(A) Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(1) HOUSEHOLD
means a person or group of persons living together in a room or group of rooms as a housing unit, but the term does not include persons boarding in or renting a portion of the dwelling.
(2) HOUSEHOLD INCOME
means the adjusted gross income, as defined in Section 62 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, of all members of a household,
(B) Low income senior homestead exemption. In accordance with Section 6, Article VII of the Florida Constitution and F.S. § 196.075, an additional homestead exemption of up to $50,000 is authorized for any person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate located within the city, maintains thereon their permanent residence, who has attained the age of 65, and whose household income does not exceed applicable income limitations below. The low income senior homestead exemption shall only be applied to taxes levied by the city beginning in tax year 2009.
(C) Long term residency senior exemption. In addition to the low income senior homestead exemption above, and in accordance with Section 6, Article VII of the Florida Constitution and F.S. § 196.075, the city authorizes long term residency senior exemption of up to the amount of the assessed value of the property located within the city for any person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate with a just value less than $250,000 for the initial year of application and has maintained thereon their permanent residence for at least 25 years, who has attained the age of 65, and whose household income does not exceed applicable income limitations below. The long term residency senior exemption shall only be applied to taxes levied by the city beginning in tax year 2014.
(D) Process for claiming the exemption. On an annual basis, not later than March 1, a sworn statement of household income must be submitted to the Broward County Property Appraiser on a form prescribed by the Florida Department of Revenue. The taxpayer's statement shall attest to the accuracy of copies required by the Department of Revenue to be submitted. The Broward County Property
Appraiser may not grant the exemption(s) without the required documentation.
(E) Property held jointly with right of survivorship. If title is held jointly with right of survivorship, the person residing on the property and otherwise qualifying may receive the entire amount of the additional homestead exemptions provided in this section.
(F) Annual adjustment of income limitation. Beginning January 1, 2001, the $20,000 income limitation for the exemptions provided in this section shall be adjusted annually, on January 1, by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living index as determined by the Florida Department of Revenue.
(G) Annual adjustment of income limitation. Beginning January 1, 2001, the $20,000 income limitation for the exemptions provided in this section 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.
(Ord. 2001-13, passed 11-14-00; Am. Ord. 2009-06, passed 10-28-08; Am. Ord. 2014-66, passed 9-23-14; Am. Ord. 2019-53, passed 4-9-19)