Senior/Veteran Tax Work-Off Program

Job Title:  Senior/Veteran Tax Work-Off Program (SVTWO)

Department:   Varies

Supervisor: Department Supervisor

Contract:  Personnel Policies

Grade:  Schedule B

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt

Purpose:

• To allow qualified older adult citizens, and veterans of any age, to perform work for the Town of Duxbury and receive a property tax abatement for the home in which they reside.

• To enhance services by utilizing the skills of veterans and citizens, age sixty-five (65) and older, in various departments throughout the Town.

Eligibility Requirements:

 FOR OLDER ADULTS:

• Applicant must be 65 years of age as of July 1 of the year of application.

• Must own and occupy home as primary domicile as of July 1 of the year of application.

• If home is held in a trust, the trust cannot be an irrevocable trust, it must be a revocable trust. 

• Documents showing that the applicant is a trustee of the trust must be provided.  If the applicant is not a trustee of the trust, he/she is not eligible to participate in this program.

• Property tax abatement of up to $1,500.00 permitted per household, per year.

 FOR VETERANS:

• Provide a copy of Form DD214 with honorable discharge.

• Applicant must be a veteran, or the spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, subject to Veteran Service Officer verification.

• Must own or occupy their home as the primary domicile.

• If home is held in a trust, documents showing that the applicant is a trustee of the trust must be provided.  If the applicant is not a trustee of the trust he/she is not eligible to participate in this program.

• Property tax abatement of up to $1,500.00 permitted per household, per year.

Applicant Selection Process:

•  Must submit an application on-line at https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/employment-volunteer-opportunities 

• Applications accepted October 1, 2024 through April 1, 2025.

•  Must apply annually, acceptance is not guaranteed.

•  Must have appropriate skills needed for the position.

• Applicant and department head must both agree the applicant and job match.

• Applicant must keep track of hours worked on the Senior/Veteran Tax Work-Off Time Sheet which must be signed by the department supervisor.

• CORI/SORI checks are required for all new participants.

Property Abatements:

• Abatements of up to $1,500 each may be provided annually from the Overlay Account.

• The work must be completed between by October 31, 2025

• If maximum hours allowed are not completed, a prorated abatement will be provided based on the number of hours worked.

• 100 hours are required to qualify for maximum abatement.

• The abatement will be applied to the 3rd quarter tax bill.

General Information:

• The SVTWO property tax abatement is not considered income for purposes of STATE income tax withholding, unemployment or workmen’s compensation. However, the abatement is considered taxable for federal income tax purposes.

• Participants are required to participate in the OBRA 457 FICA Alternative Deferred Compensation Program unless a participant of or retired from Plymouth County Retirement or MA Teacher’s Association Retirement Programs.

• Rules and guidelines will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary.

• For information about the program, contact Chris Coakley, 781-934-5774 x 5731 or Chriscoakley@duxbury-ma.gov.

• At the completion of each year, the participants and department heads will be surveyed to determine the effectiveness of the program.

1. Nature of Work: Responsible for the duties required for each specific department involved in the program 

2. Supervision Received:  Works under direct supervision of the department supervisor who plans and carries out work in accordance with provided instructions.

3. Supervisory Responsibility:  Not required to supervise any other employees.  

4. Confidentiality: Has access to department-wide confidential information. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and Public Records Act.

5. Accountability:  Errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment could severely jeopardize department operations or programs result in a delay of service, confusion, monetary loss, or have extensive financial and/or legal repercussions and adverse public relations for the Town of Duxbury. 

6. Judgment:  Numerous standardized practices, procedures, or general instructions govern the work, and in some cases, may require additional interpretation.  Instructions may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to specific department or functional areas. 

7. Nature and Purpose of Relationship:  The Senior/Veteran Work Off position may interact constantly with employees, the public, groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders. Excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy.

8. Essential Functions: Duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

9. Recommended Minimum Qualifications:  Education and Experience: High school degree or equivalent and three to five (3-5) years of work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Varies by job.

10. Abilities and Skills:

Abilities: Ability to work effectively with confidential information.  Ability to work tactfully with employees, officials doing business with the Town, and members of the public.  Must possess the ability to communicate clearly in written and oral form; establish and ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with town officials and governmental representatives.  Ability to make basic arithmetical computations and tabulations in a timely and accurate manner, maintains confidential information, as well as maintains, manages, and organizes complex records. Ability to manage multiple tasks in an independent, organized, and timely manner.  

Skills: Excellent customer service, interpersonal and organizational skills; skill in working with numbers and detail; excellent analytical and communication skills; excellent computer skills including demonstrated skill in use of business and financial software applications including work processing and spreadsheet applications a plus.  

11. Work Environment:  Involves everyday discomforts typical of office settings with frequent interruptions.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. 

Occupational Risk:  Duties of the job present little potential for injury.  Risk exposure is similar to that found in typical office settings.  Duties generally do not generally present occupational risk.

12. Physical and Mental Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions. Physical demands vary and are dependent upon each position, from little or no physical demands required to perform the work, to being required to lift, push or pull office equipment up to 30 lbs. 

13. Motor Skills:  Duties involve hand and eye coordination, finger dexterity and motor coordination.  Examples may include moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or other office equipment, typing, filing, sorting of papers and operating a motor vehicle.

14. Visual Demands:  Position requires reading documents and reports for understanding and analytical purposes, not required to distinguish colors.

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Town of Duxbury and participant and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning October 1, 2024 until April 1, 2025.