On Sept. 4, Wiscasset Board of Selectmen briefly addressed a state law that provides for municipalities to create a local ordinance allowing senior citizens facing property foreclosures due to delinquent taxes to remain in their homes.
Introduced to the board by Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith, local resident Dorothy Holbrook urged the selectmen to consider applying the law locally.
“I can’t pay my taxes; that’s what the problem is,” Holbrook said.
“An Act to Protect Elderly Residents from Losing Their Homes Due to Taxes or Foreclosure” became law in 2010 and allows towns to defer taxes for citizens that are at least 70 years of age; have lived in their “eligible homestead” for at least 10 years prior to applying for the deferment; and, whose household income does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
Taxes would continue to accumulate at 0.5 percent above the rate for delinquent taxes, and would be collected when the property becomes ineligible for deferment, primarily upon the death of the taxpayer or a change in property ownership or occupancy.
After a property is no longer eligible, notice of the taxes due is presented and if unpaid within 45 days, the municipality can enforce its lien.
Several board members expressed concern about the specifics relating to the opportunity as well as seniors’ access to information relating to other programs already in place.
“My concern is we have become a long-lived people,” said Chairman Pam Dunning.
She stated a participant could start the program at age 70 and live well into their 90s.
Further discussion and action on the issue was tabled.
