Attend The September 2 & 16, 2026 Meetings To Benefit Ridgefield’s Seniors

To the Residents of Ridgefield:

As our town prepares crucial votes and public forums, there is an urgent issue that deserves the attention of every resident, particularly our senior community. On September 2, 2026, the Board of Selectpersons will hold a public hearing, followed by a September 16, 2026, town meeting, to decide on proposed changes to Ridgefield's Senior Tax Credits programs. It is vital that Ridgefield seniors and their supporters attend these meetings to advocate for fair, meaningful tax relief that matches today's economic realities.

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To understand why these meetings are so important, we must look at the findings of Ridgefield's own Senior Tax Committee (STC) compared to the modified proposal put forward by the Board of Selectpersons (BOS).

The Problem: Erosion of Senior Benefits and Upcoming Tax Hikes

Seniors make up a significant portion of our town: residents aged 65 and older represent 18.9% (4,748 out of 25,029) of Ridgefield's population, with 352 seniors currently living below the poverty level. (Source: US Census Data)

In 2025, 1,892 senior households receive a flat tax credit of $1,048. However, this credit has not been adjusted for inflation since 2008. If adjusted for inflation (CPI), that $1,048 credit should actually be approximately $1,600 today. Because it has remained frozen, its real purchasing power and relief value has been eroded.

The STC's Balanced Recommendations vs. the BOS's Proposal

To address these rising costs, STC conducted a rigorous, year-long study in 2025 and proposed a comprehensive, multi-tiered package of senior tax credits and modification of the Senior Tax Deferral program. The BOS is seeking comments on the proposed changes to the Senior Tax Credit Programs for implementation in the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2027.

1. Existing Senior Tax Credit (Non-Income Tested):
   
   1. The STC recommended raising this flat credit for all qualifying seniors from $1,048 to $1,200 in FY 2027, and to $1,400 in FY 2028. This would help offset the potential tax increases from the Public Safety Building for all senior homeowners and update the tax credit unchanged since 2008.
   2. The BOS proposed keeping the existing $1,048 credit completely unchanged for seniors who do not meet low-income guidelines.
2. Support for Lower-Income Seniors:
   1. The STC recommended a new Supplemental Means-Tested Credit for seniors with Modified Adjusted Gross Incomes (MAGI) below o The STC recommended a new Supplemental Means-Tested Credit for seniors with Modified Adjusted Gross Incomes (MAGI) below $65,000, offering an additional $400 in FY 2027 and $800 in FY 2028. When combined with the increased flat credit, lower-income seniors would have received a total credit of $2,200 by FY 2028.$65,000, offering an additional $400 in FY 2027 and $800 in FY 2028. When combined with the increased flat credit, lower-income seniors would have received a total credit of $2,200 by FY 2028.
   2. The BOS proposed an additional credit of $200 in the first year (FY2028) and $200 (FY2029) in the second year, but only for seniors with incomes below $85,000. While this expands the income ceiling, the relief is far smaller: it brings the total credit to only $1,448 ($1,048 base + $400) by the second year. Lower- income seniors under the BOS plan are left with $752 less relief than what the STC proposed.
3. Longevity Credit for Long-Term Residents:
   1. The STC recommended a new Supplemental Longevity Credit of $100 (FY 2027) and $200 (FY 2028) for seniors who have owned a residence in Ridgefield for 25 years or more. This was designed to honor and support long-term residents who have funded our schools and town services for decades.
   2. The BOS proposal completely omitted the longevity credit.
4. Elderly Tax Deferral Program:
   1. The STC recommended increasing the income limit for the existing Elderly Deferment Program (EDP) from $65,000 to $85,000.
   2. The BOS proposed raising this limit to $100,000 in FY2028. While a higher deferment limit allows more seniors to delay paying taxes, deferred taxes accumulate interest and must eventually be paid back when the property is sold, which does not replace the immediate benefit of a direct tax credit.
5. Inflation Indexing:
   1. The STC recommended indexing future credits to tax growth or Social Security cost-of-living adjustments to prevent benefits from eroding again.
   2. The BOS proposal does not include any mechanism for indexing future increases.

Why Your Voice Matters on Sept. 2 & Sept. 16, 2026

The Board of Selectpersons 4-0 vote to send their modified proposal to the town meeting means that seniors can voice their opinions on the Senior Tax Credit Programs available for future assistance to Ridgefield seniors. The contrast of the STC proposals and those approved by the BOS will be debated at those two meetings.

The STC tried to balance the tax credit benefit programs with the need for the Boards of Finance and Selectpersons to manage the financial budgets of the Town of Ridgefield. The STC prepared the recommendations on the belief what would be fair to ask our senior community—many on fixed incomes—to all Town residents for budget considerations and for town capital projects.

Please mark your calendars:

• Public Hearing: Tuesday, September 2, 2026
• Town Meeting: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Please attend, ask questions, and make your voices heard. Let's stand up for the seniors who helped build Ridgefield.

Sincerely,

Gary Roman – Former Chairperson – Senior Tax Committee