(a) Persons aged 65 or over, residing in their own residence with separate metered water service or a separate City water assessment for that residential unit, shall be exempt from payment of the sewer service charge for their residence. This exemption shall apply regardless of whether the person is in arrears in the payment of any refuse collection, water or sewer charges for the subject residence.
(b) Persons aged 65 or over who reside in their own residence but do not qualify for an exemption under subsection (a) because their residence is a townhouse, condominium unit or cooperative apartment that does not have separate metered water service or a separate City water assessment for the residential unit may apply for a refund in lieu of exemption pursuant to this subsection. The amount of such refund shall be $50.00 per qualified residence for each calendar year.
In order to receive a refund in lieu of exemption, an application shall be made to the City Comptroller. The application shall (i) be given to and received by the Comptroller in the same calendar year for which a refund is requested, (ii) be made in a manner prescribed by the Comptroller, and (iii) include such affidavits or other reasonable proof of qualifications for a refund that the Comptroller may require. If the Comptroller approves the refund, the Comptroller shall promptly pay the applicant a refund in the amount of $50.00.
(c) Persons residing in residences qualified for an exemption or refund under this section shall qualify for the exemption or refund by the submission of a copy of the applicant's birth certificate, or the applicant's driver's license, state-issued identification card or the Matricula Consular identification card specified in Section 6-10-065 of the Code, showing the applicant is aged 65 or over; proof of their qualification for homeowners exemption; and proof of residency. The acceptable document to prove residency shall be a copy of a utility bill for the residence. Acceptable documents to prove home ownership shall be a copy of: (i) the deed to the residence, (ii) property tax bill, or (iii) with regard to a residence held in trust, a declaration executed by the trustee, affirming that the residence is held in trust and that the trust gives the named applicant the right to occupy the residence. In lieu of the forms of proof specified in this paragraph (c), the Comptroller is authorized to accept alternative forms of proof that in the Comptroller's judgment are genuine and probative of the information sought. The Comptroller shall provide information regarding the process for obtaining an exemption or refund, and the associated forms, in Spanish as well as English.
(d) If the Comptroller’s processing of a full payment certificate for a given property serves to terminate any senior exemption applicable to that property, the Comptroller shall send written notification of such termination to the address at issue.
(Prior code § 185.1-5; Amend Coun. J. 11-22-91, p. 9167; 7-29-92, p. 19276; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-14, p. 93548, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-15, p. 12062, Art. IX, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-19, p. 11390, Art. X, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 16; Amend Coun. J. 11-15-23, p. 6542, Art. VIII, § 1)