*Email address for Jenny Jacobsen corrected
By Kelsey Griggs
At the May 15 Select Board meeting, the next steps in establishing a Senior Tax Policy were discussed.
Following the approval of Article 8 at the May 5, 2025 Annual Town Meeting, Select Board Chair Brian Boyle said the Town may now establish a Committee on Senior Tax Policy under provisions of Massachusetts General Law.
This enables Bolton to take three key steps:
Establish an Elderly or Disabled Taxation Aid Fund, which can be used to help defray real estate tax expenses for low-income elderly or disabled residents.
Solicit and accept voluntary donations to fund the program. Boyle emphasized multiple times that no taxpayer money will be used to support this fund—it will be funded entirely by voluntary contributions from the community.
Create an Elderly or Disabled Taxation Aid Fund Committee to oversee the program.
Boyle said the committee would consist of five members: the Chair of the Board of Assessors (or their designee), the Town Treasurer (or designee), and three residents appointed by the Select Board. The committee’s responsibilities will include:
Developing the program’s rules and regulations, including qualification criteria.
Reviewing applications and determining eligibility, subject to the availability of donated funds.
SB members encouraged residents to consider applying to serve on the committee, to launch the committee early in Fiscal Year 2026 (beginning July 1, 2025).
Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and summary of qualifications to Executive Assistant Jenny Jacobsen at ea@townofbolton.com
Sobalvarro also confirmed that the opportunity will be posted on the town website’s board and committee listings.