Gimenez proposes rebate for seniors but not trust fund

Mayor Carlos Gimenez received a Compromise for a two-part promise he made during the 2011 campaign:

"I will create a Seniors First Trust Fund to assure that the elderly continue to have access to warm meals, and I will extend the low-income seniors property tax rebate program of $100 for next year.”

County commissioners nixed the idea for the trust fund but approved the rebate in 2011. Now we are watching Gimenez's efforts in his second budget proposal, this time for the 2012-13 year which starts Oct. 1.

Gimenez released his proposed budget in July, and it includes about $3.5 million for the Save Our Seniors Homeowners Relief Fund. The fund was originally created before Gimenez was mayor (see more details below in our previous update) and provides a $100 check per household to those 65 and older who get the state's senior homestead exemption. To qualify for the senior homestead exemption, a senior must earn no more than $27,030 a year, said county spokeswoman Suzy Trutie.

We'll note that Gimenez is proposing to send a little bit of cash to seniors while he faces re-election in the Aug. 14 primary.

Gimenez did not propose the trust fund because commissioners rejected it last year, and because Gimenez wants to keep services at current levels, his spokeswoman Suzy Trutie said.

We won't give a final rating on this promise for the year until we see the outcome of the budget process, which concludes when commissioners take their final vote Sept. 20. For now we rate this a Compromise.