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July 25, 2017

Senators tack on amendments to property tax bill

By the amendment deadline, 28 proposed amendments had been filed with the clerk's office on a property tax bill expected to be debated Thursday.

Senators have filed more than two dozen amendments to the property tax bill expected to be debated Thursday in the Senate.

The Senate on Thursday is expected to take up a bill (S 2124) that would expand what cities and towns can offer in property tax deferral or exemption programs for active military personnel, senior citizens and people with disabilities. It would also change certain deadlines for chapter land tax applications.

"I personally think it's a good bill and it's going to give a little relief to the taxpayers of the commonwealth," Sen. Michael Brady, chairman of the Revenue Committee, said. He added, "We're trying to help out the most needy. It's not going to be tax relief for everyone."

By the 5 p.m. amendment deadline, 28 proposed amendments had been filed with the clerk's office, including riders that would extend some of the bill's provisions to other groups like volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians, and grandparents raising grandchildren.

Brady filed an amendment that would create a special commission to study property tax relief and make recommendations "for law changes to reduce property taxes and provide tax relief for residents and businesses of the commonwealth" by February 15, 2018.

"We've got to take a hard look at our tax structure and our property tax structure," Brady said Monday afternoon. "We've been talking about it for years."

The Senate is expected to debate the bill Thursday when it meets in a formal session.

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