As a task force reviews a new senior tax cut, a current Howard law aiming to give seniors some relief has received little response.
“We tried to do a lot of outreach, [but] it doesn?t always work,” said Sharon Greisz, county finance director, speaking at the task force?s first meeting this week.
Only 86 residents have taken advantage of a senior tax deferral program, she said later in an interview.
In 2005, the County Council passed a bill allowing seniors age 65 years or older who make less than $75,000 to defer payment of the annual increase in their property taxes.
The taxes deferred would be due when the homeowner sells the house.
To qualify applicants, Howard places a lien on the house, which is a claim to the house as security for repayment.
Some residents expressed concern about the liens, while others questioned the amount of the deferral, thinking it might not be worth it, Greisz said.
The average amount of the credit would be $135 for the first year, but that savings would “grow rapidly” over the years, she said. For example, the third year, the amount would be more than $300, she said.
Many longtime homeowners are uncomfortable with the idea of a lien, and the deferred tax could add up, said Ted Meyerson, vice chairman of the county?s Commission on Aging and head of the senior tax cut task force.
If a 65-year-old resident defers $5,000 a year of taxes and lives in the county for another three decades, the taxes owed could be overwhelming, he said.
The law states the accumulation of deferred taxes can not exceed half of the assessed value of the house.
