McKean County residents still have time to save on their
property taxes.

On Tuesday, Chief Assessor Angie Pinner said the county’s
assessment office has been flooded with calls regarding the
upcoming March 1 deadline to secure homestead and farmstead
exemptions.

The exemptions are part of the state’s Homeowner Tax Relief Act
of 2006 – also known as Act 1 – which will use revenue generated by
slot machines to lower property taxes.

Pinner said there is no income limits to receive either
exemption, which only applies to school district taxes.

“We are currently processing the applications we’ve received
thus far,” Pinner said, adding, by law, the county’s school
districts are required to mail out a homestead application to any
residents that weren’t previously approved for an exemption.

Pinner said the applications were sent out by the districts in
December.

“If a property owner had previously applied and were approved,
they should have received a postcard stating that,” Pinner said.
“If they have received a postcard, they don’t need to do anything
else. They are all set.”

However, Pinner said those that were denied should have also
been sent a postcard indicating that, adding the school districts
have followed up each year with anybody that was either denied or
didn’t receive an application.

“We are going through those forms now,” Pinner said.

Many county residents already filed applications for the benefit
several years ago when the Homeowner Tax Relief Act was enacted.
Once an application is approved, a portion of the property’s
assessed value is exempt from the property tax, thus lowering the
overall tax bill. The state is then responsible for the difference
between the two amounts, using the gambling revenue.

Benefits from the program will widely vary depending on the
school district in which a resident lives. In the county, only
residents in the Kane Area School District voted for a .5 percent
increase in the earned income tax, allowing for an offset of
property taxes.

Individuals qualify for a homestead exclusion as long as the
property for which they are applying is their primary residence. A
farmstead exclusion is also available for buildings and structures
that are used for commercial agriculture production on a farm of at
least 10 acres.

Pinner said residents can apply for both the homestead and
farmstead exclusions.

Apparently, the legislation stated applications remain valid for
a minimum of three years. However, Pinner said, to her knowledge,
there is no mandatory process to go through.

“They are suggesting going through a renewal process every three
years,” Pinner said. “We are encouraging everyone to file,
however.”

Pinner said anybody that acquired a property from last December
to now should contact the county assessment office to see if there
is a current application on file.

“If there isn’t one here, we can make sure to get them an
application,” Pinner said, adding an exemption would likely have
been approved for the previous owner, who is no longer eligible to
receive the exemption.

Pinner said those contacting the assessment office who have not
been approved for an exemption will be referred to the school
districts for an application. The assessment office still has the
original 1999 applications, why differ from the current application
mailed out by the school districts.

According to Pinner, Kane school district residents are
currently receiving credits on their school tax bills.

“In the other school districts, residents have the ability to
make installment payments,” Pinner said.

Pinner said the application process is much easier this time
around, noting the county has had a data base in place since
2005.

“We have processed so many applications since that time,” Pinner
said, adding the county is maintaining a current file for the
exemptions.

Meanwhile, the county’s seniors can save additional money
through the state’s Property Tax-Rent Rebate program.

Eligible participants can receive a rebate of up to ,650 based
on their rent or property taxes paid in 2007. The program is open
to any residents age 65 or older, widows and widowers age 50 or
older and those age 18 or older with disabilities. Income limits
vary for homeowners.

The program is supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery.

In McKean County, applications are available by contacting state
Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint’s, office in Bradford. Forms are
also available at area senior centers, according to Pinner.

Pinner said any resident interested in finding out if they are
already covered under one or both of the exclusions can contact the
assessment office at the courthouse in Smethport. The chief
assessor said the office only has a couple telephone lines
available – anyone who receives the office’s voice mail is asked to
leave a message and a representative of the office will return the
call. Pinner said residents need to ask on the message whether
they’re approved for the exemption.