County and Iowa City assessors presented their recommended homestead, military and 65-and-over homestead exemption applications to the Board Aug. 27 and asked supervisors to accept the applications they have on file for approval.

Tom Van Buren, Johnson County assessor, asked supervisors to accept the county’s list of approved homestead and military exemption applications and confirmed that once a homeowner files a qualifying homestead application on their primary residence, the exemption generally continues without annual re‑filing. Van Buren said that change from an earlier annual filing requirement reduced applicant burden.

Brad Comer, from the Iowa City assessor’s office, asked supervisors to approve Iowa City’s homestead and military exemptions and noted the 65-plus homestead credit is a relatively new program started two years ago; he told the Board the city has roughly 3,600 recipients of that benefit and estimated the program provides about $261 of savings on those taxpayers’ bills.

Why it matters: homestead and military exemptions reduce property tax bills for qualifying homeowners; supervisors were asked to accept the applications that meet eligibility standards and place these for formal approval.

What’s next: staff said the assessor recommendations will be placed on the next formal agenda for approval.

Speakers quoted in this article are limited to the named assessors.