Decatur’s commission on Monday, Sept. 21, approved a waiver of sanitation and storm water utility fees for homeowners over age 70 who qualify for homestead exemptions. The move doesn’t require going through local legislation or holding a referendum, and credit can be applied to the installment payment that’s mailed next month. Total credit for qualifying homeowners is $315, and the anticipated cost for the city, with the money coming out of its general fund, is $340,000 for fiscal year 2015-16.
In August, the school board approved giving full exemptions from the school tax millage for seniors 65 and over, while the commission will likely approve a similar homestead exemption in December. But both of those require ultimate approval by the 2016 General Assembly and voter approval in November 2016, and wouldn’t take effect until 2017.
Monday’s action was in response to a group of longtime Decatur homeowners on fixed incomes who approached the commission in June asking for property tax relief. Decatur’s tax digest increased by 20 percent this year.
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