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Assessors outline tax relief changes, new home‑rule petition and programs for veterans and seniors
Summary
The city assessors described FY26 efforts to expand and publicize tax relief: local changes doubling some veterans' exemptions under a home‑rule petition, lowering certain age thresholds for exemptions, and piloting a senior work‑off program; staff urged residents to file annual statutory abatements by April 1.
Patrick Brelon and Jessica Guerra, representing the assessors' office, told the FY26 budget hearing the office does valuation work for every property and that the office has been active in outreach to help taxpayers apply for relief.
Brelon said a recently adopted local ordinance allows higher local exemptions for disabled veterans (doubling the local exemption cited by the presentation) and noted that a related state change now permits an excise exemption on 1 vehicle for certain veterans with a disability rating—simplifying a previously cumbersome medical review board process. "We did send letters to all of the property owners that we know are disabled veterans to make them aware of it," the assessors said.
The office said it lowered the qualifying age for a particular exemption from 70 to 65 and has increased exemption amounts. It also plans to implement a senior work‑off program for FY26 that allows qualifying residents to earn up to $1,000 off their property taxes by working for the city. Assessors said the city also adopted a home‑rule petition mechanism intended to create a local program to help offset real estate taxes for people who meet locally determined criteria; the city must still set specific eligibility rules if the petition is approved by the legislature.
The assessors emphasized statutory filing requirements: "All of them need to be filed every single year and it's always by April 1," Brelon said of exemptions and abatements (senior, veteran, blind, circuit‑breaker type filings). He asked residents to contact the assessors' office if they think they qualify; staff highlighted hands‑on outreach and noted in‑person help when residents call or visit.
No vacancies were reported in the assessors' budget request, and the office described a proposed additional commercial appraiser position to support valuation work as part of FY26 requests.
