MELROSE — The Melrose Elderly & Disabled Tax Relief Fund has begun accepting applications for property tax relief from qualifying Melrose residents. The fund is intended to provide one-time distributions to eligible taxpayers for assistance with tax payments in circumstances that may not be allowable under other aid programs. Fully funded through voluntary resident donations, the fund is a testament to the willingness of the community to work together to provide assistance to a neighbor in need.
I’m very proud to activate this new resource for our low-income elderly or disabled neighbors and I hope that Melrose residents will generously support the fund by visiting the City website or when paying their next excise tax bill,” said Mayor Jen Grigoraitis. “I am grateful to the Fund Committee for their work in opening this new and important resource in addition to our City’s other tax relief programs.”
Although the creation of an Elderly & Disabled Tax Fund was originally authorized under Massachusetts General Law in 1999, the City of Melrose established its fund in 2018. By establishing the fund, the City could accept opt-in donations from Melrose taxpayers on their municipal bills. Earlier this year, Mayor Jen Grigoraitis established the Melrose Elderly & Disabled Tax Relief Fund Committee to manage the distribution of the Fund’s assets to provide tax relief for elderly, low income and disabled residents of the City of Melrose, especially those who do not qualify for other assistance and relief programs.
Awards from this Fund, up to $500 this year, will be granted to the applicants who show the most need. At a minimum, Applicants must be at least 60 years old or disabled per the definition of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 US c. 12102) and confirmed by a doctor’s letter or government determination of disability. Fiscal year 2026 incomes should be below $100,000 annually, with preference given to those with the lowest income among other factors. No applicant is guaranteed an award from the fund, and the current capacity of the fund will remain low until replenished by donations from taxpayers.
“Although Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other state and federal assistance programs help so many people make ends meet, too many of our community members still fall through the gaps in these assistance programs and have a hard time making ends meet,” said Gail Infurna, chair of the Melrose Elderly & Disabled Tax Relief Fund Committee and former Mayor of Melrose. “Through the generosity of the community’s donations and with this program, we can directly deliver relief to members of our community who need it as well as meeting the established criteria.”
In recent months, federal policymakers and agencies have proposed and executed major cuts to social safety net programs and other long-standing grant programs, potentially disrupting and jeopardizing the financial status of many individuals and organizations who received support in the past. Changes to the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs will likely lead to an increase in out- of-pocket costs for consumers, and changes to housing and food assistance programs will have an outsized impact on those living on a fixed income or unable to work.
To be considered for the Melrose Elderly & Disabled Tax Relief Fund assistance, applicants must:
1. Download and print the application at www.cityofmelrose.org/edtf or pick up a copy at the Assessors Office on the first floor of City Hall
2. Complete the application and gather required documents
3. Submit the signed application and required documentation to the Assessors Department by
November 1, 2025
The form and required documentation may be emailed to EDTF@cityofmelrose.org or dropped off or mailed to the Assessors Department at City Hall, 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176.
With any questions, please call the Assessors Department at 781-979-4104 or the Treasurer/Collector’s Department at 781- 979-4120, or email your query to EDTF@cityofmelrose.org. For more information, visit www.cityofmelrose.org/edtf.