Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 12:00 AM
Town Square
Guest opinion: School districts should reconsider policies on parcel-tax exemption process for seniors
Original post made on May 25, 2016
Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 12:00 AM
Comments (6)
Posted by Not All Curmudgeons
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on May 25, 2016 at 5:03 pm
a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on May 25, 2016 at 5:03 pm
Two older friends of mine recently voted for the school parcel tax. They had a different perspective from yours. They do not take the exemption themselves because they recognize that their property tax payments are very low and want to support our local schools. (This was the deal with Prop 13, right? That local voters would decide where to allocate additional funding, since the overall rate was being cut and capped.) However, the fact that the exemption is available means that they don't have to worry that a senior who really can't afford it will be forced to pay.
Posted by Apple
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 25, 2016 at 9:39 pm
a resident of Atherton: other
on May 25, 2016 at 9:39 pm
@NAC
Mr. Urban's point is not that all seniors need or want the exemption. His point is that local government agencies are making it very hard for fixed income seniors to learn how to get the exemption. Then, the local government makes them reapply every year.
These government agencies seem to do the minimum possible to inform seniors how to get the exemption. Then when the seniors apply, these agencies do whatever they can to deny the exemption or make it difficult to get. They are not interested in fairness or if the senior really needs the money back.
The sad thing is that the rich seniors will have their tax planners do the paperwork to always apply for the exemption. The poor seniors or those suffering from diminished mental capacity will be ones paying when they deserve the exemption the most. In essence, the rich get a tax break and the poor pay more because they cannot hire the expertise to wade through the bureaucracy.
IMO, local agencies should automatically give every senior the exemption on their property tax bill. If some seniors don't want the exemption, they can check a box to decline it and pay the full amount.
Posted by Name hidden
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Apr 20, 2017 at 4:25 pm
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Apr 20, 2017 at 4:25 pm
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?
Posted by Name hidden
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Jul 26, 2017 at 8:32 am
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Jul 26, 2017 at 8:32 am
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?
Posted by Name hidden
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Jul 28, 2017 at 4:40 am
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Jul 28, 2017 at 4:40 am
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?
Posted by Name hidden
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Aug 28, 2017 at 10:33 pm
a resident of Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Aug 28, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?
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