NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — Relief for seniors impacted by skyrocketing property values might soon be on the way.
On Monday, Cuyahoga County officials introduced a program to help seniors pay their property taxes. The program is for people 70 years and older who are making $70,0000 or less. It will provide up to $10,000 in one-time tax assistance.
The county says they're introducing the program because they understand the strain property taxes can place on all property owners, specifically seniors on fixed incomes.
If passed, the county will allocate $5 million toward assistance over the next two years that eligible applicants could use to pay their property taxes or other associated housing costs.
“We were able to develop this property tax assistance program that we think will help the people who are in direst of straits that were closest to foreclosure and at greatest risk of losing their homes get the assistance they need to address their delinquency and stay in their home or make a sound housing plan going forward," explained Cuyahoga County Treasurer Brad Cromes.
Even though the proposal needs to be passed by Cuyahoga County Council, Cromes says people should apply now because the assistance will be dispersed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
You can find out more about applying for the county's Taxpayer Assistance Program by clicking here.
The county's plan is to have an active application process go live in December.