Municipal authority

1. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. 2. Authority. The legislative body of a municipality may by ordinance adopt a property tax deferral program for senior citizens, referred to in this section as "the program." Upon application by a taxpayer, a municipality may defer property taxes on property if the following conditions are met: 3. Effect of deferral. If property taxes are deferred under the program, the lien established on the eligible homestead under section 552 continues for the purpose of protecting the municipal interest in the tax-deferred property. Interest on the deferred taxes accrues at the rate of 0.5 percentage points above the otherwise applicable rate for delinquent taxes unless the municipality adopts a lower interest rate. In order to preserve the right to enforce the lien, the municipality shall record in the county registry of deeds a list of the tax-deferred properties of that municipality. The list must contain a description of each tax-deferred property as listed in the municipal valuation together with the name of the taxpayer listed on the valuation. The list must be updated annually to reflect the addition or deletion of tax-deferred properties, the amount of deferred taxes accrued for each property and payments received. 4. Notice. The State Tax Assessor shall prepare a one-page notice of the effect of the deferral of property taxes under this section, of the right of the municipality to file a tax lien mortgage pursuant to chapter 105 and that the deferred taxes become due and payable as established in subsection 5 . This notice must have a readability score, as determined by a recognized instrument for measuring adult literacy levels, equivalent to no higher than a 6th grade reading level. A municipality that adopts the program shall provide a copy of this notice to each taxpayer applying to the program at the time of application and shall also annually provide to each taxpayer in the program, in lieu of a property tax bill, a copy of this notice together with an accounting of taxes deferred and interest accrued. 5. Lien. When it is determined that one of the events set out in subsection 6 has occurred and that a property is no longer eligible for property tax deferral under this chapter, the municipality shall send notice by certified mail to the taxpayer, or the taxpayer's heirs or devisees, listing the total amount of deferred property taxes, including accrued interest and costs of all the years and establishing a due and payable date. For events listed in subsection 6, paragraphs A , B and C , payment is due within 45 days of the date of the notice. When the event listed in subsection 6, paragraph D occurs, the total amount of deferred taxes is due and payable 5 days before the date of removal of the property from the State. The municipality shall include in the notice a statement that the lien enforcement procedures pursuant to chapter 105, subchapter 9 apply. 6. Events requiring the payment of deferred tax and interest. Subject to subsection 7 , all deferred taxes and accrued interest must be paid pursuant to subsection 5 when: 7. Election to continue deferral. If one of the events listed in subsection 6 occurs, and the ownership of the eligible homestead is transferred to another member of the same household, the transferee may apply to the municipality for continuation of the deferral of taxes if the transferee meets the conditions in subsection 2, paragraphs B and C . 8. Repeal of program. A municipality that has adopted the program under this section may discontinue it through the same procedure by which the program was adopted; however, any taxes deferred under the program continue to be deferred under the conditions of the program on the date it was ended.