Council Studies Tax Relief For Seniors

By Steve Bigham

The Legislative Council referred the issue of elderly tax relief to its ordinance committee Wednesday night in the hopes that it can finalize a program before tax bills go out in July.

The ordinance committee will have two different proposed programs to choose from. The first, submitted by an ad hoc group headed by Jim MacNaughton, would provide significant tax relief to all residents 65 and over – no matter what their income level might be. The second, proposed by Tax Collector Carol Mahoney and Selectman Joe Bojnowski, would provide tax relief to senior citizens who meet certain income criteria. Such a program would require a means test.

The council spent more than 30 minutes discussing the merits of such a program and whether or not it can be implemented in time for this year’s budget. Based on members’ comments, the council will likely lean toward the Mahoney/Bojnowski plan.

“I don’t think we should be enticing the elderly just because they’re elderly,” noted member Donald Studley.

 Council chairman Pierre Rochman wondered if the town could afford to implement such a program this year. After all, he said, the tax rate increase is already at 2.9 mills and providing a tax break for the elderly will surely drive the increase over the three-mill threshold.

But Mrs Mahoney said it was imperative that the plan be put in place for this year. Taxes are simply too high for people on fixed incomes. This year’s huge increase could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. The tax collector related a story about an elderly Newtown woman who called up in tears because she and her husband were on the verge of being forced to move out of their home of 50 years. Every day her husband comes home from work and works on his house and now they may have to move out, Mrs Mahoney said.

 “We must take care of this before this coming July bill. This budget will cause people hardship,” she said.

Ordinance Committee Chairman Will Rodgers agreed and predicted he could have an ordinance in place by the end of May.