Final approval of a property tax relief program for low-income senior citizens and disabled veterans is expected to come next month.
During Monday night’s City Commission meeting, commissioners received a final presentation for a new program to help with property tax bills.
The proposal allocates $20,000 to the rebate program – the money usually used for the downtown grant program.
Each qualifying resident can receive up to $500 in reimbursement of the city’s portion of their property taxes. That means at least 40 rebates can be distributed.
To quality, residents must be in low-income status based on the guidelines for Douglas County. To prove income, applicants will need to submit federal income tax returns or a Social Security benefit statement. Disabled veterans will need to provide a copy of their health identification card (VHIC) and seniors need to be 65 and older to qualify.
Residents must live in a home they own that can be verified using the Douglas County property viewer and must be current on owed property taxes.
Applications will be via mail or submitted in-person at City Hall.
After the program is approved, a timeline will be given for applications to be turned in and for residents to receive money. The program will not begin until after the final 2024 property tax payments are due May 10.
Funds will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
In other business, the City Commission approved the rezoning of lots at 1027 and 1029 Maple St. from residential single-family to residential two-family or duplex district.
This item already went through the Planning Commission, which recommended approval of the rezoning. Anthony Brown spoke on behalf of the project, saying the plan is to use the lots for two duplexes.
City Manager Kevyn Gero said a building permit has not been submitted for the project yet.
Mayor Tim Reazin said he was at the planning meeting when this item was discussed and feels the new duplexes will look nice.
In other business, Commissioner Alex Curnes said he was asked by a resident if there were regulations regarding golf carts and ATVs. He said the resident was wondering if that would be a possibility in Eudora.
Curnes brought up the topic just to see if commissioners had an appetite to discuss the matter during a future work session. Commissioners agreed to plan the discussion for a future meeting.
Commissioner Roberta Lehmann said she wouldn’t be comfortable with them being driven over the highway, and wasn’t sure if Eudora was the best place for the use of golf carts and ATVs.
Commissioner Tim Bruce said a lot of neighboring rural communities have them, and he would be open to having more discussion on this topic.
Curnes also noted these permit and enforcement programs may lead to more administrative needs as well.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
