[Adopted 4-9-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-4]
The Town Council of the Town of Johnston finds
that senior and disabled citizens and disabled veterans of the Town
are in need of relief from ever-increasing real estate property taxes.
Consequently, the Town Council adopts the Senior and Disabled Citizens
and Disabled Veterans Tax Deferment Program to ease the financial
strain placed upon certain senior citizens and disabled veterans.
The following words, terms and phrases, when
used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in
this section:
That income reported to the Internal Revenue Service as adjusted
gross income (AGI) for income tax purposes.
A Johnston resident who has been determined to be totally
disabled by the United States Social Security Administration.
A Johnston resident who has been determined to be a totally
disabled veteran by the United States Veterans' Administration.
A developed parcel of real estate consisting of a single-family
residential dwelling used as a primary residence.
A Johnston resident who is 65 years of age or older.
A person is eligible for the Senior and Disabled
Citizens and Disabled Veterans Tax Deferment Program if that person:
A.
A senior citizen, a disabled citizen or a disabled
veteran must file annually a form to be provided by the Tax Assessor
on or before April 15. Along with that form, the senior citizen, disabled
citizen or disabled veteran shall provide proof of identity by presenting
a driver's license or birth certificate with one other form of identity.
B.
In addition, the senior citizen, disabled citizen
or disabled veteran shall also present a copy of his/her federal tax
return on or before April 15 annually.
C.
A copy of a deed to the property shall also be presented
establishing that the property is held in fee simple by the senior
citizen or disabled veteran or his/her revocable living trust. A primary
residence not held in fee simple or in a revocable living trust shall
not be eligible for a deferment.
A.
A qualified senior citizen, disabled citizen or disabled
veteran shall be granted on an annual basis the deferment of any tax
increase for the year not to exceed 3.5% per annum.
B.
The collection of those taxes so deferred shall be
deferred until the sale of the primary residence by the qualified
senior citizen, disabled citizen or disabled veteran or upon his/her
death.
C.
A lien or similar certificate shall be filed in the
land evidence records indicating that the primary residence of the
qualified senior citizen, disabled citizen or disabled veteran is
in the deferred tax program. The office of the Tax Collector shall
maintain an annual list of qualified senior citizens' or disabled
veterans' properties and the amounts due thereon.
