Senior tax rebate program adjusted

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A town program to help seniors with their property taxes will be adjusted annually to match provincial thresholds for assistance.
Under the Town of Strathmore’s Senior Tax Rebate Program, senior residents can receive financial aid to help with municipal property tax increases, depending on their income.
On March 4, council voted to make the qualifying income level for the program equal to that of a provincial seniors support program, the Senior Benefits Special Needs Program, which is adjusted on July 1 of each year.
The current income threshold level for the provincial seniors’ program is $28,150 for individuals and $45,720 for couples, compared to $27,690 and $44,965, respectively, for the town’s rebate program in 2019.
The amount of benefit seniors may be eligible to receive under the program ranges from $100 to $200, depending on applicant income, age and marital status.
Eligible for the program are Strathmore residents aged 65 years or older who are registered homeowners living at home in good tax standing. Applicants must provide government-issued photo identification, a Notice of Assessment and a property tax assessment.
The program, which started as a pilot project in May 2019, has assisted 120 Strathmore residents, with a total of $19,400 distributed. Of those engaged in the program, 88 had never before been in Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) offices, leading some of them to access other supports offered by the town, said Linda Bernicki, community and social development manager with Strathmore’s community and protective services.
“We’re continuing to engage with those residents still to assist them with other programs and services they weren’t aware of,” she said.