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More senior citizens are poised to qualify for the city's STAR tax relief program.
"Not everyone in our community has a state pension, a 401(k), 403(b) or other stuff to rely on," said Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, during a City Council meeting held Monday.
Russell proposed legislation aimed at protecting seniors in Jamestown age 65 and older by raising the earned income levels to match Chautauqua County's.
"This local law change will help low-income seniors by raising the max income level for property tax relief from a total household income of $19,000 to $22,000. I recently spoke- with the increase in Social Security- there were many of our seniors, at least a few dozen, that were looking at dropping off this benefit," said Russell. "As a result, their taxes could nearly double. Some of our seniors are living merely off Social Security, and as a result were possibly looking at losing their homes."
Council members passed the resolution unanimously. In accordance with New York's Municipal Home Rule Law, this resolution must be tabled for 30 days.
"Councilman Russell spoke about this issue at the last City Council work session, and we moved on it...quickly," said Mayor Eddie Sundquist. "Like I've said before, it takes a team working together to get things done in a timely manner, things that affect our citizens, residents and neighborhoods."
Sundquist wasn't alone in his analysis of this situation.
"I appreciate Jeff Russell's involvement with trying to provide new ideas, and I look forward to this process in the future," said Jamestown City resident Doug Champ. "I think Jeff Russell has outlined something that needs to be done. But it's just a start. All of you City Council members have a responsibility to come up with new ideas, not to be in the maintenance mode, but the create mode."