Belchertown Veterans’ Property Tax Exemptions (Clauses 22 to 22F)

The Town of Belchertown grants the veterans’ exemptions of G.L. c. 59, s. 5, clauses 22 to 22F, through its board of assessors. The statute sets them as dollars off the tax bill, $400 under clause 22, $750, $1,250 and $1,500 under 22A to 22C and $1,000 under 22E, and exempts the whole domicile under 22D and 22F; a town can add to them only by accepting a local option, clause 22I, clause 22J or section 5C½. Every figure on this entry carries its source and the day it was read. The Assessors’ Exemptions table prints $400 under clause 22, $750 under 22A, $1,250 under 22B, $1,500 under 22C, full under 22D, $1,000 under 22E and full under 22F, each marked with a footnote: “Veteran exemption amount subject to increase due to HERO Act Cl. 22I and Cl. 22J.” The footnote names the options without saying whether the town has accepted either, and no acceptance was found on the town’s site, so the figures here are the statute’s and the entry asks the assessors whether an increase applies. The Veterans’ Services Department page names Dustin Ruby the Veterans’ Agent at 4 Berkshire Avenue (413-323-0409), where the EOVS directory’s row reads “Rudy, Dustin”. Chapter 115 benefits, the Commonwealth’s needs-based help with rent, food, fuel and medical costs, are applied for through Belchertown Veterans’ Agent: Dustin Ruby. Their amounts are set by the Commonwealth and are the same in every city and town; the statewide chapter 115 entry describes them.