BURLINGTON WEATHER

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Affordability is more than a buzzword in today's economy – from grocery and gas prices to construction materials and school supplies, rising costs impact just about every aspect of life.

Seniors and the disabled, many of whom live on pension, Social Security, retirement, or other fixed income, can be among the most impacted, especially as property values (and thereby property taxes) increase while incomes stay the same.

In Burlington, the immediacy of the problem can't be ignored. Two major capital projects – a new police station for around $40 million, and a new Fox Hill for a town share of about $70 million – are underway and more are likely on the horizon. This has raised alarm bells among the most vulnerable of our residents, who must shoulder the additional tax burden from these projects along with their neighbors. Recently, a debt exclusion vote that would have allowed the town to complete a $330-million addition-renovation to Burlington High School (and would increase taxes on the average home by more than $1,000 per year) failed by a 2:1 margin.

In light of these affordability concerns, the town is exploring some options to support seniors and those with disabilities – and one many residents don't know about is the Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund. This program, said Town Administrator Patrick Lawlor at the March 23 meeting of Burlington's Select Board, was approved in 2022 by Town Meeting and just awarded its first round of relief checks – $400 to each of 14 participants.

The fund is funded via a check-off box that appears on both property tax bills and excise tax bills: residents simply check off that they'd like to donate and enclose a second check for the donation amount. Even residents whose taxes are paid with their mortgage can send in a check for this fund – so don't be so quick to toss or file those tax bills!

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A six-member committee consisting of town employees and Select Board appointees reviews donations and resident applications with respect to the eligibility requirements. This year, out of 17 applicants, 16 were approved; two passed away before the distribution took place, leaving 14 qualified participants in the program. Applications for 2026 are closed; keep an eye on the town website for the FY27 application.

Currently, the fund has about $6000 in it, Burlington Treasurer-Collector Ana-Maria DeRosa told Burlington Buzz, and the committee considers long-term sustainability when making awards. "Award amounts are determined based on what will provide meaningful assistance while preserving the fund’s viability," said DeRosa. "We also take into account the average annual increase in property taxes when determining distribution amounts."

Many other local communities have similar funds, including Billerica, Arlington, Melrose, and Winchester. One limitation of Burlington's program is that many residents don't know it exists; in order for the program to be a meaningful mechanism for relief, more qualified residents need to be enrolled and more need to donate into the fund.

Lawlor suggested to the Select Board a one-time town-funded matching program for up to $20,000 may help raise awareness; this idea may come before Town Meeting as a warrant article.

Lawlor outlined a few other options for tax relief for seniors, including steps the town can take to make these options more widely utilized:

Existing State Programs (Chapter 59, Section 5)

  • Senior Exemptions: $350 relief for residents 70+ with asset limits of $40,000
  • Tax Deferral: Up to 100% tax deferral for seniors with maximum income of $40,000, to be paid with interest upon death or initiation of a trust
  • 41C Exemptions: Up to $1,000 relief for residents 65+ (Burlington lowered age from state requirement of 70+)

Local Programs

  • Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund, described above
  • Senior Volunteer Work Off Program: Up to $2,000 abatement (increased from previous $1,500) for volunteer work, available to residents 60+ with income limits of $45,000 (single) or $55,000 (married)

State programs such as senior exemptions, tax deferral, and 41C exemptions are restrictive with respect to asset and income limits and haven't been responsive to inflation, though some changes can be made (and have been made) at the town level to make them more accessible to residents, such as lowering the minimum age for a 41C exemption from 70 to 65. Town Meeting could vote to increase income limits to Circuit Breaker levels for the tax deferral program.

If you or someone you know could use some tax relief, be sure to share this story. You can visit the Town of Burlington website or call or visit Town Hall for more information.

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