[Adopted 4-17-2001 by Ord. No. 1282]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACT 77
The Act of December 22, 1993, Public Law 529, No. 77, codified as the Allegheny County Regional Asset District Law, 16 P.S. § 6101-B et seq.
ALLEGHENY REGIONAL ASSET DISTRICT LAW
See the definition of "Act 77" above.
ASSESSMENT
The fair market value of property as determined by the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review of Allegheny County.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Etna.
COUNCIL
Council of the Borough of Etna.
DEPARTMENT OF PROPERTY ASSESSMENT
The Department of Property Assessment, Appeals, Review and Registry of Allegheny County.
ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER
A longtime owner/occupant of a principal residence in the Borough of Etna, who is: (1) a single person aged 60 or older during a calendar year in which county real property taxes are due and assessed; or (2) married persons if either spouse is 60 or older during a calendar year in which the Borough of Etna real property taxes are due and assessed.
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
All income received by an eligible taxpayer while residing in his or her principal residence during a calendar year.
INCOME
All income from whatever source derived, including, but not limited to, salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, income from self-employment, alimony, support money, cash public assistance and relief, the gross amount of any pensions or annuities, including railroad retirement benefits, all benefits received under the Federal Social Security Act (except medicare benefits), all benefits received under state unemployment insurance laws and veterans' disability payments, all interest received from the federal or any state government or any instrumentality or political subdivision hereof, realized capital gains, rentals, workers' compensation and the gross amount of loss-of-time insurance benefits, life insurance benefits and proceeds (except the first $5,000 of the total of death benefit payments), and gifts of cash or property (other than transfers by gift between members of a household) in excess of a total value of $300, but shall not include surplus food or other relief in kind supplied by a governmental agency or property tax or rent rebate or inflation dividend.
LONGTIME OWNER/OCCUPANT
Any person who, for at least 10 continuous years, has owned or has occupied the same dwelling place as a principal residence and domicile, or any person who, for at least 10 years, has owned and occupied the same dwelling as a principal residence and domicile, if that person received assistance in the acquisition of the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing program.
MUNICIPALITY
The Borough of Etna.
PERSON
A natural person.
PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE
The dwelling place of a person, including the principal house and lot and such lots as are used in connection therewith which contribute to its enjoyment, comfort and convenience; or a building with a maximum of one commercial establishment and a maximum of three residential units, of which one residential unit must be a principal residence of the longtime owner/occupant.
SENIOR CITIZENS REBATE AND ASSISTANCE ACT
The Act of March 11, 1971, Public Law 104 No. 3, as amended, codified at Pa. Stat. Ann. tit. 72, § 4751-1 et seq.[1]
[1]
The former Senior Citizens Property Tax Assistance Act, 72 P.S. §§ 4751-1 through 4751-12, was repealed 6-27-2006 by P.L. 1873, No. 1. See now the Senior Citizens Property Tax and Rent Rebate Assistance Act, 53 P.S. § 6926.1301 et seq.
All eligible taxpayers in the Borough of Etna who are longtime owner/occupants shall be entitled to have a 10% reduction in the assessment on their principal residence if the eligible taxpayer meets the household income limits for qualification for any amount of property tax rebate under the Senior Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act.
Any person paying property taxes in the Borough of Etna may apply to participate in the assessment limitation program authorized under this article. In order to be eligible to participate in the program, the person must meet the following conditions:
A. 
The person must be a single person aged 60 or older or be married persons with either spouse being 60 years of age or older;
B. 
The person must be a longtime owner/occupant;
C. 
The property owned by the person must be the principal residence and domicile of the resident; and
D. 
The person's household income must qualify him or her to receive any amount of property tax rebate under the Senior Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act.
The Department of Property Assessment and the Borough of Etna's Manager/Secretary shall have the authority to issue rules and regulations with respect to the administration of the limitations of the tax assessment program established under this article. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, reasonable proof of household income, proof of residence, proof of qualification for or receipt of a property tax rebate under the Senior Citizens Rebate and Assistance Act ,and any other reasonable requirements and conditions as may be necessary to operate the tax assessment limitation program.
This article shall enter into effect on April 17, 2001.
Any and all previous ordinances which are inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this article are hereby repealed.