NORWICH – Over the last few months, the City of Norwich has discussed the possibility of increasing the income guidelines for the senior property tax exemption and instituting an exemption for disabled property owners, but after last week’s meeting of the Finance / Personnel Committee, it looks like neither of those issues will be pursued at this time.
On Tuesday night, the committee decided not to move forward with either of the tax exemptions. First Ward Alderman Robert Carey explained he felt the exemptions would be shifting the tax burden from one property owner to another.
The city currently has a senior property tax exemption, but according to Steve Harris, city assessor until last month, the income guidelines for the exemption have not been changed since 1994. In October, the Common Council voted 6-0 in favor of updating the income rates for the senior exemption, however they later determined a public hearing must be held on the issue before a vote was taken. Although there were no comments for or against the issue at the public hearing, the city voted to table the matter, and now does not plan to update the rates as originally planned.
In October, Harris explained the rate increase would bring the city income guidelines to the same level as the county’s. “The exemption levels county wide are pretty low,” Harris had said. He explained that if the exemption levels are not revised, a small increase in social security could have a negative effect, sometimes costing the seniors more than the increase was worth.
The disability exemption would have been similar to the senior exemption, providing a tax exemption to severely disabled property owners with low incomes. At last month’s public hearing, one resident spoke out in favor of the exemption for the disabled. Joan Craw of Borden Ave., said disabled residents, like seniors, are on fixed incomes and should not be taxed out of their homes.
The city will not be pursuing the disabled exemption at this time.