A retired homeowner in Durham, Jeffery Karasik, faced uncertainty about his property tax relief application under the Low Income Homeowners Relief (LIHR) program. The program aims to assist eligible homeowners in paying their property taxes. Karasik, who had applied for the program in the summer, experienced delays in the approval process, leaving him in the dark about whether he would qualify for relief.
Frustrated by the lack of communication and progress, Karasik sought assistance from Troubleshooter Diane Wilson. The county’s Tax Office explained that delays were caused by the transition from an old tax software to a new Windows-based platform, leading to challenges in syncing data. The Aging and Adult Services Division, responsible for the LIHR program, had 335 applications to process, aiming to complete them as quickly as possible.
Upon Wilson’s intervention, Karasik received his approval letter promptly. He expressed gratitude for the tax relief, emphasizing its significant impact on his budget. The representative from the county reassured residents that all applications were being processed expeditiously.