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13 <br /> 1 Slide#4 <br /> Potential "hold harmless" for most <br /> vulnerable residents <br /> • Commissioner suggestion to hold harmless effective <br /> tax increases for certain households: <br /> • At least 70 years of age <br /> • Owned home for at least 20 years <br /> • 30%Area Median Income (AMI) or less <br /> • In 2025, 100 households would have been eligible <br /> under these terms <br /> • Policy mechanism: LHA amount each year could be <br /> calculated for these households so that total amount paid <br /> (Tax minus LHA) = baseline amount set in CY26. <br /> nORANGECOUNTY <br /> 0 HOUSING DEPARTMENT <br /> 2 <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Blake Rosser reviewed the parameters for a potential "hold harmless" provision for the most <br /> 5 vulnerable residents as petitioned by the Board. He said for certain households would be held harmless <br /> 6 for future property tax increases. He said they recommend holding harmless households that are at least <br /> 7 70 years of age, owned the home for at least 20 years, and are at 30%Area Median Income (AMI) or less. <br /> 8 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the property taxes would be held at the same amount until <br /> 9 the family has passed away or the homeowner. <br /> 10 Blake Rosser said the homeowner, or until the homeowner is no longer 70 years old. <br /> 11 Commissioner McKee added that it is until the home passes or transfers. <br /> 12 Vice-Chair Fowler said the exception is if the property passes to a family member, but that family <br /> 13 member would have to meet the eligibility criteria. <br /> 14 Blake Rosser said that was referring to the staff proposal. <br /> 15 Commissioner Carter asked if there is a regular check-in for eligibility. <br /> 16 Blake Rosser said they could create a verification program. <br /> 17 Commissioner Carter it would be just verifying income eligibility. <br /> 18 Vice-Chair Fowler noted that income is different than wealth. <br /> 19 Blake Rosser said they could consider a wealth eligibility checker, but it would be more difficult to <br /> 20 determine. <br /> 21 Chair Hamilton asked clarifying questions to make sure the staff proposal and commissioner <br /> 22 proposal were being considered separately. She asked if the home is inherited by someone else,the hold <br /> 23 harmless would not apply. <br /> 24 Blake Rosser said that was correct. He said they would lose the 20 years of ownership by that <br /> 25 point and would likely not be 70 years old. <br /> 26 Chair Hamilton said income could come from investments and that might not be captured. <br /> 27 Blake Rosser said without the backing of a federal program, they could only request that <br /> 28 applicants divulge all bank accounts and investment accounts. <br />