Agenda 05-24-22; 6-a - Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Additional Information

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 24, 2022 Action Agenda Item No. 6-a SUBJECT: Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) Additional Information DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Development ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Corey Root, Director, Housing and Community Development, 919-245- 2492 Nancy Freeman, Tax Administrator, Orange County Tax Office, 919-245- 2735 Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, Orange County Finance, 919-245- 2453 PURPOSE: To receive further information and consider options for the LHA program in 2022. BACKGROUND: On May 3, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners reauthorized and approved the following changes to the Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) program for 2022: • Adjust program operation dates to August 1 through December 1, 2022. • Include an informational insert with the tax assistance application packet and increase awareness about LHA. • Formalized the LHA policy for heirs' properties where there are more than one person/households listed on the deed. • Formalized the policy for Family Trust owned properties. • Require that the applicant provide a copy of the targeted tax bill. • Reduce the requirement to have owned and lived in the home for 10 years to 5 years to increase access to the program. Staff plans to add this or a similar clarifying statement to the informational insert: If you received assistance from this program on your 2021 tax bill, you DO NEED TO APPLY again to qualify for assistance on your 2022 tax bill. Staff offers the following information regarding a change program design that would cover more of the amount owed by the taxpayer. Using data from the 2021 LHA program, the American Community Survey, the FY22 Area Median Income for Orange County, staff is providing more detailed estimates for options.