DEERFIELD — Deerfield voters will consider a tax work-off program for retirees and veterans in town looking to help out at Town Hall and shrink their property tax bills in the process.
The program calls for residents over the age of 60 and veterans in town to work part-time positions in town departments. Instead of earning a paycheck, the participants’ wages would apply to their property tax bills.
According to the current draft of the May 11 annual Town Meeting warrant, the policy would set the maximum annual property tax abatement for participants at $1,500. If voters approve the article, the Selectboard would iron out other details, including any limits for income eligibility and cap on the number of participants.
“If there’s a department in town that needs help and seniors want something to do, they have a way to relieve their tax burden,” Selectboard Chair Trevor McDaniel explained at the board’s April 8 meeting.
If residents vote in favor of the program, Deerfield would follow in the footsteps of other Franklin County towns that have already adopted the arrangement, including Sunderland, Conway, Greenfield, Erving, Orange, Bernardston and Northfield.
Although a resident proposed the program in a citizens petition, the Selectboard members unanimously voted to sponsor the Town Meeting article at their April 8 meeting.
Selectboard member Tim Hilchey said the program would give the many “talented retirees and veterans … an opportunity to make a difference in town.”
“It’s always great to give people an opportunity to work and to reduce some of their tax burden that way and help the town be productive,” McDaniel said. “It’s a great idea.”
