Panel Hopes For Tax Relief Plan By This Summer

By Steve Bigham

The Ordinance Committee of the Legislative Council took up the issue of elderly tax relief at its meeting last week. Its hope is to have some form of tax break for Newtown’s senior citizens before tax bills go out this summer.

At its meeting, the committee agreed to recommend a cap of $330,000 as a total lost revenue cost. In addition, it agreed that the town’s existing ordinance needs a major overhaul. Finally, the committee concluded that it would adopt the exact proposal made by Selectman Joe Bojnowski and Tax Collector Carol Mahoney as a fall back if it is unable to create a new ordinance by this summer. That plan would provide tax relief to senior citizens who meet certain income criteria. Such a program would require a means test. The ordinance committee is not expected to go with a plan proposed by the ad hoc elderly tax relief board. That plan would provide significant tax relief to all residents 65 and over – no matter what their income level might be.

Mrs Mahoney has stated that it is 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.