As the March 6 deadline to pay our Excise Tax approaches, we want to take this opportunity to remind residents of an easy and impactful way to support education in our community. Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 60, Section 3, taxpayers are given the choice to voluntarily contribute more funds to town scholarships. This can be accomplished when paying their excise taxes. These funds are directed at our local scholarship programs. While these donations can be made at any time, contributing when paying Excise or property taxes is a great way to help and very welcome.
We have two award programs for Mattapoisett residents: First is the Scholarship Fund Award, which is for those students graduating this year with an accredited high school diploma, and the next, the Education Fund Award, is for those who are not graduating from a high school this year but plan to continue their education at a recognized educational facility or training program. Individual awards cannot exceed $1,500 per winner but there are no limits placed on the number of qualified winners per year.
Unfortunately, despite your past generosity, we do not have the funds to reward all our most deserving applicants. In fact, awarding one full scholarship in each category challenges our funding. Many of our residents are surprised to learn about this shortfall. despite the area’s high-income level.
The official notice about the Mattapoisett Scholarship Fund can be found at the bottom of your excise tax bill. You can include an added amount with your payment as directed at the bottom of your bill, and added funds can be donated at any time via the Mattapoisett Tax Collector’s office.
Donating to the Mattapoisett Scholarship Fund is an opportunity to invest in the future of our young people by helping deserving students to pursue higher educational opportunities. In a time when the cost of college continues to rise, even small contributions can make a big difference in helping students to achieve their academic dreams. Local scholarship funds, supported by our community, are often the key to unlocking educational opportunities for students who may otherwise struggle to afford them.
We encourage everyone in our community to consider donating to the Mattapoisett Scholarship Fund when paying this year’s taxes to support our local students. Let’s make a lasting difference in the lives of our young people and Mattapoisett itself.