Property tax relief is available for elderly or disabled homeowners and disabled veterans. Eligible residents can apply at the office of Trustee Patsy Jenkins when they receive their 2008 tax bill, with a deadline of 35 days after the delinquency date. Taxes must be paid by this time.

Tax relief is payment by the state to reimburse certain homeowners for a part or all of property taxes paid. The amount of tax relief varies depending on your property assessment and the county or city tax rate.

To qualify as an elderly homeowner, you must be 65 or older on or before Dec. 31, 2008. The eligibility requirement for a disabled homeowner, you must have been rated totally and permanently disabled by Social Security or other qualified agency on or before Dec. 31, 2008.

Eligible homeowners must own and use the property on which they are applying as their primary residence. The combined 2007 annual income of all owners of the property cannot exceed $24,790. This includes income from all sources, including Social Security, retirement, salaries, interest, and other sources of income. The maximum market value on which tax relief is calculated is $25,000.

To qualify as a disabled veteran, the disability must meet one on the following categories: A service-connected disability that resulted in paraplegia or permanent paralysis of both legs and lower part of the body or loss/loss of use of two or more limbs or legal blindness. This also includes a total and permanent disability rating from a service-connected disability or a 100% total and permanent disability rating from being a prisoner of war. The widow of a disabled veteran is eligible for the same reasons and also for death of the veteran resulting from a service-connected, combat-related cause.

The disabled veteran must own and use property on which relief is applied for as a primary residence. The maximum market value on which tax relief is calculated is $175,000. The amount of relief depends on the property assessment and the county or city tax rate.

For more information, contact the Trustee’s office at 338-4545.