Town to Vote on Unique Tax Break for Seniors

Sudbury residents will be asked at the Jan. 18 Special Town Meeting to vote on a warrant article that, if approved, would give a unique tax break to some seniors in town by shifting a portion of their tax burden to other residents and businesses.

Supporters of Article 2, a property tax exemption targeted at senior citizens, told the Board of Selectmen at its Tuesday meeting that if passed, the exemption would raise the average yearly tax bill by about $50 to help some 250-300 families who qualify for the tax break.

After years of discussion among the Board, citizen groups, and other town entities, attendees voiced mutual support for the plan, which, if passed, would be unique to the state.

Resident Ralph Tyler gave the Board a detailed presentation of a Home Rule Petition inspired, he said, by similar legislation recently passed in Hamilton, the first town in the state to be granted authority to offer a break on property taxes for qualifying residents.

Tyler said the decision to present the petition to the Board before Special Town Meeting was a deliberate one timed for the purpose of moving the hoped-for legislation forward as quickly as possible.

"Given the long period seniors have already waited [for a break on property taxes], they deserve for us to move it forward [soon]," said Tyler. "I did not want to wait until [Town Meeting in] May."

Under the article, subject to Board review, those seniors qualifying for the break must:

• already meet circuit-breaker income limitations
• have property valued within assessment limits, plus 10 percent (for last fiscal year, about $690,787)
• and be age 65 or older.

As well, they must have their primary residence in town and have lived in Sudbury for at least 10 years. 

In an e-mail, Tyler stated that the 250-300 qualifying residents would "each receive a tax reduction of approximately $1,000 from the tax burden shift which would increase taxes for all residential and commercial taxpayers by one half of one percent, or by $50 on a tax bill of $10,000."

While substantially modeled after the Hamilton legislation, said Tyler, the proposal for Sudbury calls for a tax exemption — a crucial difference from the Hamilton plan, which is based on an abatement of property taxes assessed.

Also key, said Tyler, is the fact that Sudbury's plan is "designed to never impact any town budget or require an override."

Tyler said he felt the time was right for the town to approve such a move.

"Frankly, it's the right thing to do for Sudbury seniors and we're not talking about a lot of money" in terms of those residents and businesses who will bear the shift, said Tyler.

"I feel comfortable asking the rest of us if we have an extra $50 to $80 a year to help the 250 or so residents who need it," said Council on Aging liaison David Levington. "This is a chance to do something for those seniors who really need the help."

Levington also stressed the importance of data collected during the process of drafting the petition, saying such information — the exact number of residents who currently qualify for the circuit breaker exemption, for example — is critical to the plan's overall validity.

Board member Larry O'Brien called the proposal a "creative solution" and said it represents a reasonable approach to giving some residents a tax break.

"It's means-tested tax relief to go to those who specifically need it," O'Brien said.

Stormwater permitting discussed

Sudbury Conservation Coordinator Debbie Dineen discussed with the Board draft stormwater permitting, specifically required changes to current permitting which potentially represent a "huge, unfunded mandate" for the town.

According to Dineen, EPA and DEP mandates stipulate that towns manage their stormwater drainage in such a way that any required upgrades to stormwater infrastructure not further degrade EPA-deemed "impaired" water bodies, which include Hop Brook, Puffer Pond and Sudbury River.

"We have to look into funding a number of stormwater upgrades as well as tracking and managing whatever we do with our stormwater," said Dineen. "At the same time, anything with any changes we make, we have to make sure we are not further degrading [affected] water bodies, but actually mitigating and making them better."

Dineen and Board members referenced large fines levied to neighboring towns that violated their stormwater permits as incentive to meeting the permitting requirements within the mandated timeframe, or two years from the permit's effective date.

"It's a huge, unfunded mandate but I'm encouraged by Sudbury's proactivity with [drafting the permit ahead of time] and looking into funding," said Town Manager Maureen Valente, adding that "aggressive and creative" funding—including grants — will be studied.

Board meets with Park and Recreation specialist

Anna Wood, the therapeutic specialist with Sudbury's Park and Recreation department, gave the Board an overview of some of the specialized programming offered to residents and non-residents with disabilities. Such adaptive programs include power soccer, adaptive skiing and snow shoeing, and music therapy, and have attracted some 40 participants so far.

Wood, who was hired as both a therapeutic specialist and teen center coordinator last July, said such adaptive programs "are not common. We have people coming from as far as an hour and a half away."

Future programming goals include offering a Special Olympics-type sports program as well as "really focusing on a consistent user base to take advantage of things like the accessible playground [at Haskell Field]," said Wood.