10 SENIOR CITIZENS' PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE

The Senior Citizens' Property Tax Assistance Program provides financial assistance to qualified California homeowners who are 62 years of age or older, and to blind or disabled residents regardless of age. The Franchise Tax Board administers this program.

20 SENIOR CITIZENS' PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM

The Senior Citizens' Property Tax Deferral Program allows eligible homeowners to defer payment of residential property taxes. The state pays the deferred taxes to local governments on behalf of the participants, and places a lien on their property to assure repayment when the property is sold or transferred. The State Controller administers this program.

30 SENIOR CITIZEN RENTERS' TAX ASSISTANCE

The Senior Citizen Renters' Tax Assistance Program provides financial assistance to eligible low-income renters who are 62 years of age or older, and to blind or disabled renters regardless of age. The Franchise Tax Board administers this program.

50 HOMEOWNERS' PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

In order to reduce California taxpayers' property tax burden, the California Constitution exempts homeowners from paying property taxes on the first $7,000 of the assessed value of their principal place of residence. The Constitution requires the state to reimburse local governments for revenues lost due to the homeowners' exemption.

60 SUBVENTIONS FOR OPEN SPACE

The Williamson Act permits cities and counties to enter into contracts with landowners to limit the use of land to agricultural, scenic and open-space purposes. Article XIII, Section 8, of the California Constitution permits land under such restrictions to be assessed at other than market value based on its limited use. The state provides reimbursements to cities and counties to partially defray the loss of property tax revenues. The Department of Conservation administers this program.