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PLACED ON 1ST READING & REFERRED TO TDE <br />PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 7/16/07. <br />PLACED ON 2ND READING 9/4/07. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE NO: 68-07 <br /> <br />FitzGerald, Madigan, Seelie. <br /> <br /> AN ORDINANCE, to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative <br />vote of at least five (5) members elected to Council, otherwise it shall take effect and <br />be in force at the earliest time permitted by law, amending Section 915.03 Homestead <br />Exemption of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Lakewood, the special homestead <br />exemption for water rates for persons over 65 years of age, or persons permanently <br />and totally disabled, by increasing the income eligibility amount to $35,000.00. <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the'City of Lakewood currently provides for a special homestead <br />exemption water rate for persons over 65 years of age, or those permanently and <br />totally disabled, who meet Income eligibility requirements under the Ohio real property <br />tax homestead exemption regulations; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the State of Ohio has recently amended the method for determining <br />eligibility for the Ohio real property tax homestead exemption, eliminating the income <br />eligibility requirements by substituting a blanket exemption on the first $25,000.00 of <br />tax valuation for seniors or the disabled; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the State of Ohio's previous income eligibility requirements for <br />homestead exemption had not kept pace with the cost of living, resulting in an <br />ineffective and arbitrarily Iow income threshold requirement of less than $27,000.00 for <br />the year 2007; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, the combination of the change in the State of Ohio homestead <br />exemption eligibility requirements and the aforementioned prior Iow threshold <br />necessitate that the City of Lakewood amend its current ordinances to preserve a fair <br />and appropriate special homestead exemption for water rates for seniors and the totally <br />disabled citizens of the City of Lakewood; and <br /> <br /> WHEREAS, this Council by a vote of at least five (5) members elected hereto <br />determines that this ordinance is an emergency measure, and that this ordinance shall <br />take effect at the earliest date possible as set forth in ARTICLE III, SECTIONS 10 and <br />13 of the SECOND AMENDED CHARTER OF THE CITY OF <br />LAKEWOOD, and that immediate action is necessary to facilitate and to preserve the <br />special homestead exemption for water rates for seniors and the totally disabled, <br />NOW, THEREFORE, <br /> <br />BE IT ORDAINED BYTHE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, STATE OF OHI6: <br /> <br />Section 1. That Section 915.03 Homestead Exemption of the Lakewood Codified <br />Ordinances, currently reading as: <br /> <br />915.03 HOMESTEAD EXEMPT/ON. <br /> <br />There is hereby established a Special Homestead exemption whereby water rates <br />charged to homesteads owned by person 65 years of age or older or owned by a <br />permanently or totally disabled person, provided that such person's income falls below <br />the income criteria as established by Ohio R.C. 323.152 and amendments thereto, shall <br />be fifty-five percent (55%) of the water rate established pursuant to this chapter. <br /> <br />is hereby amended to read as follows: <br /> <br />915,03 HOMESTEAD EXEMPT[ON <br /> <br /> <br />