Skip to content

Mayoral race: There's a solution to keep low fixed income seniors in their homes, says Crumplin

If elected mayor, Crumplin says he will champion the program alongside the rest of council
Bill Crumplin 2018-crop
Mayoral candidate Bill Crumplin. (Supplied)

Mayoral candidate Bill Crumplin says he has found a way to keep seniors on low fixed incomes dealing with the difficulty of tax increases in their homes.

By allowing eligible homeowners to defer property tax increases using the equity in her/his home, qualifying persons coult offset future annual municipal tax increases and remain in their home using some of the equity they have built up.

Below is the full text of the media release from Crumplin:

In conversations with some seniors and people on ODSP during the last several weeks, I have learned that some people on fixed incomes have a great deal of difficulty dealing with increases in the cost of living.  

While there is not much a mayor or any councillor can do about the cost of gasoline, food or other services, I feel that our city can do something about future property tax increases for low- and fixed-income individuals.

In researching what other cities have done, I have come across a great initiative offered by Barrie, Ont. It is relatively simple, and I feel it would make a meaningful difference to seniors and people on ODSP who own their homes. 

I have learned that increases to property taxes are one reason some people on low fixed incomes are forced to consider leaving their home. Seniors I have spoken with stress the anxiety they feel when having to consider selling their homes to move.  

I have come across a possible solution that targets property taxes. It is a system that would allow a home owner to defer property tax increases using the equity in her/his home. 

In short, a senior or ODSP person on low fixed income could apply annually to the city to be considered for the program. Once approved, the applicant’s property tax increases would be deferred until the home was sold or the deed was transferred when the deferred amount would become payable to the city.  

This would allow qualifying persons to offset future annual municipal tax increases and remain in their home using some of the equity they have built up. It would also be fair to every other taxpayer as the taxes would merely be deferred and not forgiven.

I feel this program would be a great benefit for qualified persons and I would champion it through council as mayor.
 


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.