Once again another year has come and gone. The 2008 Session of the NC General Assembly meets once more to determine which way the monies go in the new budget. The message is still the same but yet more compelling. The citizens of this state are deeply worried about the economy, the exodus of jobs, and runaway price increases on consumer products. COLAS (cost-of-living adjustments) cannot keep up with run-away price increases of consumer goods and yet those COLAS are moving backwards.

 

Last year we as NC Seniors appealed to you the General Assembly members to consider the needs of the senior citizens and how desperate their situation is. In order for senior citizens to remain in their homes during their latter years, they must know they can have tax relief on their property. That cap was increased to $25,000. 00 for the year 2008 and did qualify 60,000 more seniors across the state. Still less than 8% of the senior population of NC was affected. That is NOT good enough!

 

Again, we as NC Seniors are asking you to please pull your files on previous letters that were submitted by us on our arguments to increase the cap on the Homestead Act to $50,000.00. We also want to remind you that seniors are becoming more informed across the state and are asking the right questions. In this election year, our Homestead Act has become a hot-button issue. Promises are being made on both sides. We did not intend this to be an election issue. We need help in our financial crisis.

 

There will be less costs to the state if the cap is raised to $50,000.00 than if these seniors lose their homes and will need public assistance. If they lose their homes because of the state attachments, the state will have to endure the costs. Medicaid will accumulate the costs, the very expense you as legislators are trying to cut. This is an inequity that the state of NC can rectify by raising the cap of the Homestead Act (House bill # 2023) that is now in the house finance committee.

 

Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

 

Shirley Wiggins
Special Legislative Action Committee Chair
NC Senior Dems
Ncseniordems.com