By Celeste Katz Marston — Celeste@theconcordbridge.org
Voters head to the polls this month in a single-issue special election that asks them to give the thumbs up — or down — to making a tax exemption permanent for certain seniors.
Town Meeting voters approved cementing the means-tested property tax exemption, but a townwide vote is also required. Election Day is Tuesday, June 25.
The exemption is for low- and moderate-income property owners who are 65 or older and have lived in Concord for at least ten consecutive years, with co-owners being at least 60 years old.
A house must be assessed at no more than the town’s median single-family value to qualify, or about $1.3 million for Fiscal Year 2024. The owner’s income must fall within limits connected to the State Income Tax Circuit Breaker.
Seniors who get the exemption may have their tax bills reduced to be no more than ten percent of their income.
In the program’s first year, the total of all exemptions granted under the program can’t be more than half of one percent of Concord’s property tax levy. Every year afterward, the Select Board will set a new cap of up to one percent.
Here’s how the ballot will look.
Sample-Ballot-06252024Pro/con
An argument for the program mailed to voters by the town says that currently, just 33 Concord residents are enrolled, which comes out to about a penny on the tax rate. While few take advantage of the break, it matters to those who do.
It also says Town Meeting has renewed the program for several years. If the measure passes, it wouldn’t have to do so annually — but could vote to end the program if desired.
The argument against the exemption, provided in the same town mailing, says Concord relies heavily on property taxes. The exemption benefits few homeowners, and financing it means raising about $100,000 from other taxpayers.
Know before you go
The deadline for new voters to register to participate in the special election is June 14 at 5 p.m. The vote-by-mail application cutoff is June 18 at 5 p.m., and the in-person absentee ballot application deadline is June 24 at noon.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Precinct 1 voters should go to 141 Keyes Road. Precinct 2 and 3 residents can vote at the Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276 Main Street. For this election only, voters in Precincts 4 and 5 report to the Concord Armory at 91 Everett Street.
For more information, visit concordma.gov/375/Elections-Voting, or contact the Town Clerk by visiting 22 Monument Square, emailing townclerk@concordma.gov, or calling (978) 318-3080.
