DE HCR14

Requests the Joint Finance Committee maintain the Senior Property Tax Credit at its statutory maximum of the lesser of 50% of school property tax or $500 for eligible seniors aged 65 and older

The Governor's budget recommendations and Joint Finance Committee epilogue language have reduced the maximum credit to $400 since fiscal year 2018, overriding the statutory $500 cap

Previous legislative attempts to create a means-tested program, including HB 268 passed by the 149th General Assembly, were vetoed by the Governor

The state lacks income and property value demographic data on seniors who might qualify for the maximum credit, creating risk that lowering the credit could harm fixed-income seniors during financial hardship

The resolution asks that the credit remain at $500 until a means-tested program can be developed and implemented to better target assistance to those most in need