This article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of § 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York to grant a partial exemption from taxation to certain resident property owners of the Town of Seneca Falls (the "Town") with disabilities who have limited incomes.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
INCOME TAX YEAR
The twelve-month period for which the owner or owners filed a federal personal income tax return or, if no such return is filed, the calendar year.
PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
One who has a physical or mental impairment, not due to current use of alcohol or illegal drugs, which substantially limits such person's ability to engage in one or more major life activities, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working, and who (i) is certified to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under the federal Social Security Act, or (ii) is certified to receive Railroad Retirement Disability benefits under the federal Railroad Retirement Act, (iii) has received a certificate from the State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped stating that such person is legally blind, (iv) is certified to receive a United States Postal Service disability pension; or (v) is certified to receive a United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability pension pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1521. An award letter from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board or a certificate from the state Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped or an award letter from the United States Postal Service or an award letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs shall be submitted as proof of disability.
SIBLING
A brother or a sister, whether related through half blood, whole blood or adoption.
A. 
Real property situate within the bounds of the Town of Seneca Falls, Seneca County, New York, owned by husband and wife or by siblings (i.e., a brother or sister whether related through half-blood, whole blood or adoption), at least one of whom has a disability, and whose income, as hereinafter defined, is limited by reason of such disability, shall be exempt from taxation for real estate taxes to be levied by the Town for the year 2022 and thereafter by the percentage of exemption hereinafter specified for the annual income ranges listed below to the extent of 50% of the assessed valuation thereof. Such exemption shall be based upon the assessed value of the exempt real property and shall be computed after all other partial exemptions allowed by law have been subtracted from the total amount assessed:
[Amended 1-5-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
Annual Income Ranges
Exemption Percentage
$23,500 or less
50%
$23,500.01 to $24,499.99
45%
$24,500 to $25,499.99
40%
$25,500 to $26,499.99
35%
$26,500 to $27,399.99
30%
$27,400 to $28,299.99
25%
$28,300 to $29,199.99
20%
$29,200 to $30,099.99
15%
$30,100 to $30,999.99
10%
$31,000 to $31,900
5%
B. 
No exemption shall be granted:
(1) 
If the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of the property for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of making application for exemption exceeds the sum of $22,500. Where title is vested in either the husband or the wife, their combined income may not exceed such sum, except where the husband or wife, or ex-husband or ex-wife, is absent from the property due to divorce, legal separation or abandonment, then only the income of the spouse or ex-spouse residing on the property shall be considered and may not exceed such sum. Such income shall include social security and retirement benefits, interest, dividends, total gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset, which may be offset by a loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset in the same income tax year, net rental income, salary or earnings, and net income from self-employment, but shall not include a return of capital, gifts or inheritances or monies earned through employment in the federal foster grandparent program. In computing net rental income and net income from self-employment, no depreciation deduction shall be allowed for the exhaustion or wear and tear of real or personal property held for the production of income. Any such income shall be offset by all medical and prescription drug expenses actually paid which were not reimbursed or paid for by insurance.
(2) 
Unless the property is used exclusively for residential purposes; provided, however, that in the event that any portion of such property is not so used exclusively for residential purposes but is used for other purposes, such portion shall be subject to taxation and the remaining portion only shall be entitled to the exemption provided by this article.
(3) 
Unless the real property is the legal residence of and is occupied in whole or in part by the disabled person, except where the disabled person is absent from the residence while receiving health-related care as an inpatient or a residential health care facility, as defined in § 2801 of the Public Health Law, and provided that any income accruing to that person shall be considered income for the purposes of this article only to the extent that it exceeds the amount paid by such person or spouse, or sibling of such person for care in the facility.
C. 
No parcel may receive an exemption for the same municipal tax purpose pursuant to both this article and Article I, Senior Citizens Exemption, of this chapter, as amended.
D. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this article shall apply to real property held in trust solely for the benefit of a person or persons who would otherwise be eligible for a real property tax exemption pursuant to this article were such person or persons the owner or owners of such real property.
A. 
Application for such exemption must be made annually by the owner or all of the owners of the property on forms to be furnished by the Town Assessor's Office. Such applications shall furnish the information, and the forms are to be executed in the manner required or prescribed in such forms and shall be filed in such Assessor's office on or before taxable status date; provided, however, proof of a permanent disability need be submitted only in the year exemption pursuant to this article is first sought or the disability is first determined to be permanent.
B. 
At least 60 days prior to the appropriate taxable status date, the Assessor shall mail to each person who was granted exemption pursuant to this article on the latest completed assessment roll an application form and a notice that such application must be filed on or before the taxable status date and be approved in order for the exemption to be granted. Failure to mail any such application form or notices or the failure of such person to receive any of the same shall not prevent the levy, collection and enforcement of the payment of the taxes on property owned by such person.
The making of any willful false statement in the application for an exemption under this article shall be a violation thereof and a conviction for any such violation shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.