Politics & Government

Board Votes to Expand Senior Tax Relief Program

Income cap remains, but eligible tax credits increase

The Board of Selectmen voted to expand the town's existing Senior Tax Relief program for Simsbury's elderly and disabled residents.

In March, the Board of Finance approved an increase of $67,950 to the tax credits available to participants who meet the program requirements. The board voted against an increase to the income restriction.

To qualify for the Senior Tax Relief program the individual must be 65 years or older as of December 31, 2011; must have been a resident of Simsbury prior to July 1, 2011; personally own and reside in the home to be credited, or have life use; reside in Simsbury for more than half the year; have a total income of $49,500 or less in 2011.

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"The town expects to see more folks qualifying under the proposed changes," First Selectman Mary Glassman said.

The program currently costs taxpayers $195,400. Glassman said the town is anticipating the expansion of the program to cost $285,000 in the 2012-13 fiscal year.

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Eligible taxpayers will receive an additional $100-$250 in credits based on their income. The program also gives credits to war veterans, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of deceased veterans.

Deputy First Selectman John Hampton, co-chairman of the senior tax relief committee said he was pleased with the changes that were made to the program this year but hopes to expand the program further.

"We do want to look at other options down the line," Hampton said. "We will hopefully reconvene to look at raising the cap."

At a meeting on April 9, Glassman announced that 30 additional residents have applied for the program this year. Town officials have been working in recent months to increase awareness about the program. The town previously reported 16 percent participation in the program, or 276 qualifying residents.

"We did discover through the process that a lot of folks don't know that we have a Senior Tax Relief program now," Hampton said. "So we're really trying to market the program."

During the public audience portion of Monday night's meeting, Simsbury resident Joan Coe asked the board to clarify the program's income requirements.

"I would like express my concern about giving tax credits to qualifying incomes up to $49,500 without determining the definition of income," Coe said.

Attorney Bob DeCrescenzo told the board the town's program uses the same qualifying income as the state tax relief program.

"Wages, bonuses, commissions, gratuities including self-employed net income, social security, dividends, interest, the taxable part of IRA's, and lottery winnings," DeCrescenzo said are all considered income.

Eligible residents interested in participating in the program can visit the town assessor's office with their 2011 tax returns to apply. The application deadline is May 15.


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