FARMINGTON – The subcommittee looking at property tax relief for seniors is hoping to stage a public information session to allow residents to have input on the plan.
Council members Charlie Keniston and Michael Demicco have been looking at proposals that would provide a little more tax relief to help seniors stay in their homes longer.

But after they presented a plan in April that would cost the town about $200,000 in tax revenues, the council asked them to come back with an alternative. During Tuesday’s council meeting, the duo presented a new pared- down plan that would still expand tax relief for seniors but at a lower cost.
“There has to be a reasonable starting point,” Keniston said. “And we have to know that seniors want this and are in favor of this.”
Under the town’s current tax relief program, married seniors and the disabled receive additional tax credits of $150 to $250 for those whose income is between $35,301 and $41,300. Those seniors do not qualify for state tax relief. The program costs the town a little more than $14,000 a year.
The property-tax relief provided by the town is in addition to tax relief provided by the state for those with incomes up to $35,301. The new plan would cost the town about $145,000 a year to expand the town program by adding an additional tax credit at all income levels and by allowing married seniors with an income of $41,301 to $52,000 to receive a $300 tax credit.
The proposed town tax credits range from an additional $400 credit for those who already qualify for tax relief under the state program to a $300 credit for seniors in the $41,301-to-$52,000 income level. Single seniors would also receive additional tax credits but would not be able to sign up for the town program if they had an income over $41,301.
The new plan would cost the town $145,735 if the estimated 450 taxpayers, who town officials believe may be eligible for the program, actually sign up to participate.
Demicco said the subcommittee wants to relieve seniors while not overly adding to the tax burden on other residents. “We want to give seniors a break, but it also has to allow us to set the mill rate to do the things we need to do without overburdening everyone else,” Demicco said.
Keniston and Demicco are currently trying to work out plans to stage a presentation on the new proposal at the Senior and Community Center in the coming weeks.
“We need to see a show of support for the plan from the seniors to show that they want this,” Keniston said.

New Britain Herald