Big break for seniors?

Article urges increased property tax exemptions for elderly in Gilmanton

By DAVID CARKHUFF, LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILMANTON — Elderly property-owners could receive a bigger tax exemption, based on a petitioned article on the town warrant.

Voters will consider that and other articles at the deliberative session of Town Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m., at the Gilmanton School.

Article 23 would change the real estate tax exemption for elderly residents. A Jan. 23 letter to the selectmen from Felix Barlik, a 27-year resident, explained a desire to update the tax exemptions.

"Recently, I became aware of the criteria being used by the town for the real estate tax exemption for the elderly (known in politically correct speech as 'seniors')," Barlik wrote. "I was surprised at how, in my opinion, they seemed unrealistic with regard to the realities of today's economic situation."

In 2004, the town's current criteria were approved in a petitioned article, Barlik wrote. Those criteria for tax exemptions included maximum net income for a single person of $20,000 (including Social Security); and $30,000 for a couple. Maximum net assets (less residence) were set at $75,000. The amount of tax exemption for those ages 65 to 75 was set at $60,000; for those 75 to 80, $80,000; and for those over 80, $100,000.

Barlik's article calls for maximum net income for a single person of $27,000 (including Social Security), a 35 percent increase; and $40,000 for a couple, a 33 percent increase. Maximum net assets (less residence) would be set at $120,000, a 60 percent increase. The amount of tax exemption for those ages 65 to 75 would be set at $80,000, a 33 percent increase; for 75 to 80, $100,000, a 25 percent increase; and for those over 80, $120,000, a 20 percent increase.

"I think we can all agree that there have been considerable economic changes over the last 13 years, and I felt that an upgrade in the criteria should be made," Barlik wrote. He used a comparison of the Northeast Region consumer price index from 2004 to 2016 to determine a 35 percent increase in the cost of living during the 13 years since the exemptions were last changed. The exemptions are limited to applicants who have been New Hampshire residents for at least three years; and in the case of married couples, for those who have been married for at least five consecutive years.

Other warrant articles include:

• Article 8: The proposed town budget of $3,614,691. If this article fails, a default budget of $3,649,393 will take effect. Based on passage of the town budget, the tax impact would be about $4.83 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $966 on a $200,000 property, town officials estimated. Assessed valuation in Gilmanton this year totals $452.1 million, according to the assessing department.

• Article 9: $48,750 for a forestry truck and fire pump skid unit, tapping a fire department forestry vehicle replacement capital reserve fund.

• Article 10: $17,500 for deposit in the self-contained breathing apparatus capital reserve fund established in 2011.

• Article 11: $8,000 to be deposited in the fire radio capital reserve fund established in 2015.

• Article 12: $34,000 for the purchase of two power cots for the fire rescue ambulances, to help lift patients.

• Article 13: $42,500 to purchase and equip a new police cruiser.

• Article 14: $60,000 to be deposited in the highway equipment capital fund established in 2006.

• Article 15: Establishing a capital reserve fund to pay for computer technology upgrades and to raise $20,000 to be deposited in the fund. (Not recommended by the Budget Committee.)

• Article 16: Authorizing the selectmen to establish or amend fees, with public hearings required before any fee changes are made.

• Article 17: $50,000 to be deposited in the bridge capital reserve fund established in 1995.

• Article 18: $26,210 to remove, repair and replace the playground at Crystal Lake Park in order to conform to safety and liability standards.

• Article 19: $5,422 to install a playground outside the Academy Building.

• Article 20: $24,000 for the statistical update of all properties to be deposited into the revaluation assessment update capital reserve fund.

• Article 21: $1,000 to fund milfoil abatement in Gilmanton lakes.

• Article 22: Auction of town properties.

• Article 23: Petitioned article to change the elderly real estate tax exemption.

• Article 24: Petitioned article to raise $48,500 for the Gilmanton Year Round Library.

During town budget review at a Jan. 7 Gilmanton Budget Committee meeting, Chairman Brian Forst reported a new bottom line in the committee's amendment of the town budget of $3,614,691. "The budget committee reduced the town budget by $23,895 from the original proposed number brought forward by the board of selectmen," the minutes reflected.

Forst noted that the proposed operating budget, not including the warrant articles that the Budget Committee brought forward, totaled $3,614,691, which represents an estimated tax impact of $4.83 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, the minutes reported.