§ 268.01. POVERTY EXEMPTION GUIDELINES.

(a)

Pursuant to Act 390 of the Public Acts of 1994, as amended, the City hereby adopts the following guidelines for poverty exemptions from taxation under said Act, for the Assessor and Board of Review to implement. The guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, the specific income and asset levels of the claimant and all persons residing in the household, including any property tax credit returns filed in the current or immediately preceding year.

To be eligible for a poverty exemption, a person must meet all of the following criteria on an annual basis:

(1)

Be an owner of and occupy as a homestead the property for which an exemption is requested;

(2)

File a claim with the Assessor or the Board of Review, accompanied by Federal and State Income Tax Returns for all persons residing in the homestead, including any property tax credit returns filed in the current or immediately preceding year;

(3)

Produce a valid driver's license or other form of identification, if requested;

(4)

Produce a deed, land contract or other evidence of ownership of the property for which an exemption is requested;

(5)

Meet the Federal poverty income standards, as defined and determined annually by the United States Office of Management and Budget;

(6)

Own a homestead that has a true cash value which is less than the average true cash value of all homestead properties in the City, based on the previous year's values; and

(7)

File an application for an exemption after January 1, but before the day prior to the last meeting day of the Board of Review.

(b)

The Board of Review shall follow the above stated policy and guidelines in granting or denying an exemption, unless the Board determines that there are substantial and compelling reasons why there should be a deviation from the guidelines and these reasons are communicated in writing to the claimant.

(c)

If a poverty exemption is granted, the assessed value will be reduced to a point where it would generate a tax, based on last year's tax rates, of no more than 3.5 percent of the taxpayer's previous year's income.

(d)

The Clerk shall maintain a file and make available the guidelines and applications for obtaining exemptions.

(Res. 95-264. Passed 8-14-95.)