RIDGEFIELD — The Board of Selectmen had mixed reactions Wednesday to a senior tax relief plan proposed by residents, but resolved to have the tax assessor examine the town’s options.

The three-part plan was first proposed by a group of about 65 seniors calling themselves the OWLS, or the Older Wiser Lively Set, during deliberations on the recently passed 2018-19 budget. The Board of Finance decided not to implement the plan next year, but asked the selectmen to review the ideas for future years.

Ridgefield’s current program gives qualifying seniors a $1,048 tax benefit per household and offers up to 100 percent deferral of taxes for those making $55,000 or less. The OWLS plan would raise the per-household benefit to $1,200, freeze taxes for those over 75 and raise the maximum for deferral to $65,000.

OWLS President John Fisher told the selectmen Wednesday that the first priority would be the freeze, which would start after 2018-19 and would freeze taxes for those 75 and older at the rate during the year they turn 75. He said the added benefit would help bring the tax benefits more in line with the cost of living in town.

“If you look at Social Security, which was really never meant to be a retirement income, it has been flat for many years,” Fisher said. “What we’re faced with as seniors is an increased cost of living going up 2 to 3 percent per year when our income, however, is basically very flat.”

Most selectmen said they would support giving seniors additional relief, but some worried how revenue lost by freezing taxes would be made up in the budget. Based on estimates by the town’s assessor, the freeze would cost the town about $362,000 for the current tax base.

“Somebody has to make up the pie,” Selectman Steve Zemo said. “It’s a balance. If we’re having a young family pay more is that fair? This is not easy.”

Zemo suggested looking within the amount the town gives to seniors in its current program and seeing if there is a way to reallocate it going forward so those who have a greater need would receive more. He suggested creating tier system based on income levels or raising the income limit for the deferment program as Fisher recommended.

Selectwoman Barbara Manners agreed that the deferment program might be the best way to provide relief to those who need it. But she argued that any other relief should be needs based rather than based on age.

“I’m a senior and we live on a fixed income, but we are in a lot better position than a lot of young families where there are no longer steady jobs for people,” Manners said. “I have always sympathetic with helping people that need help and that is what the tax deferment does. But to just freeze my taxes because I’ve reached a certain age…I think it’s preposterous.”

The selectmen ultimately decided to have the tax assessor begin exploring the options and looking at plans in other towns similar to Ridgefield.

“I do feel strongly about supporting our seniors,” Selectman Bob Hebert said. “I don’t know what the answer is at this table...but I think its worthwhile to take a little deeper dive.”

aquinn@newstimes.com