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Town board adopts change to senior tax exemption, excluding some nontaxable Social Security from income calculation
Summary
After a public hearing, the Town of Mamaroneck adopted a local law that will exclude certain nontaxable Social Security benefits from the income calculation used to determine senior tax exemptions; the board noted the change must be enacted before the May 1 taxable status date and agreed to review exemption caps next year.
The Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck adopted a local law on April 22 revising the town's senior citizen tax exemption to exclude the nontaxable portion of Social Security benefits from the income calculation used to determine eligibility and exemption level.
Bill, who explained the proposal at the public hearing, told the board the amendment's effect is limited to removing the nontaxable portion of Social Security from the calculation and that the exemption remains a sliding scale tied to income. He stressed the timing: "the taxable status date is May 1," and if the board did not act this evening, any change could not take effect until the next year.
Resident Michael Godfried, who identified himself as living in Larchmont, said he would not oppose the change tonight but urged the board to study the broader structure of senior exemptions next year. "I'm not suggesting that you don't pass it tonight...the change...is small in comparison," he said, and asked the finance committee to evaluate uncapped exemptions and inconsistent rules across villages and the town.
Thomas Murphy, a resident of Harrison, asked whether the town exemption applies to special districts and whether income caps are adjusted for inflation. Counsel confirmed the exemption applies only to the town portion of property tax bills and that adjustments to caps depend on state authorization and local action.
The board moved to adopt the local law as presented and a roll call recorded affirmative votes by the members present. The board noted the change is procedural in scope but emphasized it will revisit exemption policy and administration next year to evaluate equity and potential caps.
The law takes effect under the town's usual local law procedures; because the town's taxable status date is May 1, board members said acting this evening was necessary to make the change effective for the current assessment year.
