Property Tax Relief Fund for Disabled, Seniors to be Studied

Westborough officials will explore allowing taxpayers, businesses and community groups to donate to a property tax relief fund for disabled and elderly residents.

Selectmen voted Tuesday night to create an ad hoc tax relief fund review committee to look into the idea and report back in early summer. The committee will include two selectmen, Westborough Council on Aging Director Alma Demanche, an at large member, Assistant Town Manager Kristi Williams, Chief Assessor Linda Swadel and Treasurer/Collector Joanne Savignac.

A proposal would be eyed for the October town meeting, “and then maybe ready to implement shortly thereafter," Selectman Timothy Dodd said.

Dodd proposed considering accepting the state law that allows communities to create such a fund through a town meeting vote. 

Communiities accepting the law can add space on their tax bills to check off and designate donations to the fund, Dodd said. Donations also would be accepted anytime, he said.

“Any resident could give any donation they wanted to to it," he said.

The state law requires the fund be overseen by a committee of the chief assessor, the treasurer and three members appointed by the selectmen, Dodd said. This group would develop criteria for distributing the funds, he added.

The treasurer could invest the funds "like other funds," Dodd said.

Northborough and Hopkinton both have this program, he noted.