Working for the 32nd Middlesex District

Melrose Home Rule: Property Tax Exemption for Our Seniors

H. 3979, An Act Authorizing the City of Melrose to Establish a Means Tested Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption, creates a property tax exemption for qualifying class one residential parcels in Melrose by offering an exemption equal to 100% of the circuit breaker income tax credit for eligible homeowners’ primary residence. Properties owned and occupied by individuals who’s incomes meet the circuit breaker criteria and are owned by an individual at least 65 years old qualify for such exemptions, and the residence must have been maintained in Melrose for at least 10 consecutive years with a property assessment value not exceeding the previous year’s income tax credit threshold to be eligible to apply.

FY26 Budget

Supporting Melrose:

$100,000 for Melrose school capital improvements

$75,000 secured for playing fields

$50,000 towards police cruisers

$25,000 for Melrose police equipment

Supporting Wakefield:

$75,000 for HVAC at the senior center

$50,000 for Mapleway Softball fields and Playgrounds

$25,000 for the Pollinator Garden

$20,000 for Albion Cultural

FY25 Budget

Supporting Melrose:

$50,000 for the Wyoming Cemetery

$50,000 towards LED lighting upgrades

$40,000 for City Hall front entrance renovations

$50,000 secured for the Council on Aging accessible van

Supporting Wakefield:

$50,000 for Beebe library steps renovations

$35,000 for Beebe safety measures

$10,000 funding banner placement Downtown

FY25 Surtax Supplemental Budget

Supporting Melrose:

$75,000 towards energy efficiency for the Lincoln Elementary School, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School (MVMMS), and Melrose High School (MHS)

Supporting Wakefield:

$100,000 secured for funding rode improvements

$25,000 for Wakefield Police Department for a traffic and speed monitoring subscription service