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Councilmember presses administration over missing tax‑relief forms that left seniors off rolls
Summary
Councilmember Trammell told the council that seniors in her district did not receive tax‑relief recertification forms and some face large delinquent bills; CAO said administration will follow the previously issued memo, reappropriate funds and follow up with Finance and council on next steps.
At the April 6 budget work session, Councilwoman Trammell reported constituent cases in which seniors said they did not receive tax‑relief recertification forms and were subsequently removed from the tax‑relief program, producing delinquent notices that in at least one cited case totaled about $8,000.
Trammell described multiple constituents who are elderly and in poor health who either did not receive mailed forms or mistook notices for junk mail and therefore missed recertification steps. She urged immediate follow‑up and assistance for residents she said are at risk of losing homes because they cannot afford the sudden delinquency.
Administration response and next steps
CAO O'Donnell acknowledged the reports, said staff has been responsive to council inquiries and pointed to a memorandum and earlier actions that cleared a backlog in FY26; he said the administration will present legislation to reappropriate the relevant FY26 funds into FY27 through an amendment process. Popovich and CAO offered to connect Trammell with the Finance Department to resolve specific constituent cases and to provide details on timelines for printed forms and outreach.
Why it matters: The tax‑relief program directly affects low‑income and elderly homeowners; missing forms and process breakdowns can have immediate financial and housing consequences for vulnerable residents.
Attributable quotes
- "I am so grateful that our library is open..." Councilwoman Trammell said while urging better outreach for seniors and asking the administration to respond to constituent cases.
- CAO O'Donnell: "The next step is to actually allocate those funds... it will then come and you will forward it into FY27 through an amendment." (paraphrase based on his remarks explaining the reappropriation process.)
Follow‑up requested
Council requested that Popovich, the CAO and Finance provide a clear timeline for printed forms, identify whether additional staffing is needed in Finance to process recertifications, and report back to council as soon as possible; CAO agreed to follow up and to work with Trammell on constituent cases.
Provenance: The exchange took place during the human services and subsequent budget Q&A segment (topicintro: Trammell's complaint at SEG 1963; topfinish: CAO response and commitment at SEG 2469).
