ATLANTA — Atlanta's low-income seniors can expect some financial assistance. Filmmaker, film studio owner and philanthropist Tyler Perry donated $750,000 to help seniors living on fixed income pay their property taxes.
Perry's donation comes as property taxes across the metro continue to rise.
"Rising property taxes has been a leading factor in the displacement of legacy residents, with even modest increases in property taxes disrupting the lives of seniors living on a fixed income," the City of Atlanta said in a press release.
Donation funds will be used to pay off back property taxes for over 300 low-income seniors in Atlanta. This payment also includes payment on back county and city taxes.
“Atlanta’s growth and prosperity should not come at the expense of our legacy residents—many of whom have been priced out of their homes in previous years,” Mayor Dickens said. “Tyler Perry has been engaged in our ongoing conversations around legacy resident retention, and he told me he wanted to do something to support these efforts. Thanks to his generosity, more Atlantans will be able to remain in the communities they built.”
In addition to payment on owed taxes, Perry's donation will also freeze property taxes by paying the difference between the current tax and pending increases through a pilot program.
Invest Atlanta Partnership, the nonprofit wing of Atlanta's economic development authority, will be responsible for administering the funds.
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