St. Joe County hosts sessions to answer questions about new property tax credit

SOUTH BEND — St. Joseph County officials are offering three sessions where they will answer questions about the new property tax that the county council recently approved for homeowners age 55 and older.

For those who choose to apply and qualify, the credit will prevent property taxes from rising more than 2%. There isn’t an income limit, but homeowners must have a homestead deduction and have lived in their home in St. Joseph County for at least 10 years. Per the new Indiana state law that made it possible, the credit would expire after three years.

Officials say St. Joseph is the first Indiana county to take advantage of the credit.

Nov. 16, 2023: County council approves property tax credit for ages 55+ but removes income limit

County council member Amy Drake, Auditor John Murphy and Assessor Mike Castellon are developing the question-and-answer sessions. In part, they’ll address how it compares and differs from an existing tax credit for homeowners ages 65 and older (taxpayers cannot qualify for both tax credits at the same time).

Those three sessions will be:

∎ 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Francis Branch Library, 52655 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend.

∎ 2 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in the fourth-floor chambers of the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend. It will also be available virtually via Zoom. The link is found in a press release at sjcindiana.com.

∎ 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in Classroom B at the St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Main St., South Bend.

An additional session will be held to help eligible residents sign up for the new tax credit. That will be from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 11 in Classroom B at the St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Main St., South Bend.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County to answer questions about new property tax credit