BY ROD HANSEN
The number of tax exemptions granted to elderly residents could nearly triple this year following the passage of new eligibility requirements at town voting in March.
The number of exemptions granted this year could reach 142. This includes applications already approved, the 71 granted by members of the Board of Selectmen at their meeting Monday, April 9, and others pending until the filing deadline of Monday, April 16.
A total of 55 households received exemptions last year, according to Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux.
This accounted for $1.8 million taken off the amount of total assessed value in town last year, Desruisseaux said.
The new exemptions are expected to reduce the value of assessed property in town by a total of $9 million this year, Desruisseaux told selectmen.
The new exemptions are expected to cause a $210,891 shift in the tax rate, meaning the difference between that and elderly exemptions granted last year will have to be collected from the tax pool. These estimates are based on the 2006 tax rate and are subject to change when the 2007 rate is set in October 2007.
Selectman Nick Campasano requested demographic information to determine the ages of eligible residents and the sections of town where they lived.
Though Desruisseaux’s report did not include geographic information, she did note an unexpected trend in the ages of applicants.
She said she had expected there to be an even split of 33 percent each between the three age groups eligible for the exemptions.
However, she said there were 36 applications for residents in the age group of 65 to 74 and 53 each for residents 75 to 80 and those 80 and older.
“The statistics are showing fewer (applicants) in the younger age group than we had expected,” Desruisseaux said.
The article voted on in March raised the amount of assets and income individuals and married couples could have and still qualify for the program, and also increased the amount of property senior citizens could have exempted from their assessed property values.
Under the new guidelines, people from 65 to 75 years of age are exempted from $45,000 in assessed property value; 75 to 80 years old recieve a $60,000 exemption and residents older than 80 would get $80,000 exempted.
The passage of that article marks the first time elderly income and asset requirements has been adjusted since 1997, while exemption amounts were last changed in 2004.
Resident John Burpee spearheaded the efforts to update the exemption requirements. He appeared before selectmen several times on behalf of the effort, and wrote several letters to local media on the topic.
Burpee said he’s happy with the results of the new relief. A resident of the 55 and over community Medford Farms, Burpee said a neighbor of his in the Medvil Cooperative did not have to take out a mortgage on his home due to the new exemptions.
“It’s been good for people, and you will hear heartwarming stories like that from time to time,” Burpee said.
Further information about the exemptions is available at the town’s Web site, www.goffs town.com.
Some guidelines on the site state that individuals must have a net income of less than $35,000 to qualify, while married couples cap off at a combined $50,000, including Social Security.
The site also lists documents required for the exemptions, including a Social Security statement of benefits, proof of income, and the applicant’s latest federal income tax returns.
Questions about elderly tax exemptions can be directed to the assessing department at 497-8990, ext. 112.