PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Lawmakers in Rhode Island are considering letting senior citizens reduce their property taxes by volunteering for their cities and towns.
State Sen. Cynthia Coyne, a Democrat, introduced a bill that would authorize towns to offer tax credits for people over 60 years old in exchange for volunteer hours. The Senate Finance Committee held the bill for further study last week.
Towns would structure their own programs, but the bill calls for granting volunteers the equivalent of a minimum wage in credit. It would cap the credit at $1,500 annually.
Newport has a program that allows seniors to earn up to $500 in tax credits, and similar programs exist in Massachusetts, Maine and Pennsylvania.
Coyne says many retirees struggle to pay property taxes and the bill would help ease that burden.
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