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2 <br />recently given the experience of other localities. He said we have a program in place, and <br />rather than complicate things with another program, he would favor continuing to build <br />on the tax grant program and further expand the eligibility for that, as well as continue to <br />hold the line on the tax rate. He said if anything he would like to see us consolidate our <br />tax grant programs. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said we have good programs for low income and senior residents, but <br />not for the middle class. He said we could end up with a lot of low and high income <br />home owners. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown noted that a tax deferral program would target people who need it the <br />most due to having the biggest rising assessment, but said he is not sure the timing <br />dictates doing it. He said he is also concerned about the administrative cost and whether <br />it is worth it. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he is a fan of giving people options, but in view of the <br />projected assessments and start-up costs, he would rather see money go into other tax <br />grant programs. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he does not disagree with Mr. Lynch about middle income <br />residents feeling the crunch, and said he would support increasing income eligibility for <br />the tax grant program. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he would have a real problem doing that as his taxes would be <br />helping with others who are relatively affluent. He said he thinks it is reasonable to ask <br />taxpayers to help people get out of poverty and those who are struggling with <br />homeownership stay in their homes. Dr. Brown said one appeal about the tax deferral <br />program is that it can apply to more people. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said it would help those whose property has appreciated the fastest. <br />He said he thinks it is reasonable to have a limit on how much taxes are increased in a <br />year. He said we could figure out in a low stakes way the cost of the program given the <br />low projected increases in assessments. He said when the market recovers we could have <br />a handle on the program. He said people are not going to go through this process unless <br />they are really financially pinched. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris asked what the difference is between this program and the deferral <br />program aimed at the elderly that the City previously had, and asked if there is a reason to <br />expect this to have more appeal when the senior program did not. <br /> <br /> Ms. Brown said that seniors were concerned about leaving debt to their heirs. She <br />noted that staff would have to spend a lot more time talking with a number of people <br />about the deferral program than those who would ultimately sign up, so there would still <br />be substantial administrative cost even if participation was low. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said that if we hold the line or bring down the tax rate and expand <br />other tax relief programs he would prefer to hold off on a deferral program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he would be agreeable to holding off on the a deferral <br />program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if we can agree to revisit the tax deferral program in a year from <br />now. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said there must be some way to survey people to see if they would be <br />interested in such a program, and target those whose assessments have gone up a certain <br />amount. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that lowering the tax rate is not equitable to everyone, noting that <br />commercial properties have seen less of an increase. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said the bigger irony is that there is a flat residential market and <br /> <br />