Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 9, 2022 Sy eninior y Senior eniorenior o by Jim Miller Little Known Property-Tax 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 fi nd 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 offer 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. It’s the Greatest Time of the Year – Girl Scout Cookie Season! Girl Scouts in eastern massachusetts is now selling Girl Scout Cookies; Support the next generation of women entrepreneurs (Waltham, Mass.) Today, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts kicks-off the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie season as Girl Scouts and their troops rally the community to support the world’s largest entrepreneurial program for girls. The annual cookie program will run through Friday, March 10th. Consumers can support their local Girl Scouts by purchasing their favorite varieties including Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Adventurefuls™, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Lemonades™, Trefoil®, Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie (gluten-free and peanut-free) and Toast-Yay!™. In addition to everyone’s quintessential favorites, Girl Scouts has a new, online exclusive cookie, Raspberry Rally, which is a thin crispy cookie infused with raspberry flavor and dipped in the same delicious chocolaty coating as the beloved Thin Mints cookies. This new cookie will be the fi rst in the Girl Scout Cookie lineup to be exclusively off ered for online sale and direct shipment only, enhancing girls’ e-commerce sales and entrepreneurial skills. “The Girl Scouts Cookie Program is iconic in developing future women entrepreneurs. I have heard many times from THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 17 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 10, prior to closing. The site will reopen for recycling on the third Saturday of the month in January, February and March, weather permitting. Please contact Scott Brazis, Director of Solid Waste/Recycling, at 781-231-4036 with any questions. For more information about the Town of Saugus, visit www.saugus-ma.gov. What’s happening at the Saugus Public Library For schoolchildren looking for interesting projects and programs to participate in this fall, there’s plenty to do at the Saugus Public Library. There are also some very good programs off ered for grownups, too. Adult Coloring Group: Come relax with our continuing Adult Coloring Group. It’s a great opportunity to take time to women that their fi rst experience in sales was through Girl Scouts,” stated Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts CEO Barbara Fortier. “As we enter what I think is the greatest time of year, I encourage people to remember that when you are purchasing a box of cookies, they are not only delicious but you are supporting a future entrepreneur.” The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the world’s largest entrepreneurial program for girls. Girl Scouts’ newly updated Financial Literacy badges off er entrepreneurial playbooks for every age level. From the Cookie Goal Setter badge earned as a Daisy to the Entrepreneur Accelerator for girls in high school, the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls fi nancial literacy, planning, budgeting, teamwork, innovative thinking, and confi dent decision making. Girl Scout Cookies are $5 per package. There are many ways to support the Girl Scout Cookie program this season: · If you don’t know a Girl Scout, visit gsema.org/buycookies to fi nd a cookie booth (pop-up shop) near you to purchase cookies from a local Girl Scout troop, or to connect with a local troop’s online cookie shop to purchase cookies for a unwind, be creative and have fun, no experience necessary! We have pencils and coloring pages ready and waiting… See you there! Space is limited; please call to register (781-2314168 x 3106). When: Wednesday, December 14 at 10:00 a.m. Where: Saugus Public Library, 295 Central St., Saugus, Brooks Room (second fl oor). Just Sew! Saugonians are welcome to join a monthly sewing class for adults that will be held the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of Saugus Public Library. The next meeting is Monday, Dec. 19. The class covers basic topics like sewing buttons, hemming clothing and mending torn fabric and will move on to more advanced topics in the coming weeks. This class is free. (See sauguspubliclibrary.org.) A neat teen group called Manga & Anime Club: The Manga & donation or shipment. If you know a registered Girl Scout, reach out to them to find out how they’re selling cookies. Customers can make a purchase in-person or online and designate their purchase for donation to Cookies for a Cause to benefit first responders and healthcare professionals, the military and veterans’ services organizations, local food pantries, and more. Visit www.gsema.org to have Girl Scout cookies shipped directly to your door. GSEMA will cover 50% of customers’ shipping costs for all online Direct Ship orders of nine packages or more from February 1st – March 10th. Girls in grades K–12 can join Girl Scouts any time during the year to begin their Girl Scout journey. As girls grow with Girl Scouts, they learn hands-on leadership skills they’ll use to make their mark through the Gold Award and beyond. To join or volunteer, visit www. gsema.org. For more information on Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, please visit www.gsema. org, or follow their social media channels, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, for the latest updates on the organization. Anime Club, from all accounts, is a lot of fun for kids in Grades 6 and up. So, if you are curious, check out the Teen Room. Chat with friends! Make crafts! Try Japanese snacks! Club meetings will continue on Saturdays, through May, from 10-11 a.m. They will be held on Dec. 10, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, April 1 and May 13. Please sign up in advance; call 781-231-4168 or stop by the Reference Desk. (https://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/new-manga-animeclub.../); Saugus Public Library, 295 Central St., Saugus Mass. First Baptist Church presents “Can We Talk…” First Baptist Church Pastor Leroy Mahoney invites troubled people to join others in a special program called “Can We Talk … Community conversations on Trauma and Healing” the first Thursday THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19
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