PHOTO: A great distinction in Franklin
Pickup injures woman in Franklin
Franklin, MA
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Tax Year | Number of Filers | Amount of Credit Claimed | Average Credit |
2001 | 87 | $28,251 | $325 |
2002 | 109 | $66,448 | $610 |
2003 | 150 | $90,818 | $605 |
2004 | 171 | $107,020 | $626 |
2005 | 202 | $122,377 | $606 |
2006 | 234 | $158,800 | $679 |
2007 | 248 | $173,524 | $700 |
2008 | 302 | $217,429 | $720 |
2009 | 324 | $240,692 | $743 |
No other refundable tax credit equals the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit for putting money into the wallets of average taxpayers 65 and older. In tax year 2009, more than 77,000 senior taxpayers who were either homeowners or renters received credits of nearly $60 million.
Yet it is safe to say that many eligible taxpayers have never heard of the credit. If you are reading this and have older relatives or friends who might benefit, pass on the word. The maximum credit, after all, is worth $970 in the coming tax year.
The Department of Revenue has just released the rules and regulations for the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit in tax year 2010. The credit is based on the actual property tax or rent paid by the eligible taxpayer who is either living in their own home or paying rent.
A taxpayer's total income may not exceed $51,000 for a single individual; $64,000 for a head of household; or $77,000 for married couples filing a joint return. The assessed valuation of a residence may not exceed $764,000. Many taxpayers 65 and over fall within these limits.
The credit is equal to the amount by which the taxpayer's property tax payments in the current tax year, including water and sewer charges but excluding any abatement or exemption, exceeds 10 percent of the taxpayer's total income.
The credit also works for renters. It is equal to the amount by which 25 percent of the rent actually paid during the taxable year exceeds 10 percent of the taxpayer's total income, with the credit capped at $970.
The 4th Annual Random Smile Gala will be held at Christina's in Foxboro at 6:00 pm. The event is a semi formal, black tie optional affair. There will be a surf and turf dinner with live music and both live and silent auctions. A few of the items up for bid include Patriot and Red Sox memorabilia, vacations, golf related items and electronics. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased via the Random Smile web site.Read more in Patrick Coleman's Wrentham Times
One item that was not written in the article was that Parry Aftab presented the kids with the "Teenangel Chapter of the Year" award at the hearing in front of Attorney General Coakley. The kids are soo excited. This was the first time in 6 years that this award has been given to a chapter other than the New Rochelle, NY chapter.
"Any way you slice the data, we look like a low-tax, efficient (town government), dangerously over-reliant on a revenue source (state aid) on which we have no control," Whalen said.
"They're a new set of eyes and they will challenge things (in the previous report) as they go through the process," said Douglas Hardesty, the committee's chairman. "When we are through, hopefully we'll learn something new."
At a meeting last night, the committee discussed an analysis done by Whalen showing how Franklin compares to 30 comparable communities in the state in tax rate, and spending on education.
Franklin has one of the lowest tax rates of the comparable communities, and it is one of the lowest in per-pupil spending, he said.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
... the school district will ensure Leone isn't forgotten by naming the away-side press box at Franklin High School in his honor. The press box above the home bleachers is named after public address announcer John Padula.
"The stories we've heard from over the years recounted what a great coach he was and how many lives he changed," School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said. "We like to honor those types of people and thought it was tremendously appropriate to honor his name and somehow relate it with our football program."
The School Committee approved the recognition at a recent meeting and Roy said school officials hope to hold a ceremony at a home football game in the fall.
this was the first "upside-up" year—i.e., one in which the numerals that form the year look the same as when the numerals are rotated upside down—since 1881, and the last until 6009
"He says that he has yet to experience someone who became more aware of their body in all its frailty and all its grace without at the same time becoming more compassionate towards all of life."Later in the talk she shares some insights from Albert Einstein including:
"... He foresaw that as we grow more modern and technologically advanced, we need the virtues our traditions carried forward in time more, not less."
"We learned we can make a difference," said Waite, who plans to participate in an internship with the Franklin Police Department later this school year. "We can help."
Former Patriots players Gino Cappelletti, Larry Garron and Roland James spoke to Waite and about 50 of his classmates at The Hall at Patriot Place. The students are participating in a leadership development class designed to prepare them for internships during the last quarter of the school year.
In addition to hearing from Patriots alumni, the students were asked to think critically about what qualities make a good leader and how to combat prejudice. They also toured the exhibits in The Hall, a museum located next to Gillette Stadium that chronicles the football team's history.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"We think this is not an unreasonable expectation for a budget," Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said, noting some figures such as local aid and health insurance could change. "It helps us to keep and maintain programs. Would we like to have all 14.3 positions back? Absolutely. But, we think this is a reasonable budget proposal in these economic times."
The positions to be cut include five elementary school teachers, six middle school teachers and the high school's alternative programs coordinator.
Remington Middle School Principal Paul Peri said fewer teachers could boost class sizes to more than 27 students while Sabolinski noted it would be harder for teachers to focus on helping individual students who may be struggling.
School Committee member Ed Cafasso said while many people may have individual complaints about a bad teacher, overall the district has performed well while spending about $2,800 less per pupil than the state average.