Senior/Veteran Tax Work-off Clarification

At the October 22, 2018 Special Town Meeting, the voters of Salisbury approved a change to the Senior/Veteran Tax Work-off Program. This change increased the amount seniors and veterans could earn by creating a formula tied to the state’s minimum wage. This change was also made effective immediately so that current work-off participants could benefit from the change.

                In the past, the amount of the abatement was calculated as follows:

                                62.5 Hours X $8/Hour = $500 Abatement

                The NEW formula is calculated as follows:

                                62.5 Hours X the State’s Minimum Wage/Hour = Abatement

                So, for the current year, the abatement is calculated as follows:

                                62.5 Hours X $11/Hour = $687.50 Abatement

The Town Meeting Warrant Article allows the amount paid per hour to increase each year to the amount of the State’s Minimum Wage until the minimum wage reaches a point where the total abatement is $1,000. So, if the State’s Minimum Wage goes up to $16.00/Hour, the abatement amount will be $1,000.  But if the State’s Minimum Wage goes above $16/Hour, the abatement amount will remain at $1,000 until voters approve another increase at Town Meeting.