Veterans Tax Work Off Policy OK'd

Applications for Westborough's new Veterans Tax Work Off Program are targeted for release the Tuesday after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Selectman Timothy Dodd says.

Applications for Westborough's Senior Tax Work Off Program will be released that same day, Dodd said Tuesday night.

Wesborough is the first Massachusetts town, and the third community overall, to offer a Veterans Tax Work Off Program. The milestone happened when Westborough voters at the Oct. 16 special town meeting accepted a 2012 state law allowing communities to offer such a program.

The program allows veterans owning property in town to work off up to $1,000 from their property taxes. The town and/or school departments will offer the work.

Selectmen approved policy guidelines for the program Tuesday night.

The policy calls for the Westborough Department of Veterans Services, the Westborough Senior Center and Council on Aging director, the town treasurer and the town assessor to develop an application process, with final approval by selectmen, which Dodd said will happen in late November or early December.

The policy opens the program for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2013 to up to 10 veterans owning property here.

If the applicant pool exceeds the number of available spots, applicants residing here at least five years will receive preference, the policy states. And "income verification may be used to determine eligibility," the policy states.