BOARD OF FINANCE SPECIAL MEETING
Minutes
June 5, 2006
Approved
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Joseph Mooney at 7:33 p.m. Also present were Jeffrey Vailette, Victor Cassella, Charles Shelton, Jr., Kenneth Kaminsky and Lorraine Young.
Also present were Selectman Richard Sullivan, Selectman John Opie, Town Clerk Marianne Kelly, and Finance Director James Finch.
1. The Board considered and acted upon the recommendations of the 2006 Tax Relief
Committee proposing a $200 tax credit for qualifying elderly and disabled homeowners.
Andrew Campbell, Tax Relief Committee Chair, explained that the committee was formed in April and the Board of Selectman asked that they address the possibility of a $200 tax credit for residents who are currently on the state Circuit Breaker program. The income criteria would be the same as that of the Circuit Breaker program thereby establishing eligibility for the 425-450 Branford residents currently on the Circuit Breaker program. Campbell went on to explain that the Circuit Breaker program is a state property tax relief program that reimburses the municipality approximately 20%. This new tax relief program would be a local option and not reimbursable. There would also be a residency requirement of a minimum of one year. Mr Campbell stated that in May (2006) the Tax Relief Committee voted in favor of this program,
feeling it was worthwhile and would positively impact participants.
Finance Director Jim Finch explained that the initial amount put into the budget was $100,000 but that would be less because there are 430 resident son the Circuit breaker program (or $86,000)
Chairman Mooney read the
Tax Relief Committee’s report and recommended accepting it.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Mr. Kaminsky. The vote was unanimous.
Chairman Mooney added that the Board of Finance cap shall not exceed $100,000 in 2006-07and in the future not increase more than .16.
Mr. Cassella made the motion, seconded by Ms. Young. The vote was unanimous.
RESOLVED: Any person who is liable for taxes assessed on real property located in the Town of Branford, which property is occupied by such person as his or her personal residence, whether such person is owner of the real property or is liable for taxes therein under provisions of Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-48, as amended, as a tenant for life or for a term of years, and who shall be determined eligible for the Elderly and Totally Disabled Tax Relief Program (Connecticut General Statutes 12-129b thru 12-129d and 12-170aa) as administered by the State of Connecticut, shall be entitled to Tax Relief as authorized by Section 12-129n of the Connecticut General Statutes in the form of a Tax Credit. The amount of the tax credit afforded under this article shall not exceed $200.00 per eligible applicant and shall apply only to
owner-occupied residential dwellings or portion thereof occupied and to residential dwelling site lots on which an eligible dwelling is situated. The total of all credits granted under provisions of this article shall not exceed $100,000.00 for the 2006-2007 fiscal year and for future years shall not exceed 0.16 percent of the total amount of taxes collected against the most recent grand list year for which audit figures are available. The amount of tax collection receipts multiplied by 0.16 percent shall constitute a spending cap, which shall not be exceeded. If the sum of all credits exceeds such spending cap, then the credits shall be prorated among all eligible claimants in this program. This article shall become effective and apply commencing with taxes due on the Grand List of October 1, 2005.
2. The Board heard a request from the Economic Development Department Special Projects Manager to authorize a letter of support for an open space grant application for the Queach property.
Chairman Mooney read the letter and requested typo corrections. Mr. Kaminsky recommended changing a section of the letter to reflect that the actual amount of land of the Queach property that was acquired by the town was determined to be 147 acres.
Mr. Kaminsky made the motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette. The vote was unanimous.
Mr. Kaminsky made the motion, seconded by Mr. Vailette to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. The vote was unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Kelly, Clerk
Board of Finance
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