There is no charge to attend

The Woodbridge Library will hold a program entitled "CT Tax Laws are Changing – Are YOU Prepared?" at 7 p.m. April 12 at 10 Newton Road.
Marshall Gibson, a tax attorney in the New Haven area and former Woodbridge resident, will speak about the new laws at this event, according to a statement. He will be sponsored by Barnum Financial Group, a MetLife office, and Richard Crane, also a Woodbridge resident and MetLife advisor.
There will be time at the end of the session for questions from the audience.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is requested.

To register or for more information: please call 203.389.3433, stop by theCirculation Desk, or email pvalsecchi@ci.woodbridge.ct.us.

WEST HAVEN — The tax office will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 31 for people to pay the first installment of their taxes on the 2009 grand list, which was due July 1.
The extra hours will give residents more time to pay motor vehicle, personal property and real estate taxes, Tax Collector Francis P. Withington said.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — After a brief debate, the Board of Aldermen’s Ordinance Committee voted to adopt an expanded senior tax relief plan Monday evening, which will allow from 450 to 1,000 more seniors to qualify for the program.
The city offers a $600 property tax break for single or disabled seniors earning $29,800 or less or married couples earning $36,500 or less. A total of 990 seniors participate in the senior property tax program, which costs the city $557,000.
The expanded tax relief the Ordinance Committee approved will result in another $300,000 to be shouldered by the remaining taxpayers. The committee endorsed increasing the income guidelines for both singles and married couples by $10,000 each.
Ordinance Committee Chairman James Patterson, D-1, and member Jessica Blacketter, D-4, voted to approve the expanded senior tax relief plan, while member Vincent Ditchkus Jr., R-3, voted against the proposal. Ditchkus wanted to see the plan end after one year so tangible numbers concerning the impact on taxpayers would be fully known.
But Patterson and Blacketter declined to support Ditchkus’ proposal. Ditchkus spoke repeatedly about his concerns that the expanded tax relief would unduly burden the remaining city families, especially young families who are having a difficult time staying in Milford.
“Basically, you are increasing taxes on everyone else by doing this,” Ditchkus said.
Blacketter said everyone is aware that the burden is shifting under this proposal, but she said Republican Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. pitched his own plan that would have cost taxpayers $2 million to $3 million. She said this proposal will cost the taxpayers about $300,000.
In February, aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, created a Senior Tax Relief Committee in an effort to develop a senior tax plan that could be adopted in time for next year’s budget. The Senior Tax Relief Committee, in turn, was charged with advising the Ordinance Committee.
The committee’s chairman, George Amato, told committee members Monday night that, in the future, the city may want to increase the age for seniors to qualify from 65 to 70.
Also, he said the residency requirement could be increased from one to five years to ensure the person has made a contribution to the community.
“This will help 400 to 450 people who are desperately in need of assistance,” Amato said. “This helps people who probably just miss qualifying.”
Patterson and Blacketter thanked Amato and his committee for their hard work, and Richetelli also praised members for getting so much accomplished in a short span of time.
During the public hearing portion of the meeting at City Hall, which attracted 30 residents, just two residents spoke on the proposal both in support.
Joseph Prisco, a longtime senior tax relief advocate, said the proposal is a “start for helping the senior citizens.”
“They need it,” Prisco added. “I’m very happy they were concerned for the seniors who need the help.”

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The Senior Tax Relief Committee Monday night approved an expanded tax relief plan, which would increase by 50 percent the number of seniors eligible, while adding another $300,000 in tax savings, members said.
The city now offers a $600 property tax break for single or disabled seniors with gross income of $29,800 or less, or married couples earning $36,500 or less. A total of 990 seniors participate in the senior property tax program costing the city $557,000.
The committee voted unanimously to increase the income guidelines for singles and married couples by $10,000 each. So if the Board of Aldermen adopts the recommendation, any single or disabled senior earning $39,800, or married couple earning $46,500 or less, will be eligible for a $600 property tax break.
Alderman Philip Vetro, D-4, said the Ordinance Committee would expedite the process for review and schedule a special meeting to discuss the senior tax proposal.
Committee Chairman George Amato said he was informed by the assessor’s office that increasing the income guidelines by $10,000 would allow 50 percent more seniors to qualify for the tax relief, and it would cost about an additional $300,000.
Altogether, the city would be projected to provide about 1,350 seniors almost $900,000 in tax relief.
Amato said there was talk of increasing the $600 property tax break that eligible seniors receive, but then the tax relief could soar well beyond $1 million.
“You’re in a period of where everyone is looking to cut,” Amato said. “This will be a very difficult budget year.”
In a letter signed by all members of the Senior Tax Relief Committee to aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, the members requested he reappoint another committee after the approval of next year’s budget in May. Also, the members ask that the issue of age and residency requirements be debated.
Amato said because people are working longer, the eligibility age for senior tax relief may be pushed from 65 to 70. Also, he said someone is eligible for senior tax relief after residing just one year in Milford, and it might be prudent to amend that to five years.
Amato said Blake and Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. have expressed a desire to implement additional senior tax relief in the short-term.
Joseph Prisco, a senior tax relief advocate, said this was the “best plan thus far,” and he is all for increasing the age and residency requirements.
“They raised the income guidelines and that’s a start,” Prisco said.
Committee member Kerri Rowland said that it was the “major consideration of this committee to balance the needs of all taxpayers with the needs of some of the most vulnerable seniors.”