BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council may offer exemptions for low income, disabled and senior property owners, but more discussion on the topic is expected before any action will be taken.

Assessor Lachelle Dilcox told city council Monday that the city can offer property tax exemptions in some circumstances that would reduce tax liability for some low income, disabled and senior property owners.

She said neighboring municipalities in Canton, Potsdam and Massena offer exemptions of up to 50%  on a sliding scale based on income.

She explained the exemption for seniors in Canton was based on a sliding scale with a range between $20,000 and $28,399. About 43 properties receive exemptions there.

In Potsdam a 20% exemption is offered on a sliding scale for incomes ranging from $16,000 to $21,699. About 52 properties receive exemptions there.

In Massena a flat income of $29,000 is the cut off for the exemption, which about 135 properties receive.

Those municipalities also offer low income and disability exemptions.

In Cannot a sliding scale is used for incomes of $10,000 to $18,399. Only two properties in Canton benefit from this exemption.

In Potsdam 13 properties benefit from a sliding scale exemption of $16,000 to $24,399.

In Massena about 49 properties benefit from exemptions with an income threshold of $29,000.

She explained that Ogdensburg has about 13 participants receiving a flat exemption with a threshold exemption of $18,000.

She suggested switching that to a 50% exemption for incomes of $20,000 on a sliding scale to a 20% for incomes of $26,400.

It's important to note that the taxes would be redistributed to other property owners, but that the impact would be hard to estimate.

She said that if the program doubled the amount of participants from 13 to 26, tax bills from someone with a $150,000 would increase by about $2.42

Ogdensburg does not currently offer a tax break for low income or disabled property owners, but if it enacted one with a sliding scale, the result would likely be between $4.08 and $12.29 for someone with a home valued at $150,000. 

It should be noted that the estimates depend on the number of people receiving the exemption.

The city is expected to discuss the issue more at upcoming budget meetings.

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