Seniors in Carroll County finally will get the property tax credit the county commissioners have been striving toward for two years after its unanimous approval Tuesday.
The measure would help shield seniors on fixed or limited incomes against the burden of rising property values and property taxes, which have been a persistent problem as Carroll rides the region?s thriving real estate market.
“Rising assessments ? even before these ?boom? years we?ve been having ? have been outgrowing seniors? income,” said Commissioner Dean Minnich, a Republican, who said the commissioners would continue to look for ways to reduce the county’s dependence on property tax income.
Commission President Julia Gouge, also a Republican, said that, while preparing the credit, she had met more and more of Carroll?s senior citizens living on small amounts of money.
With Monday?s end to the legislative session in Annapolis, one of the commissioners? concerns about the tax credit was extinguished. Time ran out for the Carroll County delegation to pass a bill reducing the growth of homes? taxable value statewide, which the commissioners argued could jeopardize tax cuts targeted specifically toward seniors.
Seniors who qualify can apply through the state?s existing homeowner property tax credit, and the state will determine how much of the county?s credit they can receive, said County Comptroller Rob Burk. The county?s Bureau of Aging will begin setting up information sessions for those who want to apply before the Sept. 1 deadline.
Credit qualifications
Qualifying homeowner must be:
» at least 65 years of age
» have a net worth of $500,000 or less (not including qualified retirement plans and accounts or the value of the house)
» have an income of no more than $50,000 a year
The credit can be applied toward the first $300,000 of a home?s value.
