Senior tax change: 'The biggest screw-up I've ever seen'

Barrington residents object to switch in senior tax exemption

Posted 10/17/17

Dozens of people crowded into the council chambers on Monday night to voice their opposition to the town's new income-based senior tax exemption.

One woman called the exemption a "prejudicial act" …

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Senior tax change: 'The biggest screw-up I've ever seen'

Barrington residents object to switch in senior tax exemption

Posted

Dozens of people crowded into the council chambers on Monday night to voice their opposition to the town's new income-based senior tax exemption.

One woman called the exemption a "prejudicial act" against the senior population.

"The attorneys will line up" waiting to sue the town, she said.

Longtime resident Allan Klepper was a bit harsher when he spoke to the town's ad hoc tax exemption committee.

"This is the biggest screw-up I've ever seen," he shouted.

LeRoy Czaskos, an older resident who leaned on a cane as he approached the microphone at the front of the council chambers, said he was very angry with the town's new approach to the senior tax exemption.

"Your action is simply elderly discrimination," he said. 

Each comment drew loud applause from the boisterous crowd, which clearly objected to the change in the senior tax exemption. In the past, all Barrington residents 65 and older could apply for and receive a flat tax credit — last year the credit was for $368 off their property tax bills. The residents did not need to verify how much income they earned.

This year, the town council decided to re-work the exemption, potentially offering larger tax exemptions to residents who earn less money each year and smaller exemptions to residents who earn more. Senior residents were told to fill out an application and provide verifiable proof of income if they wanted to be considered for the exemption.

Steven Boyajian, the chairman of the ad hoc tax exemption committee and a member of the town council, told the crowd Monday night that Barrington was not the only town to require income verification. He also reminded residents that the rule was written into the town ordinances.

But fellow ad hoc committee member Mike Tripp pressed Mr. Boyajian, asking him if the income verification was done at the discretion of the tax assessor, Michael Minardi. Officials considered the idea for a few minutes and eventually Mr. Minardi said he would take another look at the town ordinance and run the idea past town council members and the town solicitor. 

Mr. Boyajian said the council was due to meet on Thursday, and he would add the item to the agenda. 

Steve Primiano, another member of the council who attended Monday's meeting, said an easy alternative to requesting tax returns from senior residents would be to send out postcards, surveying the older population about how much they earn annually. That information would allow town officials to build a tiered structure for the exemptions.

"Right now we're asking them (seniors) to apply for something they might not be eligible for," Mr. Primiano said. 

The council is hoping to keep the senior tax exemption change "revenue neutral." Last year, the town offered about $547,000 in tax exemptions to residents 65 and older. 

Mr. Minardi said about 250 people have already applied for the senior tax exemption. The deadline to file for the exemption is Oct. 31.

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