SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

The property tax exemption for senior citizens, enacted in its original form by constitutional amendment in 1967, provides tax relief for homeowners who qualify on the basis of age or disability and disposable income. In 1999, the program provided $113.7 million in relief for 128,686 participants.

To be eligible for tax relief in 1999, a homeowner must be 61 in the year the claim is filed or retired by reason of physical disability. Tax relief is provided in the following increments:

-- full exemption from excess property taxes, along with a freeze on assessed valuation at 1995 levels, for households with a combined disposable income of $30,000 or less;

-- exemption from all regular property taxes on the greater of $40,000 or 35 percent of the value of residence, not to exceed $60,000 if income is between $18,001 and $24,000; or

-- exemption from all regular property taxes on the greater of $50,000 or 60 percent of the value of residence if income is $18,000 or less.

 

SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, 1976-1999

Year
Levies Approved Total Average
Due Applicants Relief Relief
1999 128,686 $113,706,395 $884
1998 131,924 80,614,685 611
1997 135,742 81,077,359 597
1996 136,036 79,043,697 581
1995 130,650 73,191,817 560
1994 126,641 67,368,802 532
1993 120,415 61,854,086 514
1992 105,024 52,184,342 496
1991 91,505 39,164,183 428
1990 93,392 36,390,308 390
1989 90,773 35,646,066 392
1988 87,004 26,997,527 310
1987 88,428 27,142,744 307
1986 89,235 24,402,314 273
1985 87,216 23,877,847 274
1984 90,031 20,695,350 230
1983 92,168 16,924,835 184
1982 100,252 16,925,378 169
1981 103,922 16,802,471 162
1980 105,127 18,392,355 175
1979 89,488 13,487,691 151
1978 87,089 14,156,821 163
1977 77,525 10,537,786 136
1976 83,205 8,878,902 107