Town of East Longmeadow will begin accepting applications on July 1, 2019 for positions under Senior Tax Work-Off Abatement Program (SWAP)

The Town of East Longmeadow will begin accepting applications on July 1, 2019 for 20 positions under the Senior Work-Off Abatement Program (SWAP) for abatement on the fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) property tax bill. Basic requirements are that taxpayers must be 60 years of age prior to January 1, 2020, must be an assessed owner of property in East Longmeadow, and must have owned and occupied a home in East Longmeadow for at least five years.

Beginning 2020, the compensation will be calculated at the new state minimum wage of $12.75 per hour, and the maximum allowable abatement is $1,593.75 per property. As a result, seniors will need to work 125 hours (as voted at the May 2015 Annual Town Meeting) to receive the full abatement of $1,593.75 (less federal income tax and Medicare deductions). Seniors will complete the hours from January 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020.

Positions being offered this year include: clerical, courier service, data entry, gardening, and general maintenance.

Seniors have an opportunity to lower their property tax bill, and taxpayers are benefiting from the superior talent and work experience seniors bring to the job at a very low cost to the town.

Applications will be available beginning on July 1, 2019. Interested senior residents can pick up applications and information packets at the Senior Center at 328 North Main Street or print it at home from our website by following: www.eastlongmeadowma.gov. Applications should be submitted to the Senior Center no later than October 1, 2019. If you have any questions, please call Alicia Smith at (413) 525-5436 extension 1406.