by Marty Green ·
Friday, May 22, 2026
For more than 20 years, Harvard has offered elderly or disabled homeowners help in paying their property tax bills. This year, applications for that assistance are due to the town treasurer by May 28. The Elderly and Disabled Taxation Aid Committee will decide by June 20 the amount of assistance to give each approved applicant.
“We want to encourage everyone who feels the need to apply,” said Debbie Thompson, who serves on the committee in her position as director of the Council on Aging. “We want to give out as much as possible.”
Both Thompson and committee member Barbara Kemp expressed concern at the limited number of applications they receive—sometimes only four or five. “What bothers me is that very few people apply,” Kemp said. “I feel sure there are other people that would qualify. … There have to be people in town who live close to the edge.”
Thompson and Kemp also emphasized that the names of applicants are completely confidential. The committee’s discussion of the applications takes place in executive session, and no names appear in the minutes.
Money for the Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund comes entirely from private donations. Town Treasurer Lindsay Ames, who also serves on the committee, sends an insert with the July tax bills explaining how to donate to the fund. The Council on Aging also includes that information in its newsletter around tax time. The donations are tax-deductible on state and federal income tax forms.
To qualify for this local assistance program, applicants must be at least 65 or have a disability that makes them unable to work. An applicant must also have owned taxable property in Harvard for at least a year. Thompson said most people who apply have lived in town for many years.
The assistance program has income limits, but those limits can be flexible. This year’s income limits are $51,777 for a single person and $67,709 for a couple. The limits have risen sharply over the years to take account of inflation and the rising cost of living. Applicants must include copies of their federal income tax forms for 2025 with their applications. Residents whose income is somewhat over the limit but who have had unusual expenses, such as major medical bills, should still consider applying, Thompson said. The committee would take those circumstances into consideration.
The Elderly and Disabled Taxation Aid Committee meets once a year to review the applications for aid. As noted above, the COA director and the town treasurer are members by virtue of their offices. In addition to those two members, the committee can have up to three town residents as members. Currently, Barry Jordan and Barbara Kemp fill two of those positions, so there is an opening for one more committee member. The key qualification, according to Thompson, is the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Applications for tax assistance are available on the town website at the Council on Aging page under “assistance programs.” Forms are also available at the Harvard Senior Center. Thompson can provide help with the forms by appointment.