Requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J for Veteran Tax Relief Available Under the HERO Act

Transcript (~7 min @ 8:36)

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▶ 8:36 Maya Jamaleddine: Uh, for tonight on our agenda there is, um, ID number 1, 2 5, 2 2, um, requesting the acceptance of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, section five, clause 22 J for Veterans Tax Relief available under the HERO Act. And we have Madam Mayor and Ms. McLaren speaking on this order.

▶ 9:05 Jen Grigoraitis: Good evening, Madam Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for having us tonight. Um, we're here before you to request the council the recommendation of this body to the full council to adopt Clause 22 J of the Hero Act. Um, as our Veterans Advisory Board members who spoke so beautifully in public comment just said, this is a part of the Hero Act that was enacted by Governor Healy and the state legislature in 2024, and represents the first time in decades that there is a local tax relief relief option available to municipalities for veterans and their surviving spouses. Um, I know Ms. McClellan was before you back in January under an info order just to provide the context since this is a change to state law. Um, and at that time we also heard in public comment support for adopting 22 J, which we do believe will impact 135 veterans and their families here in Melrose. Um, we're back tonight to seek your approval. Um, and we're excited to be on the forefront of adopting this so that the, um, tax abatement can go into effect during fiscal year 26. Um, Ms. McClellan is our tax expert, so I will defer to her for any specific questions about how to do this, but we're really, um, appreciative of this opportunity. And I think just to say, you know, I know often we're here doing sometimes what feel like hard or unpleasant things, um, that are necessary as we run a city, but this is one of these really good things where we can give back to people who have given so much to our country and really make an impact in their lives, particularly, particularly in this moment of rising inflation and costs. So thank you for your consideration and we're happy to answer any questions.

▶ 10:40 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you, Madam Mayor Flos, yours.

▶ 10:43 Speaker 6: Um, yep, good evening. Um, so just to provide a brief, um, like impact summary, we have some updated numbers for fiscal 25. In my, um, informational, uh, summary in January, I provided, um, numbers from fiscal year 24. Um, so for fiscal 25, we had, um, 101 eligible veterans under Clause 22, um, who were granted exemptions by the board of assessors and then 32 eligible veterans under Clause 22 E, who are granted exemptions. Um, this was an increase of about six under the, the clause 22 E, which is the a hundred percent disability rating. So if local option 22 J is adopted for fiscal year 26, these exemption amounts for the, um, for these people would, um, or these parcels would increase from 400 to 800 per parcel under the clause 22 exemptions, which was the 101 parcels and from a thousand to $2,000 per parcel, um, under the clause 22 E exemptions. Um, so that would be the, um, impact change that. So thank you. I can answer any other questions that you have too

▶ 11:57 Maya Jamaleddine: Related to this. Yeah. Thank you. Do we have any question from my colleagues? Councillor gpe?

▶ 12:02 Mark Garipay: Um, thank you. Thank you. You, I think you answered most of my questions the last time you were in front of us. Um, I mean, I, I think it makes sense to move forward with this. So at this time, I'll make a motion, um, to recommend this, um, this for passage to the full council.

▶ 12:21 Maya Jamaleddine: Second, Um, we have, uh, a motion made by Councilor Gepe, seconded by Vice Chair Mano on discussion. Sorry.

▶ 12:31 Devin Romanul: Um, just wanted to thank the mayor and the administration for the, all the helpful information. It was really easy to digest in the, in the memo beforehand, in the articulation just now, um, and to the legislature and the governor for, uh, making this change. Uh, I just wanted to say, uh, and also thank you to everyone who came out to support and discuss. This is really helpful to hear your stories and for those watching on MMTV or in the community who think about the military or veterans, as you know, that's a federal government issue. That's not something that has to deal with local government. Like this is the intermingling of local and national governments. This is how we show up here. And, um, as someone who, uh, has made a career of public service and seeing in my own family from my grandfather who served in the Navy, um, in the 1950s all the way back to, we've got a great family tree book with a list of all the relatives who served at the Battle of Lexington and Concord and, and they're on, like, uh, I know how important public services, and this is a lifetime commitment that you've made, and we appreciate that, and this is a way we can show up for you there. So, um, wanted to thank you all and, and express my support.

▶ 13:35 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Um, uh, vice Chair Romanul and, um, counselor Van Devin. Thank

▶ 13:41 Kimberly Vandiver: You. Uh, thank you for bringing this forward tonight. And, um, to the people who spoke, who, uh, showed up and spoke, I appreciate, uh, that this is being done and right now, as you mentioned, in the midst of inflation and, um, also the, the climate in Melrose and the likelihood of an override attempt, I think this is a, this is a wonderful time to, to extend that increase. So thank you.

▶ 14:05 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Um, um, I wanted to echo my, um, colleagues, uh, with the kind words that, um, they shared, but I also wanted to thank you all for your services. Um, it's, um, uh, your presence here has, you know, speaks its volumes and, uh, we appreciate all your services, um, to the country. Um, and, uh, now, uh, with the motion on floor,

▶ 14:32 Speaker 2: um, it's, um, is it call role? No. Is it roll call Madam Clerk?

▶ 14:39 Speaker 7: We can, yes. Yep. Uh, councilor Romanul?

▶ 14:43 Speaker 7: Yes. Council Councilor gpe? Yes. Councilor Vandiver. Yes. President Ley Rally? Yes. Chair. Jamal ine? Yes. Motion passes.

▶ 14:53 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. And, um, motion is, uh, passes and now it's gonna be, uh, on the city council, the full council. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your service to the city.

▶ 15:04 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank You. Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you. And Ms. Clarin.

▶ 15:12 Speaker 8: Motion to adjourn. Go ahead.

▶ 15:13 Speaker 3: Make a motion to adjourn. Second,

▶ 15:16 Maya Jamaleddine: Uh, we have a motion to adjourn made by Councilor Garipay Pay, seconded by by Vice Chair Romanul, uh, on discussion. Seeing none. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay, we're adjourn