TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie pretty much decimated the Democrats' wish list for additional spending, but one thing did survive his veto pen: a $61 million increase in property tax relief for seniors. After being hamstrung by budget cuts last year, a popular program known as Senior Freeze will go back to full funding. New members again will be...
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie pretty much decimated the Democrats' wish list for additional spending, but one thing did survive his veto pen: a $61 million increase in property tax relief for seniors.
After being hamstrung by budget cuts last year, a popular program known as Senior Freeze will go back to full funding. New members again will be able to enroll and reimbursements for elderly homeowners already in the program will climb back up after being reduced last year.
"While we are very glad to see that the Senior Freeze program has been restored for residents for residents, we are, though, concerned about some of the cuts that were made particularly to Medicaid nursing homes and Medicaid beneficiaries," said Ev Liebman of the AARP-NJ, which mounted a massive lobbying campaign for the program over the last few months.
"At the end of the day yesterday, over the last five days or so, probably 5,000 or 6,000 members contacted the governor's office," Liebman said. "That's a lot of calls. He certainly heard from us loud and clear."
Residents 65 or older earning less than $70,000 a year qualify to have their property taxes frozen under Senior Freeze. It currently covers more than 100,000 members, paying for any increases in their property taxes after the year they enroll.
"Checks start going out on July 15," said Treasury spokesman Andy Pratt. "Anyone who wants to apply can still do so because the deadline for applying has been extended to Oct. 31."
Treasury had estimated that the program would need an additional $95 million to go back to full strength. The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services put the number lower, at around $70 million.
Democrats ended up adding $61 million, which Christie approved. Liebman said that because of the resulting budget language, if it turns out the program requires additional funding, the state may be forced to provide it.