SPRINGFIELD — For 73-year-old Willie Maye Palmer, certain necessities like food have become a luxury.
“I find myself going to food pantries, which is something I never had to do before,” Maye Palmer said. “Everything that people take for granted as everyday is now a luxury for me.”
Maye Palmer, who is currently a member of Massachusetts Senior Action Council, said she has worked since she was 16 years old. At her age now though, it is increasingly difficult to land a job, which means she must solely rely on fixed income to get by.
She said if property taxes spike this year, it will be difficult to make a comfortable living.
“If they raise [property taxes], what can I do?” Maye Palmer said. “I wouldn’t be able to pay it.”
Maye Palmer was one of several people from the public who gathered for a press conference in the Springfield City Council chambers on Nov. 18 to hear an ordinance that Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan plans to propose to the full council within the next weeks.
The ordinance proposes that whenever the city has free cash over $5 million, a portion of that money will be used to cover property taxes.
The hope, according to Govan, is to offer relief for all Springfield residents, including those on fixed income like Maye Palmer.
“I want us to start seriously thinking about how we can help our residents,” Govan said. “I love Springfield … I want to make it as great as possible to live here. I think this is one way of doing it.”
Govan’s proposal comes at a time when Springfield is going through its process of setting its tax rate for fiscal year 2025. The city had two special meetings scheduled for this issue: one on Nov. 18 and the other on Nov. 25, after Reminder Publishing’s press time. Coverage of those meetings will appear in the next edition.
Last year’s tax rate discussions brought “heart-wrenching testimony” from homeowners who were concerned about the stark rise of property taxes. Despite the council’s vote for an FY24 tax rate that was almost a dollar less than FY23, the average bill for a single-family homeowner still increased by $161 due to an upward trend in home values.
Out of the $19 million the city had in free cash at the time, $2 million was used for tax relief, but councilors at the time, including with Govan, argued that more can be used to offset the tax burden.
In response to those pleas at the time, Patrick Greenhalgh, chair of the Board of Assessors, noted that the city was already “significantly” dipping into free cash to offset property tax hikes over the past several years, and if they continued to do that, it could “dry up” the one-time funding source.
But Govan believes that this ordinance she is proposing is one of the many ways the city can help its residences.
“In addition to the free cash, we could use the tax rate, make sure the tax rate is as low as possible, and have these additional resources to help the taxpayers not be stressed out,” Govan said. “Because that’s stressful, having high increases in property taxes every year.”
Maye Palmer, along with Karla Fitch-Mitchell, another member of Massachusetts Senior Action Council, say that Govan’s proposed ordinance would help them “tremendously.”
Fitch-Mitchell, who recently retired from a local labor union, said the tax increase has been a burden on her.
“There are a lot of finances I need to take care of now; the house, medical [and] my car,” said Fitch-Mitchell, who also lives on fixed income. “I liked taking care of people, but my finances are a lot lower. I don’t want to lose my house.”
Govan’s announcement of the proposal came about a week after Sarno and other councilors and city officials announced a targeted tax relief initiative that aims to assist eligible low-income homeowners that are either elderly and/or disabled.
The fund, which is entirely supported by voluntary donations from people, nonprofits and businesses, would provide targeted tax relief for homeowners that potentially do not qualify under the current tax relief exemptions that the city offers.
If this initiative were adopted, it would create a special Targeted Tax Relief Committee, which per state statute, would comprise of five members: chair of the Board of Assessors, treasurer, and three residents appointed by the mayor. The committee would meet to determine and establish the eligibility requirements and designations for elderly and disabled, along with the tax relief offset amount.
According to the city, if the council approves this initiative, a home rule petition would then be filed by Sarno for the council to approve, which would help supplement the targeted tax relief fund with a one-time payment of $1 million from the city’s free cash.
The new initiative is supported by Sarno, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Cathy Buono, Board of Assessors Chairman Patrick Greenhalgh, and City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti joined with City Council President Michael Fenton and Councilors Tim Allen, chair of the Council Finance Committee, and Victor Davila, chair of the Council Pilot New Revenue Special Committee.
“I believe this is a caring and compassionate way to continue to provide tax relief while also being mindful of our credit and bond rating, and debt services, while also maintaining key and vital core city services for our neighborhoods,” Sarno said in a statement.
This initiative would join four other tax relief iniatives in the city that mainly assist veterans, disabled people and those over the age of 65.
The city is also working to boost tax exemptions for veterans by adopting the changes from the state’s recently-approved HERO Act.
