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Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 22, 2024 ~ Letter to the Editor ~ It’s Not Too Late to Care about Real Grass Bids for Roosevelt Park Dear Mayor Christenson, Malden City Councillors, City Government, and Local Media Sources, As all of you know, we’re coming to a critical choice when it comes to a green space in an area of our city that needs the 2023 SENIOR CIRCUIT BREAKER TAX CREDIT F or tax years since January 1, 2001, senior citizens living in Massachusetts have been eligible to claim a refundable tax credit on their state individual income tax return for real estate taxes they paid with respect to Massachusetts residential real estate that they own or with respect to rent that they paid, both relating to property that is occupied as the principal residence. The maximum credit allowed is $2,590 for calendar year 2023!! Eligible taxpayers who own their property may claim a credit equal to the amount by which their property tax payments in calendar year 2023 including water and sewer debt charges, exceed 10% of their total income for calendar year 2023. Taxpayers residing in cities or towns that do not include water and sewer debt service in their property assessments may claim, in addition to their real estate tax payments, 50% of the water and sewer use charges actually paid during the year. Renters may claim a credit in the amount by which 25% of their rent paid in calendar year 2023 exceeds 10% of their total income. For purposes of determining “total income”, taxpayers must include all taxable income as well as exempt income such as social security income, U.S. Treasury interest income, municipal pension income, etc. To be eligible for the tax credit, a taxpayer must be 65 years old on or before December 31, 2023. For joint filers, it is sufficient that only one of the individuals meet this requirement. Furthermore, a taxpayer must not be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s tax return. The property in question must be located in Massachusetts and must be the taxpayer’s primary residence. The taxpayer’s total income may not exceed $69,000 for a single filer, $86,000 for someone filing as a head of household, and $103,000 for taxpayers filing married jointly. No credit is allowed for a married taxpayer filing a separate return. The assessed valuation of the real estate in question cannot exceed $1,025,000 as of 1-1-23. Taxpayers who are eligible for the credit in calendar year 2023 must file Schedule CB, Circuit Breaker Credit along with their Mass return. Taxpayers who do not normally file a Mass return may be interested in filing in order to claim the “refundable” tax credit. If you were a renter during calendar year 2023 and you received any federal and/or state subsidy, or you rented from a tax-exempt entity, you do not quality for the Circuit Breaker Credit. The maximum credit for prior years was only $1,200. This recent change in the Massachusetts tax law was a big boost to seniors. Tax credits received by eligible taxpayers are not considered income for the purpose of obtaining eligibility or benefits under other means-tested assistance programs including food, medical, housing and educational assistance programs. See TIR (Technical Information Release) 16-8 for more information. For more information, you may also contact the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Customer Service Bureau at 617-887-MDOR (or toll free at 1-800-392-6089). Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. cooling effect of real grass the most. Bids are coming due for the long-debated Roosevelt Park project, and there have been passionate arguments made by professionals and city members alike fighting for keeping this area real grass. When it comes down to it, we NEED this area to stay real grass, and if the city government ignores the health, finical, and social risks artificial turf causes, they will be betraying those who have voted them into office. For a city with looming money issues, it is foolish to chase after artificial turf. Not only is real grass less expensive to install, but it will not need to be replaced in the future at another dose of great expense. Think of your future and current budget if nothing else. That money could go to helping Malden with its education issues, road upkeep, and countless other problems that need to be addressed. The medical risks for burns and toxicity are a problem that will only build over time with arBeacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/aPTLucKs THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators' votes on roll calls from the week of March 11-15. There were no roll calls in the House last week. EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE CHANGES (S 2697) Senate 40-0, approved and sent to the House a bill aimed at making early education and care money more accessible and affordable for young families across the Bay State. The bill would make high-cost state grants for early education and care providers permanent; increase the income threshold to make more families eligible for childcare subsidies; and establish recommended salary and benefit guidelines for early childhood teachers commensurate with K-12 public school teachers. Under current law subsidies are limited to households whose incomes equal up to 50 percent of the state metificial turf, not to mention that real grass is a more responsible climate choice. Why