The town of Whitefield will have its 2016 town meeting Friday, March 18 (for balloting from 4-8 p.m. at the fire station), and March 19 (starting at 10 a.m. at the Whitefield school for voting on the warrant).

It is at this Saturday meeting that the residents will have the opportunity to accept Article 10: “Shall an ordinance entitled ‘Property Tax Deferral for Senior Citizens’ be enacted. This is part of an effort of various agencies and private organizations to promote the ability of seniors to “age in place,” allowing them to remain in their homes which would aid in reducing the dependence upon nursing facilities.

The eligibility requirements for deferment are:

1) The taxpayer must be at least 70 years old;

2) They must have lived in their home for the last 10 years;

3) They can’t currently have overdue taxes;

4) Their household income can’t exceed 300 percent of federal poverty level.

The town places a lien on the property, the same as with other “tax-acquired” property, but the big difference is that it can’t become a tax-acquired property. Under deferment, when the person moves or sells their home or dies and bequeaths their home, the town collects the back taxes, plus the regular interest, plus an extra .5 percent for the paperwork from either the owner, the buyer or the heirs.

Currently the Board of Selectmen may or may not, at their discretion, grant a tax abatement. This means that the owed taxes are waived, and the back taxes, with interest, are lost to the town. With deferment the town will eventually recoup the revenue.

The proposal is a win/win for both the seniors that qualify and the town whose revenue is preserved, just postponed.

Peter Froehlich

Whitefield

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