A new San Diego County program will give homeowners 65 and older dedicated help with overdue property taxes, penalty waivers and a state deferral program.

County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen announced the Senior Safe Harbor Program at a Monday, Oct. 12, news conference, as CBS 8 first reported. In Coronado, where the median home value reached $2 million in 2024 and about 21 percent of residents are 65 or older, the program could affect thousands of homeowners, according to American Community Survey and 2020 census data.

The program uses authority Cohen's office already has. It does not change state law or eliminate anyone's obligation to pay property taxes, Cohen said. The idea came from frontline cashiers and call center staff who hear from seniors every day, he said.

Five parts

The program has five components, according to Cohen:

  • Senior ombudsman. A dedicated staffer will handle qualifying cases with a target resolution time of 10 business days. The county is still interviewing for the position.
  • Medical hardship form. Seniors can submit a new form, completed with a medical professional, to request cancellation of penalties caused by circumstances beyond their control.
  • Payment-plan outreach. Under state law, a home can be sold at auction after five years of unpaid taxes. The ombudsman will contact seniors in default before they reach that threshold.
  • State postponement help. Staff will help seniors apply for California's Property Tax Postponement (PTP) program, which lets eligible homeowners defer current-year taxes.
  • Relief fund. Cohen said he is raising at least $50,000 for a Senior Homeowner Property Tax Relief Fund for one-time help in extraordinary cases. The fund still needs legal review and approval.

State deferral program

The PTP program, run by the State Controller's Office, is open to homeowners who are at least 62, blind or have a disability. Applicants must own and occupy the home, have at least 40 percent equity, earn no more than $57,002 in household income and have no reverse mortgage, according to the State Controller's Office.

The application window opened Oct. 1 and closes Feb. 10, 2027. Funding is limited and awarded first-come, first-served. Last year, eligible homeowners statewide postponed almost $7.7 million in property taxes through the program, according to State Controller Malia M. Cohen.

The PTP interest rate is 5 percent per year. Repayment comes due when the homeowner moves, sells, transfers title or dies.

Local context

Countywide, more than 575,000 people are 65 or older, Larry Cohen said. One in three senior homeowners spends more than 30 percent of income on housing.

Deb Martin, CEO of ElderHelp of San Diego, said the average senior property tax bill ranges from $4,000 to $6,400 a year. For many of her clients, that equals two to three months of Social Security.

"They aren't asking for a handout," Martin said. "They're just asking for more time."

Melinda Forstey, president and CEO of Serving Seniors, said her organization works with more than 14,000 older adults a year. Some have less than $10 a day left for food, transportation and medication after paying for housing, she said.

What's next

Larry Cohen said he could not say how many seniors are currently behind on their property taxes. He hopes to have the program running by the end of 2026.

Seniors with tax questions can call the county Treasurer-Tax Collector's office at 1-877-829-4732. PTP applications are available at ptp.sco.ca.gov or by calling (800) 952-5661.