Manassas Journal Messenger | M. Park offers tax relief for some

Homeowners in Manassas Park who are 65 or older or permanently disabled have another opportunity for tax relief and a better chance of getting it.

Tax relief income limits have changed, and the deadline to send applications for tax relief has been extended from March 1 to April 1.

Homeowners with a family income of $40,000 or less are now eligible for 100 percent tax relief.

Homeowners whose family income is between $40,000 and $50,000 can now receive a 50 percent reduction in their taxes.

Previously residents had to make $30,000 or less for full relief and between $30,000 and $40,000 for partial relief.

All applicants must have a net worth below $100,000.

The Manassas Park City Council voted unanimously to make these changes at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

The changes will only show up on this June’s tax bill, but the council will revisit the issue next year.

Council member Noreen Slater said that the action should help offset the increased cost of living for some residents.

“I think perhaps the very high increase in the assessments really made us realize that we needed to do something this year,” she said.

Debra Wood, commissioner of the revenue for Manassas Park, said that some people who have already applied will be eligible for a higher tax break.

“The 14 that I have will move from partial relief to full relief,” she said.

That will cost the city $37,665 dollars more than the $238,631 it was already planning on providing for tax relief.

But Wood said there is no way of knowing what the total increase in tax relief will be until the new deadline passes.

Slater said she doesn’t think the increased tax relief will negatively affect the city’s budget.

“I would fully expect that we will be getting some additions, but I think that it will be manageable,” she said.

The temporary changes bring Manassas Park closer to the income limits of its neighboring jurisdictions: Manassas and Prince William County.

Manassas provides full relief for homeowners 65 or older or permanently disabled whose families make $40,000 or less.

The city also gives 50 percent relief to those who make between $40,000 and $46,000.

Prince William County gives full relief to homeowners 65 or older or permanently disabled whose families make $46,400 or less.

And Prince William gives 50 percent relief to those who make between $53,401 and $60,300.

Manassas Park residents have a little more than two weeks to get tax relief applications in to meet the new deadline.

Applications are available on the city’s Web site.