AUBURN — City officials settled on a framework this week for a property tax assistance program aimed at seniors, which could be funded during upcoming budget discussions for fiscal year 2026.

The program, if ultimately funded, would provide up to $1,000 in assistance to Auburn residents 65 and older who meet other eligibility requirements.

Elected officials first eyed a municipal program in October, when they were hearing from constituents seeing tax increases from city valuation adjustments. However, they were cautioned against creating a program too quickly and potentially repeating the mistakes of the state’s recent tax stabilization effort.

City Manager Phil Crowell said Tuesday that Auburn doesn’t want to repeat what the state did. Some residents who had enrolled in the state’s now-defunct tax stabilization program saw two years worth of tax increases, which was then made worse by the local valuation adjustments stemming from higher real estate prices.

“That was a bait and switch for a lot of people,” Crowell said, referring to the state’s program ending after one year.

Crowell said once in place, the local program should be something that can be maintained in the budget on a consistent basis.

While the the council won’t decide on funding the program until this spring, Crowell estimated it could cost roughly $300,000. He said that figure is based on residents who were enrolled in the state’s program, as well as others who may be eligible.

Those applying would have to have lived in Auburn for 10 years and also meet income requirements of the household’s gross income not exceeding Auburn’s median household income.

During the council discussion Tuesday, Councilor Tim Cowan questioned the income eligibility requirement, stating that Auburn’s median household income of roughly $66,000 could leave some seniors out of the program who need it.

However, others said the program is simply a pilot that can be altered as it is rolled out, or once the city sees the demand and who is using it.

Mayor Jeff Harmon said ultimately the rate of what people can receive for a rebate will be based on what is appropriated for the program by the council.

Councilor Belinda Gerry argued the city shouldn’t wait to make the program active.

“I think this is a great idea to figure out ways to help our seniors,” she said. “As our taxes go up, we’re taxing our seniors out of their places. I’m just not too cool with pushing the date of starting this until later. I know it may depend on the budget, but if a senior is counting on that I don’t want to pull the rug out from under them.”

Cowan said the council has to be able to consider the upcoming budget when deciding on the program.

“The reality is we’re trying to do an important step forward to address the seniors struggling. But there are a lot of other folks who are not seniors also struggling,” he said. “Each dollar we take away to give to this group has to be replaced by everyone else.”

Crowell said the idea behind the program is modeled after similar municipal programs in places such as Scarborough and Cumberland. He said it’s aimed at seniors who have been in their homes a long time, and now taxes have shifted.

The council voted unanimously to support the ordinance language.

The program could be rolled out as the city prepares for a citywide revaluation, which the city assessor has argued would create more tax fairness for property owners.

During previous talks, City Assessor Karen Scammon has said Auburn continues to see some homes sold for more than double their assessed value.

Her office gathers data to see if valuations are reflective of the current real estate market, and while there’s been enough information to firmly establish that the market has driven up the value of residential properties, there hasn’t been enough information to establish that for other property classes, such as commercial and industrial. Officials believe a revaluation can do that.