SACO — The city of Saco has updated the volunteer senior tax work off program to remove the city’s obligation to file a tax form on behalf of the volunteers.
The city has a long-standing program that allows seniors to work off part of their property taxes through volunteer work with the city. Senior volunteers do a number of tasks, including serving as train greeters and clerical work at Saco City Hall on Main Street.
The application deadline for the program is May 15, and participants must be at least 60 years old on April 1 of the qualifying year.
Seniors must meet income guidelines. The annual income limit for a single person household is $38,300 and the income limit for a two-person household is $43,800.
Since its inception, the program has allowed participants to work off $750 of their property tax bill.
The City Council voted Monday night to make some changes to the program following staff recommendations.
Most notably, the amount of tax relief participants can earn has been decreased. Starting in fiscal year 2019 beginning July 1, after completing a minimum of 59 hours of volunteer work participants will only be able to earn a tax abatement of $599.
The abate amount was lowered, Finance Director Glenys Salas said, because if a volunteer receives a benefit of less than $600, the nonprofit they volunteer for does not have to fill out an IRS Form 1099-MISC.
The city will open up the program to 50 participants for the 2019 fiscal year, Salas said. There were about 40 participants who worked in the current fiscal year, she said.
The participants in the program are volunteers who receive a benefit, not employees, Salas said. The city doesn’t direct their behavior or give them feedback, or offer them vacation or benefits.
The City Council also confirmed the mayor’s appointment of an ad hoc committee to review the senior tax abatement program and provide a report to the council with any recommended changes.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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