Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo will speak on Wednesday after the city council approved an ordinance that aims to return cash to homeowners aged 65 and older through a property tax refund program.
The news conference will be held at 11 a.m. at the City of Hialeah City Hall.
The initiative, which fulfills a campaign promise, is straightforward in its approach. Homeowners will pay their property taxes as usual. Then, the city will issue a check refunding the exact portion of taxes that were paid to Hialeah.
This relief applies solely to municipal taxes and excludes county and school board levies.
Clear Requirements to Qualify
To receive this refund, residents must meet three key criteria:
Be the legal owner of the property.
Reside in the home.
Be 65 years of age or older.
The program also comes with an income cap. Officials want to ensure the funds benefit working-class residents and retirees while excluding millionaires from eligibility.
How Much Will the Refund Be?
The amount of the refund will vary by household. It depends on the assessed value of the home and the exact amount of municipal taxes paid by the homeowner. City officials estimate that some residents will receive hundreds of dollars per year, while others may see refunds amounting to thousands of dollars.
Funding Without Extra Costs
The city administration restructured its financial department to fund this rebate program. Officials have assured the public that the refunds will not lead to cuts in city services or additional costs for other taxpayers.
In addition to this local effort, the State of Florida is also working on future amendments to provide even more tax relief for residents.