Old Orchard Beach seniors over age 70 who qualify for the state Property Tax Fairness Credit may qualify for a new local tax relief program. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal Tribune
OLD ORCHARD BEACH — An informational meeting on the town’s new senior property tax refund program will be held at Old Orchard Beach Town Hall at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22.
In June, the Old Orchard Beach Town Council approved $35,000 in the fiscal year 2019 budget to fund a senior property tax relief program.
“The Town Council knows that although the value of your home may be increasing, incomes of retired residents may not be keeping up,” said Town Manager Larry Mead.
The program is open to those 70 years old and older who have lived in Old Orchard Beach as a year-round resident for at least 10 years and qualify for the Maine State Property Tax Fairness Program through the Maine Department of Revenue.
Those who qualify for the Maine State Property Tax Fairness Program must be 65 years old or older and Maine must be their primary residence. If one’s filing status is single, their maximum income must be $34,167 annually. A person filing as a head of household must earn no more than $44,167 annually and a married couple filing jointly can only earn up to $54,167 annually.
In 2017, there were 128 Old Orchard Beach residents over the age of 70 who qualified for the Maine State Property Tax Fairness Program, said Mead. The average property tax refund through this program was $278. As proposed, the Old Orchard Beach program would match the state refund for qualifying residents.
Tuesday night’s informational meeting will be televised on local government access channel 1301 and will also be streamed on the town’s website, www.oobmaine.com.
The meeting is being hosted by town staff in conjunction with Old Orchard Beach Community Friendly Connection, a group that strives to make Old Orchard Beach a great place to live and work for people of all ages.
“So many people don’t realize they may qualify and it’s their chance to get their questions answered,” said OOB Community Friendly Connection core member Pat Brown.
Whether or not they qualify for the new local tax relief program, Brown said, it’s critical that all residents, no matter what age, apply for the state homestead exemption program if they haven’t already.
According to the Maine government website, the Homestead Exemption program “provides a measure of property tax relief for certain individuals that have owned homestead property in Maine for at least 12 months and make the property they occupy on April 1 their permanent residence. Property owners would receive an exemption of $20,000.” Veterans and people who are legally blind can qualify for an extra exemption. For more information, visit the website www.maine.gov/revenue/propertytax/sidebar/exemptions.htm.
To apply for the Homestead Exemption or other property relief programs, go to the town assessor’s office before April 1.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 780-9015 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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