Comments for Elders In Action Blog http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog Quality of life should never depend on age Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:36:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on ◊ TOWN HALL on Senior Property Tax Deferral by Tara- Elders in Action http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=778&cpage=1#comment-536 Tara- Elders in Action Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:36:19 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=778#comment-536 Mr. Thorp- Thank you for sharing your story, I am sorry that you are one of the thousands of Oregon seniors being affected by these changes. We are gathering stories and seniors who are willing to talk with reporters as part of our advocacy on this issue. If you are willing speak out about the hardship these changes are causing you, please let me know at tara@eldersinaction.org and I will be in touch about our advocacy efforts. Thank you, Tara Krugel Mr. Thorp-
Thank you for sharing your story, I am sorry that you are one of the thousands of Oregon seniors being affected by these changes. We are gathering stories and seniors who are willing to talk with reporters as part of our advocacy on this issue. If you are willing speak out about the hardship these changes are causing you, please let me know at tara@eldersinaction.org and I will be in touch about our advocacy efforts. Thank you, Tara Krugel

]]> Comment on ◊ TOWN HALL on Senior Property Tax Deferral by FRANK THORP http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=778&cpage=1#comment-535 FRANK THORP Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:14:27 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=778#comment-535 I'm a disabled senior citizen, with most of the problems that are bestowed upon the majority of us. Last Thursday I recevied my tax bill, even though I have that awful reverse mortage. My proptery taxes have been on defferment since 2000 or so. After 39 years and 9 months of marriage my wife died in 2006. I've just had my four back surgery the 3rd of this month.. I had hope to make it through this winter with not to many problems, well it seems like myself and the others who have reverse mortages are causeing the state all these money problems. Well now if I can't get heating help or anythig else, th state will probaly want to take my home for back taxes. IT MAKE ME GLAD TO BE AN OREGON RESIDENT AND AN FIPPLING AMERICAN!!!! I'll have to come up with something to try and hold on to a piece of my life............................. I’m a disabled senior citizen, with most of the problems that are bestowed upon the majority of us. Last Thursday I recevied my tax bill, even though I have that awful reverse mortage. My proptery taxes have been on defferment since 2000 or so. After 39 years and 9 months of marriage my wife died in 2006. I’ve just had my four back surgery the 3rd of this month.. I had
hope to make it through this winter with not to many problems, well it seems like myself and the others who have reverse mortages are causeing the state all these money problems. Well now if I can’t get heating help or anythig else, th state will probaly want to take my home for back taxes. IT MAKE ME GLAD TO BE AN OREGON RESIDENT AND AN FIPPLING AMERICAN!!!! I’ll have to
come up with something to try and hold on to a piece of my life………………………..

]]> Comment on ◊ Changes to Senior Property Tax Deferral Program May Cost Seniors Their Homes by Jan Clutter http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676&cpage=1#comment-500 Jan Clutter Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:38:26 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676#comment-500 Our legislators have thrown some of us seniors under the bus! How dare they enact this without sufficient notice and discourse. If I didn't have my Reverse Mortgage, I would have to work full time and still couldn't afford my property taxes--I am 69 years old! This is an outrage! I have contacted my two personal friends who are local senators and am awaiting their responses. Our legislators have thrown some of us seniors under the bus! How dare they enact this without sufficient notice and discourse. If I didn’t have my Reverse Mortgage, I would have to work full time and still couldn’t afford my property taxes–I am 69 years old! This is an outrage!

I have contacted my two personal friends who are local senators and am awaiting their responses.

]]> Comment on ◊ Changes to Senior Property Tax Deferral Program May Cost Seniors Their Homes by Darvel Lloyd http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676&cpage=1#comment-497 Darvel Lloyd Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:35:44 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676#comment-497 That Senate Finance and Revenue Committee Meeting on Wed., 9/21, regarding the Senior Property Tax Tax Deferral Program will be in Hearing Room A in the Capitol Building from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. No public testimony will be taken, but the public is invited to attend. Hope to see a few other advocates and reporters there! Darvel (9/20, 2:35 p.m.) That Senate Finance and Revenue Committee Meeting on Wed., 9/21, regarding the Senior Property Tax Tax Deferral Program will be in Hearing Room A in the Capitol Building from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. No public testimony will be taken, but the public is invited to attend. Hope to see a few other advocates and reporters there! Darvel (9/20, 2:35 p.m.)

