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Lee County amends tax-exemption ordinance to align with fiscal year and raise eligibility thresholds
Summary
The board adopted code changes to align elderly and disabled real-estate tax exemption language with the county's fiscal year and to raise qualifying income and net-worth thresholds so fewer residents lose eligibility. County staff clarified the change does not affect the state-mandated disabled veterans exemption.
The Lee County Board of Supervisors voted Jan. 20 to adopt code amendments updating the county's real-estate tax-exemption ordinance for elderly and disabled residents. County staff said the text changes will align the ordinance with the county's fiscal year billing cycle and raise income and net-worth thresholds used to determine eligibility, which staff said will reduce inadvertent disqualifications caused by minor Social Security increases and reassessment-driven value changes.
During public comment, Christopher Bell of Jonesville asked whether the 100% disabled veterans exemption would gain an income limit. County staff responded that the veterans exemption is established by a state constitutional amendment and includes no income or net-worth limit; the local code changes do not affect that program. The board then moved to adopt the code changes; the motion was seconded and the board approved adoption.
Officials said the revisions are intended to bring county thresholds more into line with neighboring localities and to ensure that elderly and disabled residents whose circumstances have not meaningfully improved do not lose relief because of small benefit increases or market reassessments.
