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County committee backs higher eligibility for elderly and disabled real-estate tax relief
Summary
Halifax County’s finance committee voted 3–0 to recommend raising income and net-worth limits for the county’s elderly and disabled real-estate tax relief program, proposing tiered exemptions and keeping a $500 annual cap. The recommendation goes to the full Board of Supervisors.
Brenda Powell, Halifax County Commissioner of the Revenue, told the Finance Committee the program’s current income thresholds “have remained unchanged and no longer reflect current economic conditions,” and that participation has fallen from roughly 200 qualifying applicants to 68 under today’s limits.
Powell recommended increasing eligibility to a $40,000 household income cap and an $80,000 net worth limit (excluding the applicant’s residence and one acre). Under her proposal, households with income from $0–$30,000 would qualify for a 100% exemption; $30,001–$35,000 for a 75% exemption; and $35,001–$40,000 for a 50% exemption. She said the maximum relief would remain capped at $500 annually.
Committee members asked about the fiscal impact and were told that even if participation returned to historic levels the cost would remain manageable. Vice Chair R. Smart moved and Supervisor J. Oakes seconded a motion recommending the revisions to the full Board; the Committee voted 3–0 in favor. The Board of Supervisors will consider the recommendation at a future meeting.