]]> Comment on ◊ Changes to Senior Property Tax Deferral Program May Cost Seniors Their Homes by Elaine Cohen http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676&cpage=1#comment-496 Elaine Cohen Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:17:37 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676#comment-496 Outrages is a fair word for the Oregon legislature's change to the property tax deferral program and denying seniors with reverse mortgages. The state of Oregon has broken a good faith agreement with seniors, This change separates out and discriminates against the poorest of the poor Oregon homeowners. There was insufficient notice given for comments against the decision or for senior to save enough money from Sept 2 to Nov 4 to pay the tax without penalty. I can foresee a day when Multnomah County issues a warrant and sends a county sheriff to my home demanding taxes or the highway. I plan to appeal my denial and fight the legislation. As an Oregonian born and raised I am disappointed and angered. Outrages is a fair word for the Oregon legislature’s change to the property tax deferral program and denying seniors with reverse mortgages. The state of Oregon has broken a good faith agreement with seniors, This change separates out and discriminates against the poorest of the poor Oregon homeowners. There was insufficient notice given for comments against the decision or for senior to save enough money from Sept 2 to Nov 4 to pay the tax without penalty. I can foresee a day when Multnomah County issues a warrant and sends a county sheriff to my home demanding taxes or the highway.

I plan to appeal my denial and fight the legislation. As an Oregonian born and raised I am disappointed and angered.

]]> Comment on ◊ Changes to Senior Property Tax Deferral Program May Cost Seniors Their Homes by John Ost http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676&cpage=1#comment-494 John Ost Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:04:50 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676#comment-494 And what will be the effect of John Kroger signing on to give the banksters a free pass. More people are going to loose their homes but Kroger will get hefty campaign donations or has he already gotten them. Not only will more people be homeless but more will be jobless and petty crime will increase. But wait that is how the mighty Kroger huffs and puffs. He is protecting his job by taking action to increase the petty criminal class while letting the bankersters go free. And what Kitzhaber Inc. wants to do will also increase misery. What's new? And what will be the effect of John Kroger signing on to give the banksters a free pass. More people are going to loose their homes but Kroger will get hefty campaign donations or has he already gotten them. Not only will more people be homeless but more will be jobless and petty crime will increase. But wait that is how the mighty Kroger huffs and puffs. He is protecting his job by taking action to increase the petty criminal class while letting the bankersters go free.

And what Kitzhaber Inc. wants to do will also increase misery. What’s new?

]]> Comment on ◊ Changes to Senior Property Tax Deferral Program May Cost Seniors Their Homes by Darvel Lloyd http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676&cpage=1#comment-493 Darvel Lloyd Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:02:44 +0000 http://www.eldersinaction.org/blog/?p=676#comment-493 Thank you for the good article, Mark. The Senate Interim Committee on Finance and Revenue will be discussing these issues with the new Senior Property Tax Deferral Program law this Wednesday, September 21st, 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. at the Capitol (HR B&A, 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 143; 503-986-1266). Lenore Bijan, Don MacGillivray, and I will be attending the meeting, as will Michelle Cole from the Oregonian. Let's hope reason will prevail and the committee will vote to "grandfather" in clients like Lenore who have reverse mortgages on their homes! I found out that House Bill 2543, between Jan. 11th and June 29th, had no fewer than 12 Work Sessions, 3 public hearings (in Jan., Feb., and May), and 6 readings (including both the House and the Senate). Somehow, we at SEDSAC (the S.E. District Senior Advisory Council) were not even aware of the bill until after it passed! Not one alert from O4AD, Elders in Action, or any other senior advocacy group! We SEDSAC'ers were equally remiss for not tracking the bill. This terrible financial predicament for many hundreds, if not thousands of seniors might have been avoided had we known about and testified at those public hearings. Thank you for the good article, Mark. The Senate Interim Committee on Finance and Revenue will be discussing these issues with the new Senior Property Tax Deferral Program law this Wednesday, September 21st, 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. at the Capitol (HR B&A, 900 Court St. NE, Rm. 143; 503-986-1266).
Lenore Bijan, Don MacGillivray, and I will be attending the meeting, as will Michelle Cole from the Oregonian. Let’s hope reason will prevail and the committee will vote to “grandfather” in clients like Lenore who have reverse mortgages on their homes!

I found out that House Bill 2543, between Jan. 11th and June 29th, had no fewer than 12 Work Sessions, 3 public hearings (in Jan., Feb., and May), and 6 readings (including both the House and the Senate). Somehow, we at SEDSAC (the S.E. District Senior Advisory Council) were not even aware of the bill until after it passed! Not one alert from O4AD, Elders in Action, or any other senior advocacy group! We SEDSAC’ers were equally remiss for not tracking the bill. This terrible financial predicament for many hundreds, if not thousands of seniors might have been avoided had we known about and testified at those public hearings.

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