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7686-06 ORDINANCE NO. 7686-06 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 29 OF THE CLEARWATER CODE OF ORDINANCES TO INCREASE THE ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR PERSONS 65 AND OLDER FROM $10,000 TO $25,000; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, ON November 3, 1998 an amendment to the Florida Constitution was approved providing for an additional homestead exemption to certain qualifying senior citizens; and WHEREAS, the City Council implemented the additional homestead exemption for qualifying senior citizens in accordance with the provisions of Section 196.075 of Florida State Statutes under Ordinance 7499-05 adopted September 15, 2005; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to increase this additional tax relief to its senior citizens and has determined that the adoption of this ordinance serves to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public; now therefore, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA; Section 1. That Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances, Article V., Section 29.93(a) is amended to read as follows: Sec. 29.93 Additional homestead exemption; eligibility; application. (a) Any person 65 years of age or older who has the legal or equitable title to real estate located within the City and who maintains thereon his or her permanent residence, which residence qualifies for and receives homestead exemption pursuant to Section 196.031, Florida Statutes, and whose household income does not exceed $20,000.00 or such amount as is adjusted pursuant to Section 29.94 herein, may apply for an additional homestead exemption of $10,000.00 for tax year 2006. and $25.000 for tax year 2007 and subsequent years as provided in this article. Section 2. The City Clerk, shall prior to December 1, 2006 200a, provide a copy of this Ordinance to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser; and, in the event this Section of the Code of Ordinances is subsequently repealed or amended, notification of such repeal or amendment shall be provided to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser no later than December 151 of the year prior to the year in which the homestead exemption provided herein expires or is modified. Ordinance No. 7686-06 Section 3. In the event that any portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held or declared to be unconstitutional, inoperative, or void, such holding shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance. Further, in the event this Ordinance or any provision hereof shall be held to be inapplicable to any person, property, or circumstance, such holding shall not affect its applicability to any other persons, property, or circumstance. Section 4. That all ordinances or parts thereof that are in conflict with this Ordinance be and the same are hereby repealed. Section 5. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon final passage and adoption. PASSED ON FIRST READING September 7, 2006 PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING AND ADOPTED September 21. 2006 4~;-:~ ~nk V. Hibbard Mayor Approved as to form: IZI/L ,i Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Attest: Ordinance No. 7686-06