Working Off Property Taxes

Helene Brown has lived in her Greenburgh, N.Y., home for 40 years. But with her annual property taxes at $6,000, the 75-year-old former department store saleswoman isn’t sure that she’ll be able to afford her Westchester County town much longer.

A program being proposed in Greenburgh gives her hope. It would allow residents age 60 and older to work for the town part time as a means to pay off their property taxes. “It’s an excellent idea,” Brown says.

The proposal is modeled on similar programs in more than 100 U.S. communities. With property taxes in Greenburgh averaging between $8,000 and $9,000 a year, supporters of the proposal say it would help keep housing affordable.

Town Supervisor Paul Feiner envisions participants using their career skills to benefit the town. Pay would probably start at about $8 an hour, and participants would likely be limited to 100 hours of work a year.

The plan needs approval from the town council; however, employee unions are concerned that the program could affect their members’ job security. And if wages are to be tax-free and directly applied to property tax bills, the state legislature and governor must approve.