Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with Veterans Services’ Director Joe DeCaro, Board of Assessors Chairman Patrick Greenhalgh, Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) Cathy Buono, City Solicitor Steve Buoniconti, and City Councilor Kateri Walsh on Tuesday morning at City Hall to announce the expanded tax exemption options now available with the landmark HERO Act (An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Servicemembers and Veterans) legislation having been passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey here in Massachusetts over the summer.
In August 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed the HERO Act into law. This landmark legislation seeks to increase benefits for veterans. Mayor Sarno and City Councilor Kateri Walsh will sponsor a local option to further expand the possible relief and exemptions available for veterans in our community.
The proposed local option asks the City Council to consider approving doubling property tax exemptions for eligible veterans. The HERO Act also provides for motor vehicle excise exemptions for eligible veterans. See the table and eligibility criteria below.
Clause | FY25 Exemption | FY26 Exemption* |
22 (a-f) | $400 | $800 |
22A | $750 | $1,500 |
22C | $1,500 | $3,000 |
22E | $1,000 | $2,000 |
- Eligibility Criteria:
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- Ownership and occupancy of a primary residence in Springfield as of July 1.
- Certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of a service-connected disability.
- Residency in Massachusetts for six consecutive months prior to military service, or two consecutive years prior to filing.
- Motor Vehicle Exemption
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- Service members certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected disability of 100% or deemed unemployable are entitled to a full motor vehicle excise exemption for one vehicle.
- Previously, obtaining this exemption required a determination from the Medical Advisory Board within the Registry of Motor Vehicles. This review process has now been eliminated. Eligible motor vehicle owners can submit their disability rating letter from the VA directly to the Board of Assessors.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “I commend Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll and our state delegation for their commitment to our veterans and signing the HERO Act to expand and modernize benefits for veterans, and also allow cities like Springfield greater local flexibility on veterans’ tax exemptions. My administration is proud to join with City Councilor Kateri Walsh to sponsor a local option to double the property tax exemption for veterans. We are the beacon of hope, strength, democracy, and opportunity thanks to our veterans. It is a ‘no brainer’ to seek the highest exemption allowed by state law on behalf of our veterans.”
“Special thanks to our Veterans’ Services Director Joe DeCaro and team who continue to provide our brave and dedicated veterans and their families the care, compassion and service they need and deserve. We look forward to being able to assist even more residents with this proposal as the HERO Act expands the state’s definition of a veteran, allowing for more veterans and their spouses to qualify for certain benefits. I would also like to thank my dedicated and award-winning finance and assessors’ teams led by CAFO Cathy Buono and Chairman of the Board of Assessors Patrick Greenhalgh for their support and work to establish our proposed local option to further support our veterans.”
Veterans’ Services Director Joe DeCaro states, “This broad statewide legislation impacts the benefits and assistance for our veterans and expands who qualifies as a veteran regarding reservists and guardsmen. The legislation also broadens the Chapter 115 definition of a veteran, waives certain license plate fees, lengthens the timeframe for veterans to participate in the Active-Duty Service Buyback program, and allows veterans on Chapter 115 to be reimbursed for outpatient behavioral health care visits. I thank Mayor Sarno and the City Council for considering this option for our veterans. At the Springfield Department of Veterans’ Services we remain committed to connecting veterans with all the benefits and resources they are eligible for and helping our veterans and their families navigate the benefits process. We are here to help and encourage veterans to reach out to us for assistance to determine how this landmark legislation may impact them and their families.”
City Councilor Kateri Walsh states, “I want to commend Mayor Sarno and his administration for supporting this local option of the HERO Act. As a widow of a proud veteran, Captain Dan Walsh, USMC who also served as the City’s former Veterans’ Services Director, I care deeply for our veterans and understand the sacrifices they made to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. Besides some of the new state benefits our veterans may now qualify for, this local option here in the city of Springfield will double the property tax exemptions and provide motor vehicle excise exemptions for eligible veterans. I look forward to co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation with Mayor Sarno and working with my colleagues on the City Council and passing this local option of the HERO Act.”
Board of Assessors Chairman Patrick Greenhalgh states, “If passed by the City Council, the local acceptance statute would double the property tax exemption for veterans and would take effect for Fiscal Year 2026, starting July 1, 2025. Another significant change from the HERO Act is the removal of the administrative burden for obtaining a motor vehicle exemption for 100% disabled veterans. A determination from the RMV’s Medical Advisory Board (MAB) is no longer necessary; the Board of Assessors now relies solely on the determination from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This change is already in effect. We are excited to enhance support for our veteran community and are ready to answer questions and guide individuals through various tax relief options, including the State’s Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit and Clauses 41C and 17D for tax abatements for seniors.”
