Senior citizens in Springfield, Massachusetts could get a break on their property tax bills in exchange for doing some part-time work for the city.
The Springfield City Council will vote Monday on an ordinance to establish a senior tax work-off program. Janet Rodriguez Denney, Springfield’s director of elder affairs, said there has been interest in such a program for years among the city’s senior citizens, and with downsizing in city government, there are a variety of job opportunities.
The ordinance that has been drafted in Springfield will limit first year participation in the program to 20 property owners to be selected through a lottery .The tax abatements will be $500 each. Denny said the hope is to expand the program in future years.
