It’s not too late for qualifying seniors to apply for trash fee discount
WESTFIELD - Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane wants to let seniors who qualify for the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit know that they may still apply for a 50 percent discount on the Westfield waste collection fee.
On May 1, the City Council voted in an ordinance increasing the refuse and recycling fee to $260 per year, an increase of $175 from the previous year, at the request of Mayor Michael McCabe, who said the fee was increased to compensate the city for actual costs in solid waste and recycling collection and removal.
Prior to the increase, the city used $2 million from the general fund to supplement the $1 million raised from the fee which was not sustainable, according to the mayor.
Immediately prior to that vote, on a motion by Matthews-Kane, the Council voted in favor of an amendment to extend a 50 percent discount on the fee to seniors 65 and older who qualify for enrollment in state and city tax deferrals and exemptions, including the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit on their IRS forms.
A form to request the discount is available on the city website at www.cityofwestfield.org under Departments, Public Works, Solid Waste Management Fees, Rules and Regulations.
SENIOR CIRCUIT BREAKER TAX CREDIT APPLICATION
Public Works Administrative Office Manager Carey Marshall said the form may be downloaded online and brought into the Public Works office at 28 Sackett Street, along with a copy of Tax Form 1 and Schedule CB, Senior Circuit Breaker.
Matthews-Kane said although both the information on the website about the program and the form itself state that the discount must be applied for before July 1, since the program is new, the Public Works Department is still taking applications for the discount for the current year.
“It’s a new program and we’re implementing new procedures and processes. We’re taking applications as they come in,” Marshall said, adding that after next year, if seniors receive the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, they must apply for the discount before July 1.
Senior citizens who are over the age of 65 years old and qualify for tax exemption with the Westfield Board of Assessors under clauses 41C or 17D, or who have entered into a Tax Deferral and Recovery agreement with the Westfield Board of Assessors under 41A applicable to a property tax, will also receive a 50% senior discount on the solid waste management fee.
There is no form required for the Real Estate discount, and the DPW will be notified by the Board of Assessors of those who qualify.
Marshall said the Public Works Department is also inserting information about the changes in the ordinance in mailings to each of the three city districts over the next three billing cycles.
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