Low-Income Seniors Await Election Results

BROOKSVILLE -
Low-income seniors who applied for the Senior Citizens' Homestead Exemption program should know today if they will get an even deeper cut to their property taxes.
Regardless of how the vote turned out, homeowners 65 and older who meet household income and other requirements are already in line for an additional property tax exemption up to $50,000.
But if Amendment 1 passed, eligible seniors could realize a $100,000 property tax exemption.
To date, 1,200 people have applied to the program, according to the county property appraiser's office.
"That's actually less than what we estimated," said Nick Nikkinen, director of special projects with the property appraiser. "But we still have some time yet."
Seniors have until March 1 to take advantage of the program.
Property Appraiser Alvin Mazourek estimates there are about 4,400 Hernando County seniors that could take advantage of the program.
He believes many of them were waiting to see the outcome of Tuesday's primary, particularly Amendment 1, which - if passed - would double the homestead exemption for many people.
For low-income seniors, it would translate into an even bigger increase.
If Amendment 1 passed, and the assessed value of their property was $75,000 or more, their homestead exemption would double, from $25,000 to $50,000.
If they met income requirements of the senior citizen's exemption program, they would realize another $50,000 savings, for a total exemption of $100,000.
Mazourek said seniors need to check and make sure they meet the income guidelines of the exemption program.
For example, the applicant's total household adjusted gross income must not exceed $24,916 in 2008, according to new state guidelines.
Mazourek and Nikkinen said they will schedule more community meetings to publicize the senior tax exemption program.
Voters amended the state constitution in 2006 to give local governments the option of increasing the low-income senior citizen homestead exemption from $25,000 to $50,000.
Several counties in Florida have since adopted the ordinance. Hernando County commissioners approved it during last September's second budget hearing.
Meanwhile, for more information on the program, call the property appraiser's office at 754-4190 or log on to the department's Web site at www.hernandocounty.us/pa/ and go to the "What's Hot" blue box to the left of the page.