will be verified.
The tax abatement received under this program may be in addition to any other property tax exemptions for which the senior is eligible.
The amount of the property tax abatement the senior receives under this program shall not be considered income or wages for purposes of state income tax withholdings, unemployment compensation or Workmen’s Compensation.