From and after January 1, 2006, persons who have attained the age of 65 years of age or older before the end of the year and all qualified disabled persons shall have the homestead exemption in effect at the time and fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) of the appraised value exempt from ad valorem taxation for all city purposes and when allowed by state law shall not have their taxes increased either in rate or in valuation for their homestead from the amount their taxes were at the time they reached the age of 65 or qualified as disabled provided, however, that any person qualifying in both categories may claim but one exemption, and provided further that where the ad valorem tax has heretofore been pledged for the payment of any debt, the taxing officers of the city shall have the authority to continue to levy and collect the tax against the homestead property at the same rate as the tax so pledged until the debt is discharged, if the cessation of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was created.
(Ordinance 1140 adopted 7/11/06)