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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2007

Deadline Nearing on Homestead Exemption
Director of Aging Responds to Common Hesitations, Encourages All to Apply

COLUMBUS - The clock is ticking for Ohio seniors to sign up for the newly expanded Homestead Property Tax Exemption and be able to apply it to their tax bill in 2008. State officials estimate that nearly 180,000 Ohioans who qualify have yet to apply for the credit. The deadline to file for this year is October 1.

"If someone offered you $400, no strings attached, you'd take it, wouldn't you?" asked Barbara E. Riley, Director of the Ohio Department of Aging. "Yet, many have not signed up for this valuable benefit. Why not?"

Riley responded to the more common reasons cited in the media for why some Ohioans have not yet applied for the expanded Homestead exemption:

• I don't want to take money from schools.
  "Schools will not lose money from the exemption. The state will make up the difference from other funding sources."
• Whatever savings I see will be snatched up by schools and other organizations through new levies.
  "One of our hopes with the expanded exemption is that seniors who wanted to support these levies but felt cash-strapped can feel a little better about voting for them now. While the amount of the exemption will vary, the statewide average will be about $400. Compare that to the average school or senior services levy, which costs individuals households an average of $120-180 annually, and you'll see there is still room to give."
• It is too complicated and I don't know how to apply.
  "One of Governor Strickland's goals with the new exemption was to make it simpler. He did away with income guidelines and based it solely on age and home ownership. All you have to do to apply is visit your county auditor's office. You can even download the form from the Internet and fill it out before you go."

"With the money you save with the exemption, you could do some home improvement, pay Medicare Part D premiums, travel, support good causes and more - or maybe just find it a little easier to make ends meet," Riley added. "All are good reasons to apply before it is too late."

The Homestead Property Tax Exemption is available to homeowners who are age 65 or older, or who will turn 65 before the end of the year. Also eligible are individuals who were certified totally and permanently disabled at the beginning of 2007, as well as surviving spouses of qualified homeowners who were at least 59 at the date of the spouse's death. The exemption allows qualifying homeowners to shield $25,000 of the market value of their primary residence from property taxes. For more information, contact your county auditor's office or visit the Ohio Department of Taxation's Web site at tax.ohio.gov.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.