Ordinance Panel Recommends More Senior Tax Relief, Plans Hearings

By John Voket

The Legislative Council’s Ordinance Committee this week unanimously recommended initiating changes to the town’s Senior Tax Relief Ordinance to provide greater resources, and greater opportunity for those qualifying to access the program.

Committee members promised the program will also be broadened to include individuals who are deemed to be totally disabled by federal Social Security qualifications, and plan to gather the data needed to draft the required ordinance to that effect in 2009.

According to Newtown Tax Collector Carol Mahoney, who spearheaded the initiative, the proposed amendment to the ordinance will give seniors more relief for their real estate tax bills beginning July 2009. The full council heard about the recommendation during its last meeting of the year December 17, and can act to approve the new measures in January.

“These changes will provide those with incomes of $45,000 or less, a $2,000 tax credit, and a $1,500 credit for those with incomes between $45,000 and $50,000,” Ms Mahoney told The Newtown Bee. “Taxpayers with an income of $55,001 to $65,000 will receive a $1,300 credit.”

The changes will allow those taxpayers with an income between $60,000 and $65,000 to receive a credit also .whereas in past years the income limit was $60,000.

“Hopefully the taxpayers who we were not able to help last year because their income was just above the $60,000 limit will reapply this year, and benefit from this income change,” Ms Mahoney said. “The town is trying to enhance this program to help seniors continue to stay in their homes while recognizing the challenging economic climate that we are now facing.”

The ordinance change also increases the amount of funding for the tax relief program from $950,000 to $1.2 million, further extending potential benefit availability to those who qualify. If the amount of requests by qualified taxpayers for the benefit exceeds the new cap, the tax credits can either be pro-rated proportionately by income level, or  the council may increase that $1.2 million cap to provide the maximum benefit for all who qualify.

An email from ordinance committee chair and council vice chair Francis Pennarola indicates that approximately 568 households are currently eligible for existing tax relief. At least 60 more could qualify if an ordinance extending tax relief for those who are totally disabled is drafted.

While enabling legislation allows the council to adopt the tax relief enhancement without a public hearing, several other ordinances and ordinance changes will be slated for public hearings in the coming weeks. Among them are a proposed noise ordinance, a fire lane ordinance, and adjustments to the Parks & Recreation Commission ordinance.

Changes to the Parks ordinance would make its policies consistent with recent charter revision increasing the commission from six to seven members. During the charter revision process, it was explained that the amount of involvement and oversight that panel now has for park facilities, recreation and sports programming, as well as the town-owned trail systems, was becoming taxing to the six-member commission.

The ordinance change also bestows responsibility for Parks & Rec funds upon the town finance director, which will be administered as part of the general fund. In cases of specific designated monetary gifts or bequests, the finance director will administer the donations in a separate and specified fund.

If approved, the updated ordinance will require any disbursements from the Parks & Rec Commission to be co-signed by the finance director and an authorized member of the commission. The update will also stipulate any rules it may deem necessary governing the use of the parks areas, and any decision made by the commission as to its adopted rules and regulations are final and not subject to appeal.

The final proposed change will permit the Parks Commission to designate either a vice chair or co-chair.

Proposed changes to the existing fire lane ordinance enhance definition on the authority to designate, establish, and mark such lanes, along with enforcement guidelines, fines and penalties for violations on the part of property owners who are bound to create fire lanes, as well as those drivers who violate the ordinance by blocking the lanes.

A first of its kind noise ordinance will provide local law enforcement specific guidelines under which officers can test for excessive noise, and fine offenders. While the state has a noise statute, the creation of a local ordinance provides a means for Newtown agencies to conduct monitoring, and standards to enforce noise control within town boundaries.

Once an advisory public hearing is conducted on the proposal by the council, the noise ordinance is subject to approval by the State Department of Environmental Protection. Since the proposed Newtown noise ordinance is based on an already approved Ridgefield measure, it is expected to also be approved at the state level as long as the local council endorses it.