Press Release

State Representative Uecker sponsors House Bill offering property tax relief to qualified elderly homeowners.

Miami Township, September 1, 2006:  Often hearing pleas from elderly homeowners that they can no longer afford to live in their homes because of rising property taxes, Rep. Uecker is Co-Sponsoring House Bill 651 along with Butler County’s Rep. Ross McGregor that will freeze property taxes at their current level for qualifying elderly home owners. “Most elderly folks we talk to and hear from do not object to paying taxes they simply cannot afford any more increases” Uecker says. Rep. Uecker also observes that “part of the difficulty in passing much needed levies is that the elderly absolutely have to come out to vote against something they often believe is ultimately good for their community and this will help to remove one objection”.

Those homeowners who are 65 years of age and older and own their own home valued at $130,000 or less, and have an annual income of less than $35,000 could qualify.  Also qualifying would be those homeowners who are on total and permanent disability.  This exemption would also be transferred to the spouse of those qualifying homeowners who are deceased as long as the surviving spouse is at least 59 years of age.  Application would be similar to the current homestead exemption process. 

After the bill is assigned to a committee it must go through a series of hearings for both proponents and opponents to testify before going to the House of Representatives for a vote.