SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1895        FILED ON: 10/2/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1872

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Brian A. Joyce

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act authorizing the town of Milton to assess an additional amount of real estate and personal property taxes.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1895        FILED ON: 10/2/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1872

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act authorizing the town of Milton to assess an additional amount of real estate and personal property taxes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21C of chapter 59 of the General Laws, or any other general or special law, the board of selectmen may seek voter approval for the town of Milton to assess an additional amount of real estate and personal property taxes, not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars in any given fiscal year, in excess of the amount otherwise permitted by law, for the purpose of funding the payment of legally obligated medical expenses incurred by certain town of Milton public safety personnel resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty, or for debt issued for that purpose.

SECTION 2. Prior to October 1 of each year, the town shall notify the director of accounts in the department of revenue of the amount the board of assessors shall raise the tax rate for the purpose set forth in Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3. Such authorization shall remain in effect as long as there are outstanding legally obligated medical expenses incurred by certain town of Milton public safety personnel resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

SECTION 4. The town is hereby authorized to create a special purpose fund, maintained by the town treasurer, into which such additional assessed amounts shall be deposited.  Interest earned by the proceeds of said fund amounts shall remain with said fund.  Such additional amount assessed each year shall be considered an amount approved under paragraph (i½) or (k) of section 21C of chapter 59 of the General Laws for purposes of calculating the “total taxes assessed” in paragraph (a), or the maximum levy limit in paragraph (f), of section 21C of chapter 59 of the General Laws.

SECTION 5. Money from said fund may be expended for payment of legally obligated medical expenses incurred by certain town of Milton public safety personnel resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty, or for debt issued for that purpose, and for no other purpose.  The board of selectmen may expend the proceeds of such fund without further authorization or appropriation.

SECTION 6. Said fund shall be maintained as long as there are outstanding legally obligated medical expenses incurred by certain town of Milton public safety personnel resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

SECTION 7. When said fund is closed the proceeds of said fund shall be allocated by the town of Milton to reduce the tax levy in accordance with instructions received from the Director of Accounts in the Department of Revenue.

SECTION 8. Any question submitted to the voters pursuant to this act shall be worded as follows: “Shall the town of Milton be allowed to assess an additional amount of real estate and personal property taxes, not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year, for the purpose of funding payment of legally obligated medical expenses incurred by certain town of Milton public safety personnel resulting from injuries sustained in the line of duty, or for debt issued for that purpose?  YES ______ NO ______”

SECTION 9. This act shall take effect upon its passage.