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Manassas council raises income threshold for elderly and disabled tax relief
Summary
Council approved an ordinance to increase the gross income eligibility cap for up to $3,400 in real estate and personal property tax relief from $56,150 to $60,000 to prevent Social Security cost-of-living increases from disqualifying some seniors; the change was adopted on first reading.
Council adopted an amendment (ordinance O2026-336) to the city’s real estate and personal property tax relief program for the elderly and disabled, raising the upper gross income threshold for eligibility from $56,150 to $60,000.
Commissioner Tim DeMaria told council the change aims to prevent seniors and disabled residents from losing benefits because of modest Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. He said lower-income thresholds are indexed to HUD figures for 100% relief and that the upper cap has not been raised in approximately a decade.
Council members asked clarifying questions; staff noted eligibility is based on gross income, that certain household members’ first $10,000 of income may be excluded, and that there is also a net worth limit ($340,000, excluding the primary residence). Council voted to adopt the ordinance on first reading.
Next steps: Staff will implement the new income threshold for applications due by July 1 in the following year and revisit threshold adjustments annually as needed.
