Seniors Property Tax Program

The department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations will now administer the Seniors Property Tax Rebate Program.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Barry Barnet announced today, Aug. 13, that his department will deliver the program on behalf of the department of Community Services.

The program is designed to help eligible seniors stay in their own homes by providing them with an annual rebate on their municipal property taxes. It provides a 50 per cent rebate on the municipal property taxes paid the previous year, up to a maximum of $400 per year.

"Government is constantly working for ways to deliver public services more efficiently, and this is one of the reasons Service Nova Scotia was created," said Mr. Barnet.

The Property Tax Rebate Program runs from July 1 to Dec. 31 each calendar year. To be eligible this year, individuals are required to: -- have received the guaranteed income supplement or the allowance in January 2004; -- still live in their home when they applied to the program; and -- have paid the 2003 municipal residential property taxes in full.

Application forms for the 2003 property tax rebate program will be mailed to those who received a rebate last year, or who have contacted the department to advise that they are now eligible.

For more information call the department's toll-free information line at 1-877-296-9338 or see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/ , click on rebates programs.