Senior Tax Relief to be Reviewed and Possibly Expanded

The town’s elderly tax relief program is getting another look. And your input is part of the process.

A recently formed committee of the board of selectmen will re-examine the current program, started in 2007, and possibly expand the scope.

The program’s present criteria includes requiring individuals to be at least 65 years old and have a total income of no more than $49,500 annually. The program provides a town tax credit ranging from $500 to $1,500 in addition to the benefits offered by the state.

Deputy First Selectman John K. Hampton and Selectman Moira Wertheimer are co-chairs of the senior tax relief committee.

“I am thrilled that we are moving forward with this exciting initiative,” said Hampton. “Too many seniors are feeling overburdened by property taxes, forcing them to leave their homes and the town that they love. Senior citizens are the heart and soul of our community and it is critical that we offer them some meaningful relief.”

Wertheimer said the committee will look into what other towns are doing and other programs may be offered, such as a tax abatement, tax deferral or a tax freeze.

“We’re trying to be creative,” she said.

She said the program didn’t go further initially because there was a wait and see attitude in order to assess the impact of the program on the tax base.

“Now we have some numbers,” said Wertheimer.

Recent figures show in a given year, 275 people took advantage of the program with a cost $194,640.

The town maintains a $10,000 margin above the state income limit for married applicants (state income limits rise). In Simsbury’s program, the overall limit, currently $49,500, is the same for married as for single applicants.

In 2006, Hampton, along with then-Selectman John Romano, headed a task force to study the issue . At that time the committee proposed increasing the gross income ceiling for eligibility to $65,000.

The board of finance reviewed the proposal and ultimately approved a pared-down version of the recommendations.

A second option created by the committee that would have allowed senior taxpayers to defer taxes was eliminated by the finance board.

The option to provide municipal property tax relief is created by Connecticut Statutes and includes guidelines for, and limits on, such relief.

Hampton also would like to see the disabled and veterans included in any new program.

The committee’s first meeting was Jan. 5 and its next meeting is this Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. in Eno Memorial Hall. The public is encouraged to attend as there is public audience and the committee is interested in hearing from the public on the issue.

“We are eager to move this as swiftly as possible; we will welcome and appreciate the public input during the process,” Hampton said. “The Simsbury Aging and Disability Commission will play a significant role as they did in 2006.”

At its first meeting the five member committee discussed with the town attorney the fact that it was not under a time frame as any change would be an amendment to the existing ordinance.

Wertheimer said that gives the committee some time to research options, but she added, the committee would like to offer some tax relief this year.

“The goal is — if at all possible — to offer relief in this tax year,” she said.

At the Jan. 12 meeting, the town attorney will walk the committee members through state statutes that apply and the different types of programs so everyone has the same base working knowledge, said Wertheimer. Then members will look at what other municipalities offer.

Once the committee has come up with its recommendations it will make a presentation to the board of finance and then the finance board will review the proposal and make a recommendation to board of selectmen. Then to board of selectmen will vote.

There will also be public hearings attached to this process so residents will have a chance to have input. But attending the committee’s meetings or getting word to one of the members to have a say, can begin now and may help direct the committee’s work.

Wertheimer said the second part of this project is to educate the public. She said there are people eligible right now that do not know about the program. She said many people don’t understand that their privacy will be safe.

“They’re going to be protected,” she said.

Committee members include:

Selectman Moira Wertheimer

Deputy First Selectman John K. Hampton

Paul W. Henault, chair of the board of finance or a designee

Edward LaMontagne, chair aging and disability commission or a designee

Mona Martinik, a member of the aging and disability commission