HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-17-TDES-min Meeting Minutes
Selectmen's Tax Deferral and Exemption Study Committee
A meeting of the Tax Deferral and Exemption Study Committee was called to order at 6:30 PM on May
17, 2017 in Room 245 at the Lexington Community Center.
Members present were: Vicki Blier,Pat Costello, Dick Bair,Pam Joshi and Appropriation Committee
liaison John Bartenstein. Also present were Charlotte Rogers, Lexington's Director of Human Services
and Tim Weeks, an Estate Tax Attorney who was an invited guest.
The purposes of the meeting:
1. Presentation by Charlotte Rodgers, Lexington Director of Human Services regarding the
Senior Services (Tax work-off)Program and potential changes to the program. Discuss and
advise.
2. Short discussion in preparation for future examination of Clause 41C '/2.
One Committee Vote was taken:
Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Senior Service Program, administered
by the Lexington Council on Aging under the Human Services Department, adopt the
following revised program limits for Fiscal Year 2018:
a. Set the income limit for the Senior Service Program to match the income limit(currently
$70,000) that Town Meeting has approved for the Property Tax Deferral Program to
maintain consistency between the two town-designed property tax relief
programs. Should Town Meeting vote to change the parameters for the Property Tax
Deferral Program, this may require a follow-up vote by the Selectmen,who set the
parameters for the Senior Service Program.
b. Increase hourly pay rate to the state minimum wage, currently $11.00/hour, and adjust the
annual maximum number of hours which can be worked under the program to 140 hours
per household.
c. Keep the eligibility at age 60 and older.
Summary of Discussions:
1. Town Manager Carl Valente requested that Charlotte Rodgers meet with the Selectmen's Tax
Deferral and Exemption Study Committee for approval of proposed changes to the Town's Senior
Service Program for FY2018. The changes will then be presented to the Board of Selectmen for
implementation beginning July 1, 2017. John noted that the Lexington Senior Service program is
more flexible than the State program it has replaced.
2. Co-Chair Vicki Blier summarized participation in the Property Tax Deferrals Program for
FY2017. The 2017 participation in the program seemed to be on track for similar utilization in
FY2016. The Committee reached out to the community at two events in February 2017 to attract
interest in the program.
3. Vicki provided an Informational Guideline Release with changes to section 41C�/z of the state
laws affecting real estate exemptions. She asked committee members to review property tax
relief materials on 4 1 C �/z and Section 5C �/z for discussion at a future meeting of the Study
Committee.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Next Meeting: TBD.
Respectfully submitted, May 18, 2017. Approved November 28, 2017.
Dick Bair