NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (WOIO) – Cuyahoga County Officials met with senior citizens at the North Olmsted Senior Center on Monday to announce a new Tax Payer Assistance Program.
This new legislation comes after major property tax increases.
The proposal aims to keep people in their homes as long as possible.
“Today we are here on behalf of Cuyahoga County to provide the tax payer assistance program to our county,” said Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive.
If the program is passed, it could provide up to $10,000 for tax payers 70 years of age or older.
“I challenged the team to find ways to keep our most vulnerable residents in their homes and they answered with the tax payer assistance program,” says Ronayne.
While the property tax hikes are not the only reason for the financial help, they hope this proposal will help those who need it most.
In addition to direct assistance, the program will fund housing counseling services.
Ronald Augustine says he and his wife attended the meeting on Monday because they don’t have a pension.
“We want to see if we can somehow get some help just for social security,” says Augustine.
He says a lot of older adults that he knows desperately need the help.
“A lot of senior citizens have nothing and I think this is a good program,” says Augustine.
The legislation will be introduced at the Cuyahoga County Council meeting on October 22.
If approved, the Treasurer‘s Office will fund the pilot program through the county’s Delinquent Tax & Assessment Collection Fund.
“No one should out live their pension. No one should out live their house because of property taxes,” said Kevin Nowak, President of CHN Housing Partners.
County Officials say the tax tour and informational meetings will be taken around Cuyahoga County to reach as many senior residents as possible.
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