Council to look into tax deferral program, instead of current $80/year tax rebate, which was called insulting
City of Niagara Falls exploring scrapping an $80/year tax rebate for seniors with a tax deferral program, potentially starting next year.
City staff recommended keeping the rebate, however Councillor Ruth Ann Nieuwesteeg called it insulting, adding $80 doesn't even fill a tank for gas.
She preferred the tax deferral. "It's helping seniors pay for it themselves. So, they have a lot of equity in their home, they just don't have the income to support everything. So, if we can help them now, where the city will still get the money back down the road, we're being fair to all our rate payers, instead of just handing out money."
Council was told by city staff the regional government has to approve a tax deferral program before it's implemented.
Chief Administrative Officer Jason Burgess explained ways to do this.
"A Niagara Falls regional representative could force a vote at the regional council, because it's really regional council that controls the by-law legally, that's how we interpret it. So, in theory, even if we got every other city on board, the region can still say no."
He added the city will also look at ways to get this done alone.
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