§ 62-1. Additional homestead exemption for persons 65 years of age and older.

(a)

This section is being adopted under the non-emergency ordinance procedure specified in F.S. ch. 125.

(b)

In accordance with F.S. § 196.075(2), an additional homestead exemption of $25,000.00 shall be granted for any person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, who has attained age 65 years and whose household income does not exceed $21,539.00.

(c)

Beginning January 1, 2005, the exemption amount described in subsection (b) above, shall be adjusted annually on January 1, by the percentage change in the average cost of living index in the period January 1 through December 31 of the immediate prior year compared with the same period for the year prior to that. The index is the average of the monthly consumer price index figures for the stated 12-month period, relative to the United States as a whole, issued by the United States Department of Labor.

(d)

The exemption granted by this section applies only to ad valorem taxes levied by Okeechobee County and shall not apply to any other unit of government nor shall it apply to any dependent special districts, municipal service taxing units, municipal service benefit units, or special assessments, including but not limited to, the Okeechobee County Fire Assessment.

(e)

The additional exemption provided by this section shall become effective for the 2005 calendar year and thereafter until amended or appealed.

(f)

Any tax payer claiming the exemption provided herein shall annually submit to the property appraiser, not later than March 1, a sworn statement of household income on a form prescribed by the department of revenue. The application shall be accompanied by copies of any federal income tax returns for the prior year, any wage or earning statements (W-2 forms), and any other documents required by F.S. § 196.075, or rules promulgated by the department of revenue pursuant to that statute. The tax payer must attest to the accuracy of the copies and the property appraiser shall not grant the exemption without the required documentation.

(Ord. No. 2004-01, §§ 1—6, 5-27-04)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 2004-01, §§ 1—6, adopted May 27, 2004, was not specifically amendatory of the Code and has been included as § 62-1 at the discretion of the editor.