Council signals willingness to pursue larger limited-income senior exemption; staff to draft ordinance

The Greenacres City Council on Aug. 4 directed staff to return with an ordinance and fiscal analysis to consider raising the city’s additional limited‑income senior property tax exemption.

City Manager McHugh presented a staff memo explaining the county-administered limited‑income senior exemption program and the city’s current additional benefit, which was adopted by ordinance in 2022 and provides a $5,000 additional exemption for qualified residents. McHugh said the income limit for the county program in 2025 is $37,694 and staff identified 603 properties that would qualify under that threshold.

Councilmembers debated several possible new exemption levels. Deputy Mayor Diaz said she strongly supported a $25,000 additional exemption to help low-income seniors, calling it “a way to help our poorest of our poor.” Several other members, including Mr. Tharpe, also voiced support for moving toward the larger figure. Other councilmembers expressed concern about the fiscal implications; staff said the city budgets conservatively with a 97% collection rate and that the estimated impact for a larger exemption could be absorbed without cutting programs, though specific levels and impacts will be modeled in the ordinance and FY2026 budget process.

Mayor Shaw summarized council sentiment that a majority wished to proceed and instructed staff to draft the ordinance, have the city attorney review it for sufficiency, and return the proposed ordinance for council consideration before final adoption.

Next steps: staff will prepare an ordinance and detailed fiscal analysis for council review and include the change in the FY2026 budget discussions.