The Town Board of the Town of Highland, pursuant to New York
State Real Property Tax Law § 467, Subdivision 1(b), authorizes
a partial exemption from real property taxes on qualifying residential
real property for senior citizens, as defined in Real Property Tax
Law § 467, Subdivision (1)(a).
For purposes of this section, "qualifying senior citizens" are
when property is owned by one or more persons, each of whom is 65
years of age or over, or real property owned by husband and wife,
or siblings, one of whom is 65 years of age or over. This definition
of "qualifying senior citizens" shall be consistent with the definition
as contained in Real Property Tax Law § 467, Subdivision(1)(a).
Pursuant to § 467, Subdivision 1b(1), (2) and (3),
of the Real Property Tax Law, the Town of Highland is authorized to
adopt a local law establishing a partial exemption from the Town portion
of real property taxes for qualified senior citizens who own qualified
residential real property within the Town of Highland.
No exemption shall be allowed except in accordance with the
provision of Real Property Tax Law § 467 for real property
which qualifies by use and ownership upon an application submitted
in the manner provided by this article.
Pursuant to Real Property Tax Law § 467, Subdivision
5, applications for such exemption under § 467 and § 467-a
shall be made by the owner, or all of the owners, of the property
on forms prescribed by the State Board, to be furnished by the Town
Assessor, and shall be filed in the Town of Highland Assessor's
office on or before the taxable status date.
The Town Assessor is authorized to accept applications for renewal
of exemptions pursuant to Real Property Tax Law §§ 467
and 467-a after the taxable status date. In the event the owner, or
all of the owners, of property which has received an exemption pursuant
to Real Property Tax Law § 467 or § 467-a on the
preceding assessment roll fail to file the renewal application required
on or before the taxable status date, such owner or owners may file
the renewal application, executed, as if such renewal application
had been filed on or before the date for the hearing of complaints.
The Town Assessor is also authorized, upon receiving an initial
application for exemption under §§ 467 and 467-a of
the Real Property Tax Law after the taxable status date has passed
but prior to the date for hearing of complaints by the Board of Assessment
Review, to execute and transmit to the Board of Assessment Review
a verified statement that such late initial application for exemption
has been received. At the meeting of the Board of Assessment Review,
said Board shall hear and determine all verified statements and upon
such review shall have all of the powers and duties imposed by law
to determine and/or make changes to said assessment pursuant to Article
5, Title 1-a, of the Real Property Tax Law and any other law.