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AC–2015ATM PPROPRIATIONOMMITTEE FundsFunding Committee Article 6: Appropriate for Senior RequestedSourceRecommendation Service Program Approve (9-0) $20,000GF This article proposes an appropriation for the Town's Senior Service Program of $20,000. This amount, together with an anticipated carryover balance from prior years of approximately $15,000 is expected to be sufficient to meet the needs of the program in FY2016. The Senior Service Program Since 2006, the Town has operated its own Senior Service Program, which allows low- to moderate in- come seniors (age 60 and over) to perform volunteer work for the Town in exchange for a reduction in their property tax. The Town adopted this program, in substitution for a similar program previously oper- ated under G.L. c. 59, § 5K, to allow it more flexibility in setting the age criteria for participation, the wage rate, and the total amount of credit allowed. For more information on the Senior Service Program and other property tax relief options available to seniors, including exemptions and opportunities for deferral, please refer to Appendix D. Benefits and Criteria for Participation The maximum amount of the tax reduction that may be earned, under guidelines established by the Se- lectmen and amended in July 2014, is $1,045/year (110 hours at $9.50 per hour) for an individual and $1,330/year (140 hours at $9.50 per hour) for a couple. Participants may receive property tax reductions under this program in addition to any other exemption for which they qualify, such as the $1,000 Clause 41C exemption, and may also defer the balance of their taxes under Clause 41A if they are eligible to do so. Current income eligibility criteria are set forth in Appendix D. Funding Requirements and Requested Appropriation The program operates as a continuing balance account, and unexpended funds carryover from year to year. When first established in FY2007, the program was funded at $25,000, an amount slightly higher than the average annual amount that had been expended from an overlay account under the pre-existing state program during the 2004-2006 fiscal years. In anticipation of higher usage, the annual appropriation was subsequently increased over time from $36,000 in FY2007 to $45,000 in FY2010. This level of funding, however, proved to be more than was required to allow the Town to admit all eligi- ble applicants who wished to participate in the program. Despite efforts to expand participation, including increases in the income threshold, the numbers have been stable at around 28 to 30 persons from FY2007 through FY2014, and annual expenditures have ranged from $23,642 to $28,046. Accordingly, appropria- tion requests since FY2010 have been scaled back to reflect realistic funding requirements and the amount of carryover funds available. The appropriation requested this year is $20,000. Going forward, however, the Selectmen may wish again to consider steps to enhance interest in this worthy program. The Committee recommends approval of this request (9-0). 17