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 Islamorada
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 54. TAXATION
 Article II. AD VALOREM TAXES

§ 54-31. Additional homestead exemption for certain qualifying senior citizens.  

Latest version.

  • (a)

    For the purposes of this section, the terms "household" and "household income" shall have the same meanings as ascribed to them in F.S. § 196.075.

    (b)

    In accordance with section 6(f), article VII of the State Constitution and F.S. § 196.075, as it may be amended from time to time, any person 65 years of age or over who has legal or equitable title to real estate located within the village and maintains thereon his permanent residence which qualifies for and receives a homestead exemption pursuant to section 6(a), article VII of the State Constitution, and whose household income does not exceed $20,000 (as adjusted pursuant to subsection (f)) shall be entitled to make application for an additional homestead exemption of $50,000 (referred to in this section as additional exemption). The additional exemption, if granted, shall be applicable to all ad valorem tax millage rates levied by the village.

    (c)

    Every person claiming the additional exemption pursuant to this section must file an application with the county property appraiser not later than March 1 of each year for which the additional exemption is claimed. The application shall include a sworn statement of household income for all members of the household and shall be filed on a form prescribed by the state department of revenue. On or before June 1 of each year every applicant must file supporting documentation with the property appraiser. The documentation shall include copies of all federal income tax returns, wage and earnings statements, and any other documentation as required by the property appraiser, including documentation necessary to verify the income received by all of the members of the household for the prior year.

    (d)

    Failure to file the application and sworn statement by March 1, or failure to file the required documentation by June 1 of any given year, shall constitute a waiver of the additional exemption privilege for that year.

    (e)

    The additional exemption shall be available commencing with the year 2007 tax roll, and the property appraiser may begin accepting applications and sworn statements for the year 2007 tax roll as soon as the appropriate forms are available from the department of revenue. In the event that the Monroe County Property Appraiser determines that the additional exemption is not available for the year 2007 tax roll, then the additional exemption shall be available commencing with the year 2008 tax roll.

    (f)

    Commencing January 1, 2001, and each January 1 thereafter, the $20,000.00 annual income limitation in this section shall be adjusted by the percentage of change in the average cost-of-living index for the calendar year immediately prior to that year. The index shall be the average of the monthly consumer price index figures for the stated period, for the United States as a whole, issued by the United States Department of Labor.

(Ord. No. 99-14, §§ 1—6, 11-18-1999; Ord. No. 07-12, § 1, 5-24-2007)