The city currently offers a $500 abatement on real estate taxes for service members who are sent overseas.
CHICOPEE – A proposal to increase the real estate tax abatement for military fighting overseas has sparked a plan to review of all the abatements offered to residents who are elderly, veterans or receive other benefits.
Ward 9 Councilor Gerry J. Roy asked for an examination of a program that was started in 2012, which gives homeowners who serve in the military a $500 abatement if they are sent oversees on a mission.
Roy told the City Council he would like to increase the abatement to $1,000 or $2,000.
“A very minimal number of people are taking advantage of the program,” he said, adding just one or two people have used the abatement, so an increase should not affect the city budget.
Previously, he had asked the Board of Assessors to increase it to $1,000, but it was rejected. Roy said it may be time to review it because there are two new assessors who took over this month and they now know more about the number of people who are using the program.
“I agree, 100 percent. It is a big sacrifice these people are making, and anything we can do to decrease the burden is good,” Councilor Timothy McLellan said.
City Councilor James K. Tillotson proposed meeting with the Board of Assessors to review all the tax abatements that are available.
The city offers abatements on real estate taxes to those who are elderly, blind, surviving spouses, disabled veterans and elderly taxpayers with extreme financial hardship. Those who qualify can usually receive yearly exemptions that range from $175 to $500.
The city also has a program that allows qualified elderly to receive $500 abatements if they volunteer a certain number of hours to the city. There is a limited amount of money available through the program, so volunteers are selected through a lottery.
“It becomes an issue because everyone pays for it. I think it is worth talking about,” Tillotson said.