The Treasurer’s Office has resources to help older adults struggling with property tax bills

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH – Today, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne joined County Treasurer Brad Cromes to introduce the Cuyahoga County Taxpayer Assistance Program. If approved by County Council, the program, operated in partnership with CHN Housing Partners, is designed to provide up to $10,000 in one-time direct assistance to qualified County taxpayers aged 70 or older with an active delinquency. In addition to direct assistance, the Taxpayer Assistance Program will fund housing counseling services to help to ensure recipients are given tools they need to catch up on their taxes and make informed housing choices going forward.

“In Cuyahoga County, we recognize that many residents struggle to stay current on their property taxes, and this can lead to additional financial challenges,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “Through the Taxpayer Assistance Program, we hope to ease the financial burden on homeowners, and ensure that older adults can stay in their homes.”

The legislation will be introduced at the Cuyahoga County Council meeting on Tuesday, October 22. If approved, the Treasurer’s Office will fund the pilot program through the County’s Delinquent Tax & Assessment Collection fund with an initial allocation of $2.5 million per year for two years. Funding is allocated annually as $2 million per year in direct taxpayer assistance, and $500,000 per year for housing counseling services.

“The Treasurer's Office is committed to helping our most vulnerable taxpayers stay on track with their taxes and build strong financial futures,” said Cuyahoga County Treasurer Brad Cromes. “We are excited about this new program’s potential to do that and look forward to working with our partners to deliver.”

How Funding can be Used:

Qualifying applicants can utilize Taxpayer Assistance Program funding to:

• Pay certified delinquent property taxes
• Pay late property taxes
• Pay current property taxes
• Pay foreclosure fees and court costs related to a pre-existing foreclosure
• To satisfy pre-existing tax lien certificates

How to Qualify:

To qualify for the direct assistance, resident must:

• Maintain a primary residence in Cuyahoga County with an active certified tax delinquency
• Be the primary or joint owner
• Be aged 70 years or greater
• Have a household income of less than $70,000 per year
• Establish a delinquent tax payment contract for any remaining delinquency
• Participate in the Easy Pay installment payment program for future taxes
• Participate in housing counseling services with CHN Housing Partners, including a counseling session, completion of a budget, and demonstration of on-going ability to pay

Get Started:

To get started, applicants should:

• Complete an online interest form to save their place in line

Applicants can also contact the Treasurer’s Office:

• Call 216-443-7400 (Option 1) or
• Email treascomment@cuyahogacounty.us.

Applicants will be asked to provide proof of residence, income, and household membership qualification.

“Our principal goal is to ensure that residents have the tools and resources they need to find and retain stable, affordable housing,” said Kevin J. Nowak, President, and CEO of CHN Housing Partners. “Through the County’s Taxpayer Assistance Program, we hope to provide financial relief and economic stability to those in our ageing community.”

CHN Housing Partners will process applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional screening criteria may apply and will be detailed in application materials. Assistance is available one time per household. Applicants who have received prior assistance from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Utility Assistance Plus program (administered locally by CHN Housing Partners) are not eligible for further assistance under this program.

Cuyahoga County is actively seeking partnership opportunities to grow this pilot program and make the Taxpayer Assistance Program sustainable for the future. If you are interested in partnering with the County, please contact Treasurer Brad Cromes at bcromes@cuyahogacounty.us.

Photo Gallery from the event. Courtesy: Cuyahoga County Communications