Twice a year the city of Greenfield sends out water and sewer bills to property owners. The water/sewer bill you just received has a new notice on the bottom of your bill that you may not have noticed before:
_____ check box if the amount enclosed includes a donation to the elderly and disabled.
Amount $____.
The cost of living is rising in this tumultuous economy and our elderly and disabled residents are feeling the brunt of this crisis. You and I now have a chance to make a donation to the new Greenfield Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund. All donations will go to property taxpayers who apply for financial assistance to pay their property taxes. A special focus is on property owners who are at risk of having their home fall into “tax title” taking by the city because of back taxes due.
Your donation helps prevent foreclosure and auction of such properties so that our vulnerable neighbors can stay in their own homes. Working with comunity members, I was able to introduce this initiative and in 2024 the Greenfield City Council voted unanimously to create this voluntary new fund.
I sit on the committee appointed by the mayor that will receive applications for this fund. I hope all property owners will consider making a contribution to this fund to help our neighbors.
You can also directly send a check in any amount to: Collector of Taxes, 14 Court Square, Greenfield, MA 01301. On the memo line of your check write: “Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund.”
To learn more about how the Elderly/Disabled Tax fund works, and to read the application process, go to the Assessor’s page on the city’s web site. Thank you neighbors for your generosity.
Wahab Minhas, at-large city councilor
Greenfield