(A) This tax credit supplement shall be known as the "senior citizens' local supplement to homeowners property tax credit" and is authorized by, and subject to, the provisions of the Md. Code Ann., Tax Property Article, §§ 9-104, 9-215 and 9-245, except as specifically amended herein.
(B) Except as otherwise expressly stated in this section, all eligibility requirements, statutory definitions, restrictions and procedures that apply to the homeowners property tax credit granted under Md. Code Ann., Tax Property Article, § 9-104, also apply to this senior citizens' local supplement to homeowners property tax credit.
(C) Eligibility for this senior citizens' local supplement.
(1) Taxpayers must be at least 65 years old as of the end of the calendar year preceding the taxable year for which the senior citizens' local supplement tax credit is sought; and
(2) Taxpayers must not have a combined gross household income exceeding $100,000.00.
(a) If taxpayers have a combined gross household income of $50,000.00 or less, the amount of the senior citizens' local supplement to the homeowners property tax credit is equal to 50% of the net Frederick County real property tax after adjustment for all other credits and exemptions.
(b) If taxpayers have a combined gross household income greater than $50,000.00, but not more than $100,000.00, the amount of the senior citizens' local supplement to the homeowners property tax credit is equal to 30% of the net Frederick County real property tax after adjustment for all other credits and exemptions.
(c) The amount of the combined gross household income that shall be applied to subsection (C)(2), including (C)(2)(a) and (C)(2)(b), shall be adjusted each year following the effective date of this bill, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The adjusted value of each combined gross household income value stated in subsection (C)(2) shall be determined by multiplying the income amount by a fraction:
1. The numerator of which is the Consumer Price Index (as defined in subsection (C)(2)(c)4. below) as of January of the year for which the adjustment is being made.
2. The denominator of which is the Consumer Price Index (as defined in subsection (C)(2)(c)4. below) as of January of the preceding year for which the adjustment is being made.
3. The adjustment shall not result in a negative change to the combined gross household income value. Should the adjustment be lower, the combined gross household income shall remain the same as the previous year.
4. Consumer Price Index: Adjustments to the combined gross household income will be based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, All Items, 1982-84=100, published bi-monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the event the Bureaus of Labor Statistics abandons publication of the above-referenced index, the Frederick County Treasury Department shall adopt any other index which, in its judgment, provides an accurate measure of cost-of-living changes, pending amendment to this § 1-8-66.
(D) The amount of this senior citizens' local supplement tax credit may not exceed the amount due for net Frederick County real property tax. This senior citizens' local supplement tax credit does not apply to other than county real property tax; it does not apply to excise or other taxes such as fire or to special assessments. This property tax credit is only granted on the taxes resulting from the first $400,000.00 of assessed value of the property.
(E) The property tax credit authorized by this section shall apply only in taxable years beginning on or after July 1, 2024.
(F) This senior citizens' local supplement to homeowners property tax credit is to be administered by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation ("SDAT") with respect to its application and determination of eligibility of homeowners. Frederick County shall reimburse SDAT for the reasonable cost of administering this senior citizens' local supplement to homeowners property tax credit as required by the Md. Code Ann., Tax Property Article, § 9-215. To the extent that Frederick County rules or regulations may be required with respect to this senior citizens' local supplement to homeowners property tax credit, authority to promulgate these rules and regulations is delegated to the Director, Division of Finance, Frederick County Government.
(G) A person who knowingly submits a false or fraudulent application, or withholds information, to obtain a tax credit under this section must repay Frederick County for all amounts credited and all accrued interest and penalties that would apply to those amounts as overdue taxes and, in addition, is subject to all fines and other penalties as may be provided by law. Frederick County may enforce this section by appropriate legal action. A person who violates this section is liable for all court costs and expenses of the county in any civil action brought by Frederick County against the violator.
(Ord. 12-01-596, 1-3-2012; Ord. 14-02-657, 4-29-2014; Ord. 14-23-678, 11-13-2014; Bill No. 18-07, 5-15-2018; Bill No. 23-03, 5-2-2023)