MONROE, Conn. — A Town Council hearing and vote on a proposal to amend the Elderly and Permanently Disabled Tax Relief Ordinance to increase the benefit by $300 across the board is expected to take place on May 11.
“Last year, we increased the ceiling to help our seniors during the year of the reval,” First Selectman Terry Rooney said. “After looking at the enrollment and the impact, we realized there is more that we can do for our seniors in Monroe.”
Rooney said he had many meetings with Tax Assessor Justin Feldman and Susan Bannay, chair of the Monroe Commission for the Aging, before they decided to move forward.
A recommendation will be sought from the Board of Finance, before the Town Council’s Legislative and Administrative Committee does its review and votes on whether to move the amendment to the full Council.
The amendment proposes increasing the benefit in each category of those eligible for a tax break by $300 across the board.
Currently, those earning a household income of $30,440 or less are eligible for a maximum annual tax reduction of $1,500. The amendment proposes increasing that benefit to $1,800. The rest of the proposal includes:
- An income range of $30,440 to $41,580; current maximum tax reduction: $1,300; proposed: $1,600
- $41,580 to $52,720; current benefit: $1,100; proposed: $1,400
- $52,720 to $63,860; current benefit: $900; proposed: $1,200
- $63,860 to $75,000; current benefit: $600; proposed $900.
“In considering the need for these changes, I conferred with numerous town residents, the Commission on Aging, and our Director of Community & Social Services who emphatically support the amendment as presented,” Rooney wrote in a letter to Town Council Chairman Jonathan Formichella.
“In considering the projected financial impact from these proposed changes, I consulted with our Tax Assessor and Finance Department and my proposed budget incorporates same,” Rooney continued. “Lastly, my proposed changes were presented to our Town Attorney to draft the proposed amendment and I provided his letter of opinion approving same.”
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