Save & Veterans Programs

There are two local acceptance statutes that allow cities and towns to establish property tax work-off programs for senior citizens and veterans.
The Senior Associates Volunteer (SAVE) and Veterans Volunteer Programs provides a mechanism to reduce the tax bills of veterans and non-veteran seniors aged 60 or over in return for volunteer services, providing a valuable source of volunteer labor, and a valuable reduction in tax obligation to the volunteers. The rate will be based on the minimum wage of the commonwealth per hour for services and the reduction of the real property tax bill shall not exceed $2,000 (SAVE) or $1,500 (Veterans) in a given tax year.

The Town of Bridgewater has accepted both statues G.L. c. 59 § 5K (Seniors) and G.L. c.59 §5N (Veterans).

All volunteer applicants must have a legal obligation to pay the tax unless an approved representative performs the services for an eligible taxpayer physically unable to provide services to the town. Volunteers must be the assessed owner of the property or have acquired ownership before the work is performed and the abatement applied. If the property is subject to trust, the volunteer must have legal title, i.e., be one of the trustees, on the applicable January 1 assessment date, or at the time the work is performed. A household may only qualify for Ch. 59 §5K or §5N but not both programs at the same time. More than one qualifying owner of the parcel may earn towards the abatement. If both spouses own the property and each would qualify separately for a work-off abatement program, then either one could work the entire number of hours or work half or some other part of the time to make the total number of hours. In addition, the number of volunteer hours does not have to be worked in full.

Unique Program Requirements
S.A.V.E Program	Veteran’s Program
Age 60 or over	Veteran IAW M.G.L. c.4, §7, clause 43
Bridgewater resident for 5 years or more	Domiciled in Bridgewater

Volunteers may earn abatements under the work-off program in addition to any property tax exemptions they may be eligible for under other statutes, such as personal exemptions under G.L. c. 59, § 5 or residential exemptions under G.L. c. 59, § 5C. They may also defer the balance of their taxes under G.L. c. 59, § 5, Clause 41A if they are eligible to do so.

Earned reductions are applied to the actual tax bills for the fiscal year. The assessors must commit the full tax for the year and process the gross amount earned as certified by the board, officer or department supervising the taxpayer’s volunteer services as an abatement to be charged against the overlay account. The taxpayer's actual tax bill, however, should only show credit for the amount earned net of any federal withholdings. 

For Additional Information please visit the SAVE  Committee page or Human Resources Department