Whitman Establishes Taxation Aid Fund to Help Elderly and Disabled Residents
Select Board activates 24-year-old town meeting vote to create voluntary tax contribution program
WHITMAN - March 11 - The Whitman Select Board votes to establish a Taxation Aid Committee that will oversee voluntary tax contributions to help elderly and disabled residents with low incomes pay their property taxes.
The committee formation implements a decision made at the May 2001 Annual Town Meeting that was never put into action, Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter explains.
"February 27th, the assessor inquired about a Whitman Aid Taxation Fund that was voted under Article 65 of the May 2001 Annual Town Meeting," Carter says. "While this provision was voted by the town back in 2001, I cannot find any evidence that the Whitman Aid to the Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund and the Whitman Taxation Aid Committee was ever formed."
The program allows residents to voluntarily contribute additional money when paying their property or vehicle excise taxes. These contributions will go into a special fund to assist elderly and disabled residents who need help with their tax bills.
"The provisions of Chapter 60, Section 3D of the MGL authorizes the town to designate a place on its municipal tax bills or on the motor vehicle excise tax bills or to mail with such bills a separate form whereby the taxpayers of the town may voluntarily check off, donate and pledge an amount not less than $1," Carter explains.
The newly established committee will consist of the chairman of the Board of Assessors, the town treasurer, and three residents appointed by the Select Board.
John Galvin of High Street immediately volunteered to serve on the committee after the vote.
"I want to commend the assessor's office for finding this because this is something that I have been pushing for for a while," Galvin says. "And I'd like to volunteer to be a citizen on that committee."
Select Board member Shawn Kain sought clarification on how the program would work in practice.
"So in plain language, people want to contribute a little bit more than what they're currently contributing. That would go specifically for people in need. They can do that. This allows that to happen," Kain says.
Carter confirms this understanding, explaining that a special fund would be established and the committee would develop rules and regulations to identify qualified recipients.
Select Board member Dan Salvucci provides a practical example of how the voluntary contributions would work.
"This is when they pay their taxes. So say somebody's tax bill is 500 and they make out a check for 550 bucks or 510 dollars, whatever. That extra money over what the bill is will go to that fund," Salvucci says.
Galvin adds that the program is "similar to the community preservation, except it's voluntary. So anybody that volunteers to add the money and then the committee would then, once the rules and regulations are set up, would take care of getting the money to who they think was best served."
The Select Board's vote establishes the committee structure, but additional steps remain before the program becomes operational. Carter notes that a code must be set up on the general ledger and the Commissioner of Revenue must approve the checkoff box that will appear on tax bills.
The town will now seek two additional residents to serve alongside Galvin on the committee. Interested residents should contact the Select Board’s office.
Other business addressed by the Select Board:
* New Veterans Service Officer: The board appointed Declan Ware as the town's new Veterans Service Officer effective March 3. Ware, a Hanson resident and recent Army veteran, expressed his enthusiasm for the position. "It's a real honor to be fulfilling this position and being able to take care of the veterans of this community. I'm really looking forward to getting after it and helping people," Ware says.
* IT Department Retention: Town Administrator Carter announces that IT Specialist Steve Burke has been retained by the town after nearly accepting a position elsewhere. Burke's title has been changed to Assistant IT Director. "He's been an exemplary employee and a true asset to our town. His knowledge and expertise are of the highest caliber," Carter says.
* Assessor's Office Position: The board votes to maintain the current job description for an Administrative Assistant position in the Assessor's Office rather than adopting a revised description that would have financial implications. Carter notes that with a potential override looming, "it's not the time to change a job description where it impacts the budget."
* Budget Planning: Select Board member Shawn Kain reports progress on budget forecasting and override planning. "We're trying to get it out maybe a week and a half early so that people are able to process a little bit. Give us some feedback," Kain says, noting that the information will be shared before the scheduled March 25 meeting with the Finance Committee.
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.