The tax collector in Orange was quoted in the April 21 Recorder as saying: “The delinquency that we’re seeing this year is greater than I did see last year — those numbers did intimidate us a little bit.” Orange had 64 properties in a delinquent property tax situation. In Greenfield, the tax collector estimates that there are 183 properties in tax title as of late April.
These figures from two major Franklin County municipalities suggest that an increasing number of homeowners are having trouble keeping up with their property tax payments. This comes as no surprise to property taxpayers throughout our county, and across the commonwealth.
It certainly was no surprise to Annie Hassett, who testified before the Greenfield City Council during its public comment period on April 15. Annie has been a friend for almost half a century. She is a well-known singer and community activist throughout Franklin County. She purchased her “old style” 3-bedroom home, built around 1900, for $72,500. In 2022, Annie’s property had an assessed value of $147,700. Four years later, in 2026, her property was valued at $232,300 — a 57% jump. Annie’s tax bill in 2022 was $3,297, but in 2026 she’s paying $4,486, an increase of $1,189.
“I’m a senior citizen on a stable income,” Annie told the council. “Think of your grandmother. We all have grandmothers, right? They can’t pay their taxes. I said: ‘Hey what can we do about my property taxes? I feel like somebody my age — that I would have to go back to work. What kind of job do you want your grandmother to go to — a job to try to pay her taxes? That’s outrageous… Or somebody else (can) buy your house and they’ll pay the taxes.’”
“We have a problem,” Annie continued, “and it’s bigger and it’s growing financially. There’s not enough money. The answer is not to tax all of us people who’ve been part of Greenfield for a long time, thinking that that’s gonna cover it — it’s not gonna.”
“Last time I saw the mayor I was in a food line over to church. That’s what I do: Monday Tuesday and Wednesdays I go — and she was there. I felt like: I’m here because I don’t have enough money to do anything else.”
“We have to find a different solution for the problems that are only gonna get greater,” Annie said. “You know I’m gonna have to sell my house after all these years. I’d hate to leave this community. I’ve stayed because I love it, and I love the people. It would be hard — but if I have to do it, I’ll move along.” Annie’s tax bill has increased 36% over the past four years. She’s not alone.
Add to this virulent inflation mix, the volatile gyrations of the stock market, whacking the retirement savings for millions of working and older Americans, plus the alarming rise in tax-title taking cases filed by Tax Collectors, and we are clearly struggling to fend off a housing affordability challenge facing people who have owned their homes for decades, but are now under water.
The Greenfield City Council Ordinances committee had on its May 13 agenda discussion of a proposed new city ordinance “for authorization of the Treasurer to enter into payment agreements for taxes” pursuant to a new state law that gives homeowners with delinquent tax problems more flexibility in paying what they owe the city. The state Legislature wrote this new law at the same time it was dealing with the home equity theft issue.
I submitted testimony to the Ordinances Committee suggesting that the limit on these repayment agreements be allowed to extend for seven years, instead of the current 5-year limit, which would lower the monthly payments required. I also asked the committee to waive some or all of the accrued interest on their debt, which state law now allows.
I urge readers to email all city councilors today at: citycouncil@greenfield-ma.gov. Ask them “to make our payment agreements for homeowners in tax-title more flexible. Let’s collect all taxes due — but let’s give low-income elderly and disabled taxpayers a break by waiving 50% of their interest due.”
“I’d hate to leave this community,” Annie Hassett told the council. “I’ve stayed because I love it, and I love the people. It would be hard, but if I have to do it, I’ll move along.”
Let’s not force that hard choice. It’s in our interest not to unhouse people due to high interest rates.
Al Norman’s PUSHBACK column is published in The Recorder the first and the third Wednesday of each month.