THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2022 CONCERT | FROM Page 9 Page 15 Little Known PropertyTax Relief Programs Help Seniors Save Dear Savvy Senior, I recently learned about a property-tax relief program for seniors in the county where I live. Apparently, there are hundreds of these programs across the country that many retirees, like me, are eligible for but don’t know about. What can you tell me about this? Overtaxed Eddie Dear Eddie, Great question! Residential property-tax refund and credit programs exist in nearly every state, but unfortunately few people know about them. These programs can help retirees and many other Americans by reducing their property taxes. Here’s what you should know. Rising Property Taxes Property taxes are a major source of income for local governments, but while they help fund key public services, they can be a fi nancial drain for many homeowners, especially retirees, many of whom live on fi xed incomes. According to Attom Data Solutions, a property-data provider, the average American household payed $3,785 in property taxes in 2021, but this amount varies widely depending on your state’s tax rate and your home’s estimated value. For example, New Jersey residents paid $9,476 per year on average in 2021, while West Virginia residents paid $901. To help ease this tax burden, most states off er a number of property-tax relief programs. But states aren’t always proactive in letting people know. It’s up to you, the homeowner, to find out what’s available in your county or city that you may be eligible for, and to apply. Relief Programs Property tax relief programs, sometimes called exemptions, release eligible homeowners from paying some or all of their property tax obligation. How long the exemption lasts can vary depending on where you live, and the reason you’re applying for the exemption. The tax-relief process varies by county, city or state. In general, you’ll have to meet certain eligibility requirements, submit an application and provide documents that support your request. Most programs will either reduce, waive or freeze property taxes for seniors, veterans, surviving spouses, disabled and low-income residents. But there are some counties that also off er basic homestead exemptions to homeowners regardless of age or income, and others that may provide exemptions to homeowners that have recently made energy-effi cient improvements to their home. Where to Look The best way to learn about local property-tax relief programs and their eligibility requirements is to visit your county, city or state website that collects your property tax. Most of these sites also provide applications and instructions, and will allow you to apply either online, by mail or at your local tax offi ce. Another good resource for locating programs in your area is the Lincoln Institute, which has a property-tax database that lets you to browse programs across the country. To access it go to ResidentialPropertyTaxReliefPrograms.org. AARP may also be able to help through their Property Tax-Aide service – see PTAconsumers.aarpfoundation. org. This free program, which is available in 13 states (Arizona, Colorado, Florida–Miami Dade County, Illinois-Cook County, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York and North Carolina) and the District of Columbia helps eligible homeowners and renters apply for relief Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Royale as a beloved concert venue in Greater Boston, delivering on our commitment to keep the music fi rst,” said Josh Bhatti, Vice President and head of the Boston offi ce of The Bowery Presents, an AEG Presents Company. “The Bowery Presents is honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the HYM team to bring The Stage at Suffolk Downs to fruition.” The Stage at Suff olk Downs is not the track’s fi rst foray into live music: The Beatles were the fi rst band to perform there, playing to 25,000 screaming fans in 1966. Since then, legendary artists such as The Jackson 5, Radiohead and Bjork have also performed. With The Stage at Suffolk Downs, The Bowery Presents plans to honor the site’s musical legacy, while reinvigorating the space to bring an open-air summer concert experience to all. “Suffolk Downs has been thoughtfully designed as a place that brings people together and connects communities,” said Thomas N. O’Brien, Managing Partner and Chief Executive Offi cer of HYM. “We are thrilled to partner with The Bowery Presents who will help us continue to realize this vision as we bring the proud history of live music back through The Stage at Suff olk Downs.” The opening of The Stage at Suff olk Downs will expand The Bowery Presents’ owned and operated venues to three within the Boston area, joining the 3,500 capacity Roadrunner (which opened in Brighton in March 2022) and 525 capacity The Sinclair in Cambridge, (which just celebrated its 10th anniversary) alongside the Royale (exclusively booked by The Bowery Presents with 1,200 capacity), and the company’s hundreds of annual concert bookings in theaters and arenas in the region. The Bowery Presents is the leading concert promotion and venue management company in the Northeast with venues in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Maine. The Stage at Suff olk Downs’ opening lineup will be announced at a later date. Fans are 1. On Dec. 9, 1960, the fi rst episode of “Coronation Street” – the longest running soap opera ever – was broadcast in the UK; why are soap operas called that? 2. What beverage company started using Santa Claus in advertising in 1931? 3. What happens when a shark loses its teeth? 4. How often does Santa check his list? 5. On Dec. 10, 1805, abolitionist publisher William Lloyd Garrison was born in what Essex County community? 6. What color bowtie does “The Cat in the Hat” wear? 7. In the fi rst single on the 2022 FIFA World Cup offi cial soundtrack – “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” – what does the Arabic word “Hayya” mean? 8. What singer had a bestselling hit in 1953 with “Santa Baby”? 9. On Dec. 11, 1980, the Massachusetts Secretary of State banned the sale of what computer stock because its price was too high? 10. In the late 1920s, what Answers baseball team was known as Murderers’ Row? 11. On Dec. 12, 1891, the fi rst game of what sport was played in Springfi eld, Mass.? 12. What author of the 1900 book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” also wrote “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus”? 13. December 13 is National Cocoa Day; what are the seeds in a cacao tree pod called? 14. In what country is Santa Claus called Babbo Natale? 15. What is the name of Germany’s traditional fruitcake? 16. In which two countries is Santa Claus called Père Noël? 17. On Dec. 14, 1994, construction began on the Three Gorges Dam on what river? 18. Reportedly, what is the world’s deadliest creature: mosquito, shark or tsetse fl y? 19. What country is the only one to host the FIFA World Cup and lose its opening match? 20. December 15 is Bill of Rights Day – when in 1791 how many constitutional amendments were ratifi ed? encouraged to follow along on Instagram and Facebook, and online at stageatsuff olkdowns. com. For a full calendar of The Bowery Presents’ events in Boston, visit BoweryBoston.com. 1. Some radio dramas were originally sponsored by soap manufacturers. 2. Coca-Cola 3. They grow back. 4. Twice 5. Newburyport 6. Red 7. Let’s go! 8. Eartha Kitt 9. Apple 10. The New York Yankees 11. Basketball 12. L. Frank Baum 13. Cocoa beans 14. Italy 15. Stollen 16. Belgium and France 17. Yangtze 18. Mosquito 19. Qatar 20. 10
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