SANDUSKY — A usually quiet county commissioners meeting turned into a standing-room-only debate as local leaders, school officials, and residents weighed the costs and benefits of expanding property tax relief programs for seniors and homeowners.
“This was probably more interaction in terms of audience than I’ve seen at any point in my career in a county commission meeting,” said County Treasurer Caleb Stidham. “On one side you have residents on fixed incomes who desperately need relief. On the other, you have schools and local governments worried about losing revenue.”
At issue is whether to double the county’s Homestead credit—a property tax break for senior citizens with household incomes under $40,000—and the Owner-Occupied credit, which applies to residents who own and live in their homes.
Currently about 5,500 households in Erie County use the Homestead credit, while nearly 14,000 qualify for the owner-occupancy benefit. If commissioners approve doubling both programs, taxpayers could see up to $3.4 million in combined savings.
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