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Danbury council adopts consolidated elderly and disabled tax-relief program amid objections
Summary
After extended public comment and council debate, the Danbury City Council adopted an ordinance to consolidate elderly and disabled property tax relief programs and establish a new income-based benefit; the final roll call was 15 yes, 4 no.
The Danbury City Council adopted a consolidated ordinance to restructure elderly and disabled property tax relief on Feb. 4, 2025, after public comment and hours of council debate.
Supporters said the new program raises income-eligibility thresholds and was designed to expand benefits to more residents. Councilman Salvatore said the new program increases qualifying income levels and preserves legacy benefits for current participants, while offering an option to switch to the new program if it is more advantageous.
Opponents and several public speakers warned the changes could exclude ‘house-rich, cash-poor’ seniors and unfairly treat non‑Social Security retirement income. Councilman Fox, who opposed the ordinance, said the proposal "is unfair to certain groups of our senior population" and highlighted concerns about the 50% social‑security income rule and a real‑estate value cap that he said could disqualify long‑time residents.
Members sought legal and administrative clarifications during the meeting. Tax Assessor Donna told the council that the application period had opened the previous day, that "anybody who's on the program is notified by mail by the February 1," and that "there is no online option for taking applications" at present; she said applicants on legacy programs may remain on those programs or reapply for the new program.
The council also considered procedural options during debate. A motion to recommit the ordinance to committee failed on a roll call (15 nay, 4 yay). After further discussion and clarification on residency and revaluation mechanics, the council adopted the ordinance on a roll‑call vote of 15 yes and 4 no. Mayor Roberto L. Alves thanked Councilman Chienese and the assessor's office for their work on the program and noted the council could revisit and refine the ordinance in the future.
The ordinance ties the home‑value eligibility test to the last property revaluation (2022) — revaluations occur every five years — and uses the median residential value from that revaluation to determine thresholds. The tax assessor said the city will update the website and provide workshops at senior centers and libraries to help residents understand the new program and application process.
Next steps: the ordinance takes effect as adopted and the assessor's office will proceed with outreach and enrollment. Council members who opposed the measure said they plan to push for future amendments to address the concerns raised during the meeting.
