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Council committee advances proposal to loosen West Haven senior tax-freeze; public hearing set
Summary
A legislative committee advanced an amendment to West Haven’s elderly tax-freeze that would reduce the residency requirement from 20 to 10 consecutive years and remove the restriction on children under 25 living in the household; the change could add roughly $500,000 to the city’s budget and a public hearing was scheduled.
The City Council’s Legislative Matters Committee on April 14 advanced a proposed amendment to West Haven’s elderly tax-freeze ordinance that would lower the residency requirement for eligibility from 20 consecutive years to 10 and would eliminate the rule barring children under 25 from living with a qualifying homeowner.
Councilwoman Catherine Tucker, acting as chair of the committee, presented the amended ordinance language, which also sets household income limits for eligibility: $50,000 for married couples and $35,000 for single applicants, with Social Security payments excluded from the income calculation. The draft requires applicants to be age 70 or older and specifies that applications will be accepted February 1 through May 15 each year.
Mayor Dorinda Borer and other officials discussed the program’s financial impact. “We had estimated that it cost us about $750,000 off of the grand list for the current senior tax freeze we have now,” Mayor Borer said during committee discussion, and she added that changing the residency requirement from 20 to 10 years “would cost approximately another $500,000.”
Committee members said the change is intended as a near-term “stopgap” to expand eligibility before a longer study of program design. Council members noted the short calendar: the assessor’s office applications for the current cycle close May 15, leaving only a few meetings to hold a public hearing and act if the council wants the change to apply this year.
Councilman Steve Johnstone and others asked about outreach if the ordinance is approved; Mayor Borer said the city would publish information on the website, social media, The Voice local paper and work with district council members, senior centers and libraries to assist residents with applications. Committee members also discussed allowing paper application assistance and potential notarization or onsite help for residents who cannot travel or lack internet access.
The committee scheduled a public hearing on the amendment for April 28 at 6:50 p.m., according to remarks at the meeting, so the council can consider final action in time for the May 15 application deadline if members choose.
Ending: Committee members agreed the change could help more long-term residents on fixed incomes but noted the additional cost to the city budget and said the measure would be revisited for broader reform in the coming year.
