Homeowners who turn 65 at any point in 2011 are now eligible for the Homestead Exemption Program and are encouraged to sign up with the Clark County Auditor.  Enrollment is now open until Monday, June 6^th and applications are available in the Auditor’s office or by calling 521- 1862.

The Homestead exemption program brings property tax relief to homeowners age 65 and older and the permanently disabled.   There are no income requirements, but newly eligible recipients (those turning 65 any time in 2011) must sign up with the Auditor’s office.  Homeowners already enrolled in Homestead do not need to reapply.

Qualified applicants who missed last year’s deadline may also sign up before June 6^th and still get a reduction on last year’s taxes, as well as this year’s.  Current Homestead Exemption recipients do not need to reapply or do anything unless they have moved or had some change in their status.

Potential new applicants are encouraged to call 521-1862.

Before Ohio changed its Homestead Exemption qualifications, only 2,910 homeowners aged 65 or over received a reduction in property taxes in Clark County. That was in 2006 when taxpayers’ annual income could not exceed $23,700.

When the income requirement was eliminated in 2007, 10,501 homeowners received a tax reduction based on the first $25,000 of property value. That number grew to 11,162 last year and edged up to 11,424 in 2009.

The average annual tax savings is now $391 for homeowners aged 65 or over. The auditor’s Homestead Department is supervised by Gary Evilsizor.