It has been one year since the City of Saco implemented the Senior Citizen Tax Work-Off Program. This program has been successful in matching up Saco property owners who are senior citizens with certain City departments that have extra tasks that need to be done accomplished. This program allows qualified senior citizens to work up to 103 hours in order to earn a tax credit (abatement) of up to $750.00 toward their real estate tax bill.

As our first year of the program comes to a close, the City of Saco has granted a total of 17 tax abatements during the 2009/2010 fiscal year. The Program's Administrator (the Assessor) is preparing to give the City Council its first annual progress report.

Due to the limited financial resources available to the City of Saco, annual participation is not guaranteed. Annual participation is based on the amount of funds certified to the Assessor by the City Council on an annual basis. Participants have to apply for the program and go through a selection process. The selection of applicants for this program is based on greatest financial need first, then based on the applicant's past program participation and/or extenuating circumstances.

In order to participate in this program, you must first qualify under all of the following guidelines:

Eligibility Guidelines:

1. Participant must have reached the age of 60 prior to or on April 1st for the tax year they are applying for.
2. Participant must be a legal resident of the City of Saco.
3. Participant must be the owner of record as of April 1st and reside in the dwelling the abatement will be applied to.
4. Limit of only one participant per household per fiscal tax year (July 1st - June 30th).
   
   Except: If two qualifying senior applicants own property together as "joint tenants", then each person will be allowed to work 51.5 hours (together as a team) in order to receive a single Senior Citizen Tax Work-Off abatement for that tax year.
5. Limit of only one abatement per household per tax year.
6. In order to receive an abatement of up to $750.00, a maximum of 103 hours must have been completed two weeks prior to the second half property tax bill due date.
7. Participant's household income cannot exceed $60,000. The participant's annual tax bill must be more than 4% of the household income (based on previous year's gross income).