Help For Senior Population Supported By Berkeley Council

BERKELEY, NJ — In response to requests from residents, the Berkeley Township Council and Mayor Carmen Amato have again affirmed their support of Berkeley's sizable senior citizen population.

Calls to support New Jersey Assembly bills were brought up at a recent meeting. The bills, A1649/S1451, which increases income qualification limits for the homestead property tax reimbursement program and A888/S522, which allows property tax exemption for disabled, honorably discharged veterans and requires the State to reimburse municipalities for the cost, were discussed.

These directly impact seniors, who have been especially hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and live on fixed incomes with no extra money. One resident said that with adult children moving in with their senior parents, the seniors have to dip into their IRA, increasing their income and making them ineligible for the senior tax freeze.

The council and Amato were called to support these bills, which they did. These and similar issues have been brought up at previous meetings. At a February meeting, the council passed resolutions regarding the senior tax freeze program and increasing the cost of living adjustment (COLA).

Previously, the council called for adjustments to be made to the senior tax freeze program. Currently, to be eligible seniors must be own their home for three years and be a New Jersey resident for ten years. The council called for the three year requirement to be removed and the ten year requirement to be decreased to five years. The three year wait is "unfair," the resolution said, especially if someone was a participant before moving or qualified and the only change is a New Jersey address. A five year requirement would allow more citizens to participate, the resolution said.

Amato and the council also asked legislators to increase the COLA rate, as many members of the community live on Social Security. The adjustment has "historically" been low, the resolution said, and "the paltry adjustments do not meet the financial needs of the senior community to be able to live comfortably within New Jersey."

The governing body called for a COLA rate of four percent or the CPI index, "whichever is greater." This would "help protect our senior citizens from financial hardships and allow them to continue to live independently without the fear and anxiety that comes from financial concerns," the resolution read.

Amato and the council have repeatedly affirmed their support of Berkeley's senior communities. Read More: Berkeley Council Votes To Support 55+ Communities