Winchester Hears Of Wakefield Efforts With Senior Tax Break

State Senator Jason Lewis appeared before the Winchester Select Board Monday night to explain the Senior Tax Relief Program that Reading uses to provide tax relief to fixed-income seniors.

Lewis praised the work of Reading Chief Appraiser Vic Santaniello in crafting a version of the state's senior circuit breaker that gives seniors a break on their income taxes. The Reading program gives seniors a break on their property taxes with their savings shifted to other taxpayers in town. Santaniello holds the same position for Wakefield and that town is also in the process of starting a similar program and is awaiting approval by the state legislature.

Lewis explained that in 2016 Reading was in a situation similar to what Winchester is facing now. Winchester is facing a budget shortfall and the Select Board is expected to approve an override vote in the neighborhood of $11 million.