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Town hearing ends with failed vote on excluding nontaxable Social Security from senior-exemption income calculation
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents and assessor testimony, the Town Board considered a local law to exclude nontaxable Social Security from the senior exemption calculation; the motion to adopt the local law failed at the Oct. 14 meeting.
The Town of Clinton held a public hearing and took a formal vote on a proposed local law to amend taxation rules so that nontaxable Social Security would not be counted toward applicants’ adjusted gross income for the senior citizens' exemption. After public comment and board discussion, the motion to adopt the local law failed.
Councilwoman Mostello introduced the matter, saying a town resident brought the proposal forward and the board agreed to hold a hearing. Residents described the potential local and household impacts; one resident summarized state and town figures and an assessor’s estimate that the change would cost the town roughly $28,000 annually. “If you divide that $28,000 by that, it's a matter of $7.04 more,” a resident said, urging consideration for seniors struggling to keep their homes.
Sarah, the town’s new assessor, clarified eligibility and limits, noting an estimated 35 people would qualify under the newly proposed limits and warning that the computation could benefit people with substantial assets who nevertheless meet the income threshold. “A millionaire can still have $3,000,000 in the bank, but he would also get this exemption on his assessment,” the assessor said.
During board discussion, members reiterated the town previously adopted the largest reduction the state allows and said state-level changes affected the calculation; several board members expressed concern the change could benefit people of means. The board moved to adopt the local law, but the final result recorded in the transcript shows inconsistent voice-vote exchanges and the clerk or chair ultimately declared the motion failed.
Action: The motion to adopt the local law amending town code chapter 210 regarding Social Security income was brought before the board but failed on voice vote; no succeeding motion to modify or refer the proposal was recorded. The town clerk has the proposed law on file for inspection at the clerk’s office.
