County OKs additional tax break for seniors
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Santa Rosa County Commissioners recently voted to give low-income seniors a break on their property taxes.

On April 10 Property Appraiser Greg Brown appeared before the commissioners to request an extra tax break for county residents. The board passed the exemption a month later on May 10.

"The board had deferred it to the conclusion of the legislative session," said County Administrator Hunter Walker. "This meeting being the first meeting after that. The property tax issue has not been resolved but this is the time that [the board] appointed it come back."

The $25,000 tax credit is for seniors over the age of 65, who are homesteaded, have a total household income of less than $22,214 per year and whose home is appraised at more than $75,000.

Brown said he believes the financial impact for the county would be minimal based on the number of eligible residents.

"They have to meet certain requirements," Brown said. "They have to be 65 and meet these income requirements."

Low-income seniors in Santa Rosa County currently receive a $50,000 exemption. The new exemption passed by the board would take the total exemption to $75,000 off their yearly property taxes.

Commissioner W.D. 'Don' Salter wanted eligible residents to know that the exemptions only apply to the county's share of property tax and not the school board's share.