Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Tax Deferral is NOT an Acceptable Substitution For Tax Relief

It's not nice to fool our seniors!
Tonight, in City Council, the proposals from the City re the Tax Attack we have been subjected to failed to provide meaningful tax relief for seniors over 65, and did NOT provide any tax relief for persons who cannot work as a result of their disability and survive on SSI.
Instead, tax deferral was offered, which is a taking, albeit later, and which is not tax relief. What we need is to raise the "Income Limit" used to qualify from $20,000 to at least $40,000. The COLA should have been used each year so our seniors were not left behind.
Also ignored, was tax relief for those on SSI. Is it the intention of our State and City that homeowners who become disabled should not be provided any tax relief whatsoever? Our tax policy means we think PWDs do not have a right to live in their own homes. I believe this is wrong, and this needs to be fixed. This is the FOURTH year in a row that I have said this.
Last year, as a result of my continued speaking about this problem, Councillor David Maher put in a "late order" that was signed onto by the full council. It called for a "report" on the effect escallating property taxes had on seniors and persons with disabilities. Here is a copy of the order, but, WHERE IS THE REPORT???

O-13

IN CITY COUNCIL

November 22, 2004

COUNCILLOR MAHER
COUNCILLOR MURPHY
MAYOR SULLIVAN
COUNCILLOR DAVIS
VICE MAYOR DECKER
COUNCILLOR GALLUCCIO
COUNCILLOR REEVES
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR TOOMEY

ORDERED:
The City Manager be and hereby is requested to appoint a special committee to look at issues of escalating property tax assessments and their effect on long term, senior, and disabled residents; and be it further

ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct this special committee to report back to the City Council prior to the submission of the Fiscal Year 2006 budget on its findings, including answers to the following questions:

1. Are there additional steps that the City of Cambridge could take in this matter?
2. Are there legislative changes that the City should be proposing to the state?

posted by Kathy Podgers @ Tuesday, September 27, 2005