D.C. Mayor Urges Council To Reject Property Tax Relief

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mayor Vincent Gray is asking the D.C. Council to reject a bill that would provide property tax relief to some District of Columbia homeowners.

The bill would prevent taxes on homes from increasing more than 5 percent per year. It's intended to shield residents from huge tax increases prompted by the city's fast-rising property values.

Gray notes in a letter to the council that the bill would cost $32.5 million over four years. He also points out that the city's property tax rates are lower than surrounding jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia. He says a panel examining changes to the city's tax structure didn't recommend any changes to property taxes.

The council is also considering a bill Tuesday that would eliminate property taxes for some elderly residents.

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