[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Swansea
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-19-2012 STM
by Art. 12 (Ch. 2, Art. VIII, § 2-353, of the 1988 Revised
General Bylaws)]
The following tax abatement program is hereby established for
regular, active members of the Town of Swansea Volunteer Fire Department
and in recognition of the benefit that volunteer fire fighters make
to the public safety of the Inhabitants of the Town of Swansea, on
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Swansea may establish
a program for the firefighters, line officers and deputy chiefs of
the Swansea Volunteer Fire Department to reduce the real property
tax obligations or the motor vehicle and trailer excise tax obligations
of such volunteers in exchange for their volunteer services. Any reduction
so provided shall be in addition to any exemption or abatement to
which such persons are otherwise entitled; provided, however, that
no reduction of a real property tax bill shall be granted which exceeds
$2,500 in a tax year.
The Town shall maintain a record for each program participant
including, but not limited to, the total amount by which a tax obligation
thereof has been reduced and the criteria used to determine such tax
reduction. The Town shall provide a copy of such record to the Assessor
so that the participant's tax bill reflects the reduced rate.
The Town shall also provide a copy of such record to the program participant
receiving the reduced tax rate prior to the issuance of the actual
tax bill.
The Board of Selectmen may adopt rules and procedures to implement
this bylaw.
The amount by which a person's tax liability is reduced under § 241-2 shall not be considered income, wages or employment for purposes of taxation as provided by Chapter 62 of the General Laws, withholding taxes as provided by Chapter 62B of the General Laws, workers' compensation as provided by Chapter 152 of the General Laws or any other general law to the contrary.
A person participating in the program authorized by § 241-2 shall be a public employee for the purposes of Chapter 258 of the General Laws.
