(a) Definitions. In this Section:
Director means the Director of Finance or the Director’s designee.
Elderly or disabled tenant means a tenant who meets the income- and asset-based eligibility requirements established by regulation under subsection (f) and:
(1) is at least 65 years old;
(2) has been found permanently and totally disabled and has qualified for benefits under:
(A) the Social Security Act;
(B) the Railroad Retirement Act;
(C) any federal act for members of the United States armed forces; or
(D) any federal retirement system; or
(3) has been found permanently and totally disabled by the County health officer.
Market rent means an amount, determined by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, equal to:
(1) the rent charged to other tenants for comparable units in the same property; or
(2) if there are no other comparable units in the same property, the rent charged for comparable units in the same market area.
Reduced rent means rent charged to an elderly or disabled tenant that is at least 15% less than market rent.
Rent reduction means the difference between the market rent and reduced rent for the dwelling.
Tax-Property Article means the Tax-Property Article of the Maryland Code.
(b) Credit. As authorized by §9-219 of the Tax-Property Article, the owner of a rental dwelling who provides reduced rent to an elderly or disabled tenant may receive a credit against the County property tax.
(c) Amount of Credit.
(1) The credit allowed under this Section is 50% of the total rent reductions provided by the owner to elderly or disabled tenants during the tax year.
(2) A credit granted to a person under this Section must not exceed the amount of County property tax paid by the person in the tax year in which the credit is granted.
(d) Annual aggregate limit.
(1) Unless a larger amount is approved in the annual operating budget or a Council resolution, during any fiscal year, the total credits granted under this Section must not exceed $250,000.
(2) Credits must be granted in the order in which the Department of Finance receives complete applications under subsection (e).
(3) A complete application that, if granted, would cause the limit set in paragraph (1) of this subsection to be exceeded, must be granted in the next fiscal year or years based on the order in which the Department of Finance received the application.
(e) Application.
(1) A property owner must submit an application to the Director on or before the date that the Director sets.
(2) An application must:
(A) be on the form that the Director requires; and
(B) demonstrate that the taxpayer is entitled to the credit.
(f) Regulations. The County Executive must adopt regulations under method (2) to administer this Section, including income- and asset-based tenant eligibility requirements. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 35, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 2.)
Editor’s note—2014 L.M.C., ch. 35, § 2, states: This Act takes effect on July 1, 2015 and is effective through the tax year ending on June 30, 2018. This Act and any regulation adopted under it is not effective for any tax year beginning on or after July 1, 2019.