§ 2-11.2. Additional homestead exemption for persons sixty-five and older.

Section 196.075, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time, provides the requirements for additional homestead exemptions for persons sixty-five (65) years of age and older.

(A)

Definitions.

(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 or renting a portion of a dwelling, as defined in section 196.075(1), Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.

(2)

Household income means the adjusted gross income, as defined in s. 62 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, of all members of the household, as defined in Section 196.075(1), Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.

(B)

General.

(1)

Pursuant to and in accordance with Section 196.075, Florida Statutes, the additional homestead exemption as set forth in this section shall apply only to taxes levied by the City of Coral Springs, including, if any, dependent special districts and municipal service taxing units.

(2)

Amount of additional homestead exemption. Any person who meets the requirements set forth in (C) below, shall be eligible for an additional homestead exemption of up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00). Such additional homestead exemption granted hereunder shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) in accordance with Section 196.075, Florida Statutes.

(C)

Requirements to obtain additional homestead exemption. Any person who has attained the age of sixty-five (65) years will be entitled to an additional homestead exemption if:

(1)

The person has legal or equitable title to real estate; and

(2)

The person maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner; and

(3)

The person's household income does not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00); and

(4)

The taxpayer claiming the exemption submits annually to the Broward County Property Appraiser, not later than March 1, a sworn statement of household income on a form prescribed by the Florida Department of Revenue; and

(5)

In accordance with rules of the Florida Department of Revenue, the filing of the statement is supported by copies of any federal income tax returns for the prior year, any wage and earnings statements (W-2 forms), and any other documents which the Florida Department of Revenue, finds necessary, for each member of the household, is submitted by June 1. The taxpayer's statement shall attest to the accuracy of such copies; and

(6)

Property appraiser approval. The property appraiser may not grant the exemption without the required documentation.

(D)

Household income. For purposes of (C)(3) above, beginning January 1, 2001, the twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) household income limitation shall be adjusted annually, on January 1, by the percentage change in the average cost-of-living 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 twelve month period, relative to the United States as a whole, issued by the United States Department of Labor.

(E)

If title is held jointly with the right of survivorship, the person residing on the property and otherwise qualifying may receive the entire amount of the additional homestead exemption.

(Ord. No. 2000-100, § 2, 1-18-00)