The Interim Mayor stated that senior work off program had no limitations on income. I believe my Uncle was told he made too much money to qualify. Can someone verify this. So in reading this anyone over 60 in Melrose can receive 1,000 off taxes because they “work off” the bill. Hmmm has this changed? I am just curious. Thank you !
Gail is both Illegitimate and Inarticulate. She could have made a mistake. Gail was known deliberately to say the wrong thing (lie) when she “represented” Ward 5.
https://www.cityofmelrose.org/assessor/pages/real-estate-tax-exemptions
This is consistent with what the mayor shared- no age limit. It provides a number to call for more information.
My parents have lived in Melrose for 45+ years & they do not qualify for any deductions/breaks because they make too much money....
The Illegitimate One and her posse have been touring Senior Housing. The Cochrane House isn’t buying. They didn’t believe the pitch that “since they aren’t homeowners, they will not be hurt by tax increases”. She was asked if Police City pensions included total income earned with detail pay. She couldn’t answer this question and stumbled on most others. Residents were left wondering how she ever became Mayor. Straw vote afterwards. No votes won in a landslide!
The front page of the Saturday, March 2nd edition of The Boston Globe tells the story of an 80 year old Medford man who is facing eviction. The BOA, GI and the One Melrose people need to read this article. The attempts to scare people (dirty politics) into voting for the Override has been sad and divisive. There are many, many people who CANNOT AFFORD more taxes now including senior citizens who are being devalued and used for political purposes. Shameful !
A patch article 2015 states that Mayor Dolan said you need to meet income criteria to qualify for work off program. There are a lot of residents who are 60 So all of us could receive 1000.00 off our taxes with no limitations if we work a bit for the city 🤔 Why is it now different. Mistake or changes made. Google this and you will find Patch article on work off program
GI needs to clarify on her blog and notify the Free Press, Weekly News and Melrose Patch. The age/income qualifications have changed or it was a “deliberate mistake” to get more folks 60 and older to Vote Yes. I don’t trust a word of what comes out of her mouth. Clarification needed!
If you spent half as much energy doing a tiny bit of research as you do complaining on a message board, you’d find the answer. There is no income limit for the work off program. There are income limits for other exemptions. Did you really think that there was no way the Patch got it wrong? The PATCH?? Nope just automatically assume someone is trying to pull one over on you. Sad way to live. https://www.cityofmelrose.org/assessor/pages/real-estate-tax-exemptions
It’s not a quote - https://patch.com/massachusetts/melrose/melrose-reminds-residents-available-discounts-tax-relief-measures-0
Melrose has a tax deferral program for seniors. If you cannot pay the taxes on your house, the city will allow you to let them go unpaid and you can defer payment until a later date or when you sell your home (or die should that be the case). You can't just stop paying. You need to enter into an agreement, and the City will charge you INTEREST.
If you are over 60 call the council on aging and see what the policy really is.
If it were straight forward, it would say on the site. Only this exception and the extreme hardship exception do not have specifics.
Stay away from deferred taxes. Bad move financially and its it's irresponsible of people to suggest it.
It's ironic that in the rush to gain more tax money, the city may lose $1000 per 60+ year old in the work off program. Says no deadline to apply. I previously misunderstood the program or I listened to mayor Dolan last time when he said Income Limitations.
Every 60 year old who has the time and inclination should call the Council on Aging about doing this. If there is no income limit, this can help a lot of people.
If the there is an income threshold or if there are a limited number of opportunities to volunteer availible, word needs to get out publicly because currently this is being used as a reason to vote yes. If the rules have changed, good for the city. If not, citizens need to know that misinformation is being given out to win votes.
Any person with any common sense or who isn’t choosing to be ignorant would naturally get that there would be a limited number of jobs to do and therefore the number of participants in the work off can’t be infinite. Grow up.
If I were a betting man, I would say that there is some kind of lower income needed to qualify for the 60+ work off program. Most likely in the range of the trash fee abatement program.
If there are limited jobs available that is scary because the jobs then go to friends of friends at city hall. It's possible the volunteers would be placed through The Bridge so maybe there are many opportunities. The city website is deliberately vague and it seems like misinformation is being spread to make the override look better.
At minimum wage, it's only about 83 hours to reach the $1000 credit so it's worth investigating if you are 60+.
I'm going to call the Council on Aging to find out the truth. People have posted on here that they were told they made too much money to qualify for the work off program. Mayor Dolan must have been wrong. And these people must be wrong.
If there is no income limit, then sign me up.
Thanks for the laugh. City hall enriches family and friends for paid positions so it's not a stretch to think they would continue this for the work off.
Truthsayer is correct. You are charged interest if you defer the taxes. It's on the city website.