The Manassas City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the tax relief program for elderly and disabled taxpayers on Monday.
The amendment, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, is the first time Council has considered a change to the program since 2017. The modification will allow those making up to $60,000 in gross household income who are either elderly or disabled to qualify for up to $3,400 on their local real and property taxes.
Up until now, those who made $56,150 and below qualified for the program. The ordinance from 2017 listed income ranges and the amount they qualified for in the program. The maximum gross household income listed for 0% exemptions was $81,419 and over.
Commissioner of the Revenue Tim Demaria said the increase was necessary after nearly 10 years.
“Right now, if you make $58,000, you don’t qualify for anything. But if you make $55,000, you do qualify, and now we’re talking about Social Security getting a two-point bump. If [a couple both] get that bump, they may go to $58,000 or $59,000 and now they’re going to lose that $3,400 in relief,” Demaria explained.
Demaria said the $60,000 figure was mentioned at a work session, and he felt that was a good place to increase to after a stagnant period.
“Each year, every summer, I’d like to come back and revisit those numbers because the applications are due by July 1. So in the middle of July, I will know what kind of increases we’ve had,” Demaria said. “I’d like to revisit that each year and maybe bump it up, depending on how things go.”
Demaria noted that the city does not know how many of its residents make between $56,150 and $60,000, so he’ll need to reevaluate the program each year.
“I have no clue how many people 65 and older make between $56,150 and $60,000. How many people is that going to add on there? There’s no way to know that,” he said. “That’s why I think we should do it in small amounts, but do it consistently.”
Demaria clarified that a household’s net worth must be below $340,000 to qualify, but that does not include a home if the family owns one. And those who make under $39,000 get 100% relief, based on figures set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Thank you for always looking out for the residents and bringing up things that are very important for them,” Councilor Sonia Vasquez Luna said.
The amendment was approved unanimously, and will go into effect in January.
