Stafford seniors get help

Stafford expands qualifications for a program that provides tax relief to senior citizens on fixed incomes

By MEGHANN COTTER

Date published: 10/18/2006

Tax relief will now reach more of Stafford's fixed-income residents.

County supervisors voted last night to expand financial qualifications for the program.

Elderly and disabled homeowners have lobbied state and local representatives for such assistance in the last few years, as home values and taxes have crept upward but incomes have stayed virtually the same.

Changes to the program include increased limits on net worth--cash value of a taxpayer's land, home and other property.

A new bracket was also added to help those with low earnings and high net worth. Commissioner of Revenue Scott Mayausky said that's expected to assist those who have made long-term investments to fund their retirement, but don't have a lot of monthly cash flow.

Local officials have made similar alterations annually since 2004 to keep up with inflation.

But they had more wiggle room this year, given a General Assembly decision to let Stafford use Northern Virginia's tax relief guidelines. That increased the maximum net worth to $540,000. Income limits were capped at $75,287 a few years ago.

Mayausky said local officials decided the tax program should be altered gradually because budget impact is hard to predict. They did not adopt the state maximums, but agreed to meet annually to discuss further relief.

"We moved cautiously with this program," he said. "When it comes to the net worth calculations we have no data as far as that goes."

Stafford received 710 applications for the program this year, forgiving $983,078 in taxes. That's up from 597 applications in 2005 and a value of $744,203.

Comparable Virginia counties--Hanover, Prince William, Louisa, Albemarle, Fauquier and Spotsylvania--gave an average 1 percent of their real estate revenue away in tax relief last year, Mayausky said. Stafford was giving away 0.8 percent at the time.

In other business, supervisors authorized the purchase of Potomac Hills Fire and Rescue station from its parent company Widewater Volunteer Fireman's Association, which runs another company off Widewater Road.

The county took control of Potomac Hills operations in February, after the two groups split over management issues.

Officials signed a $1 a year, five-year lease on the building in July. But they now want to buy it for $100,000, plus payment of Widewater's existing $1.4 million debt.

Potomac Hills would become the first county-owned station in Stafford, if the deal goes through.

To reach MEGHANN COTTER: 540/374-5434
Email: mcotter@freelancestar.com

Pull out box The following conditions qualify elderly and disabled residents for tax relief in Stafford County: - Those who earn a maximum $30,000 and have a net worth less than $400,000 pay half of their taxes. - Those who earn a maximum $40,000 and have a net worth less than $200,000 pay half of their taxes. - Those who earn a maximum $35,000 and have a net worth less than $300,000 pay no taxes. - Relief per household cannot exceed $2,000. - Each person accepted to the program can own up to 20 acres without having it count against their net worth. The following conditions qualify elderly and disabled residents for tax relief in Stafford County: Those who earn a maximum $30,000 and have a net worth less than $400,000 pay half of their taxes. Those who earn a maximum $40,000 and have a net worth less than $200,000 pay half of their taxes. Those who earn a maximum $35,000 and have a net worth less than $300,000 pay no taxes. Relief per household cannot exceed $2,000. Each person accepted to the program can own up to 20 acres without having it count against their net worth.

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Date published: 10/18/2006