This article is enacted pursuant to C.G.S. § 12-129n,
as amended.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ELIGIBLE PROPERTY
Property, which is the principal residence and domicile of
the eligible taxpayer, the lot upon which the residence is located,
and the appurtenant outbuildings. Benefits will be pro rated for partial
ownership and for occupancy in a dwelling of up to two dwelling units.
ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER
Any resident taxpayer owning and occupying as his or her
principal residence real property in the Town of Haddam who is (1)
65 years of age and over, or whose spouse, living with him or her,
is 62 years of age or over or (2) under age 65 and eligible in accordance
with applicable federal regulations to receive permanent total disability
benefits under Social Security or who has not been engaged in employment
covered by Social Security and accordingly has not qualified for benefits
thereunder, but has become qualified for permanent total disability
benefits under any federal, state or local government retirement or
disability plan, in which requirements with respect to qualifications
for such permanent total disability benefits are comparable to such
requirements under Social Security, provided the resident taxpayer
or his or her spouse under Subdivision (1) or (2) has been a taxpayer
of Haddam for 20 years immediately preceding receipt of tax benefits
under this article, and providing that the applicant meets the requirements
established herein with respect to maximum allowable qualifying income
during the calendar year preceding the year in which application is
made for the tax relief provided in this article.
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE INCOME
The maximum qualifying income which a taxpayer and/or taxpayer's
spouse may receive and still be eligible for relief under this article.
The maximum allowable income for tax relief under this article is
$50,000 per year. Said amount may be amended annually or as recommended
by the Board of Finance and adopted by the Board of Selectmen.
QUALIFYING INCOME
All monies received, unless specifically exempted, and includes
wages, bonuses, commissions, fees, self-employment income, social
security, payment for jury duty, dividends, interest, and annuities,
IRA income that is taxable, interest or proceeds from gifts, lottery
winnings, rental income, pensions, including veterans' and railroad
retirement, severance or unemployment compensation, workers' compensation,
alimony, and all other sources of income as defined by the Office
of Policy and Management. Specifically excluded are Social Security
payments specifically for a dependent person, casualty loss reimbursement
by insurance companies, gifts, bequests or inheritance (although interest
and other income produced by such gifts, bequest or inheritance must
be included), grants for disaster relief, life insurance proceeds
and all other exempt sources or income as defined by the Office of
Policy and Management. Evidence of such income shall be required,
and a signed affidavit shall be submitted to the Assessor when an
application for benefits under this article is filed. The tax relief
provided for in this article shall be available to eligible taxpayers
and their eligible spouses whose total adjusted gross income for purposes
of federal income tax, plus any other income not included in such
adjusted gross income (the total of which shall be defined as "qualifying
income"), does not exceed the limits set forth below.
Any benefits accruing pursuant to this article
under the tax abatement program shall cease immediately upon the death
of the eligible taxpayer, provided the eligible taxpayer's spouse
does not qualify for relief under this article, and shall be prorated
for the year in which the taxpayer dies. If the taxpayer is utilizing
the tax deferral program, upon the death of the eligible taxpayer,
provided the eligible taxpayer's spouse does not qualify for relief
under this article, interest at the statutory rate shall be assessed
from the date of death of the eligible taxpayer, to continue in effect
until the property is transferred.
The penalty for filing an application containing
any false statements of any kind shall be the refund by the taxpayer
of all credits in property taxes, together with interest at the rate
of 18% per annum.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Assessor
in determining the amount of relief or in disapproving any such application
under this article may appeal to the Board of Selectmen, in writing,
within 10 days after the date of the written notification of the Assessor
on such application. The Board of Selectmen shall promptly consider
such appeal and may grant or deny the relief requested, or make such
other modifications necessary to comply with this article.