would the City of Malden want to clean up the soil in Roosevelt Park, just to put down plastics that has proven to leech toxins into the soil again? Aren’t we trying to be an example of a healthy and green city? Shouldn’t we be caring more about the health and wellbeing of the children that use this field, more than making a statement about our stubborn ‘follow through’? Using artificial turf seems like taking several steps backwards in health and environmental progress that we so desperately need here in Malden, and across the world. Lastly, why is the city so willing to do this to a historically redlined neighborhood? Shouldn’t every citizen of Malden, no matter their social and economic status, get a say in what happens to the city around them? Ignoring the people and their well stated desires for real grass spits in the eyes of those who are begging the city not to heat up and poison their neighborhood. dian income, or $73,000. The bill would raise the eligibility threshold to 85 percent of the state median income, or $124,000 for a family of four. “Access to high-quality, affordable early education and childcare is essential for the healthy development of young children, as well as for the economic well-being of working families and employers in the commonwealth,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), lead sponsor and Senate Chair of the Committee on Education. “With the passage today of the Early Ed Act, Massachusetts is demonstrating national leadership in addressing the broken early education and childcare system in our country.” “From my first day in the Senate, I have been pushing for expanded access to early education and increasing staff salaries to ensure educators can earn a good living,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “This critical legislation will drastically expand access to affordable, high-quality, early education and childcare and deliver significantly better pay and benefits for early educators. I am proud to support this bill which helps move our state one step closer to guaranteeing every child will receive world-class education from childhood through adulthood.We must get this bill over the finish line and keep our state a livable and welcoming home for families of all incomes.” “An equitable and competitive commonwealth is one in which every child and family has access to affordable quality early education,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “At the same time, we must recognize the incredible work of the providers who are shaping the minds and hearts of our earliest learners. Today I’m proud that the Massachusetts Senate is once again taking action to lower costs for families, open up more opportunities for children, increase pay for our early educators and make support for providers permanent so they can keep their doors open and thrive In conclusion, I hope that the city takes a real, hard look at this project and lets all of Malden benefit from a healthy, real grass park. I know that I personally, along with many others, would be willing to put in the time and effort it takes to keep this site, and many other parks and natural areas of Malden, green. Don’t be afraid to ask organizations and citizens for help to do this project the healthy, environmental, and monetarily responsible way. If you do, we will be there to support you in your efforts to keep Malden moving forward with cleanest and most honest way we can. If you don’t, we will still be here, and we will not stay quiet about the risks and costs that this and future projects with artificial turf will cause Malden. The choice to have the people of Malden as partners instead of adversaries is really up to you. PLEASE don’t make the wrong choice. With Hope, Chris Burgan Malden Resident for years to come. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Jason Lewis Yes CONSIDER TAX CREDIT FOR COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE (S 2697) Senate 7-32, rejected an amendment that would require a study which would make recommendations on employer-supported early education and care benefits, to include possible creation of a tax credit for employers that provide these early education and care benefits to their employees. Amendment supporters said this amendment does not create a tax credit but simply requires a study of the possibility of one. They said that all options should be looked into and put on the table in order to helpsupport employers that provide childcare. “The bill already includes a new competitive grant program to incentivizeemployers to invest in additional early education and care slots for their employees,” responded Sen. Jason Lewis who opposed the amendment. “Furthermore, a federal tax credit has been available to employers since 2001 and has proven ineffective in expanding access to affordable early education and care for workers." GOP Minority Leader Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on his amendment and its rejection. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that would includethe possibility of tax credits in the study. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Jason Lewis No ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL GOV. MAURA HEALEY MOVES TO PARDON MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION – Gov. Healey has issued an executive order that would pardon misdemeanor marijuana posBHRC| SEE PAGE 19

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