7 On Your Side helps San Francisco senior get correct tax rate

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Voters in several Bay Area communities last week approved parcel taxes to support their schools. Districts allow senior citizens to opt out of paying them since many live on a fixed income. However, one Bay Area man says his district is making it hard to claim that tax break. 7 On Your Side looks into these claims.

A lot of people don't know they cannot pay these taxes. Those that do, find out it can be tricky to actually claim your exemption, as this viewer found out. He does qualify for the tax break, but he was charged anyway. He was so upset he called city hall, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and 7 On Your Side.

San Francisco public schools get a boost each year from property owners. A tax of $224 per parcel brings $28 million for teacher salaries. However, not everyone has to pay it.

"Once you reach 65, you'd be exempt," Art Bodner said.

Bodner paid the tax until he turned 65 last year and applied for the exemption.

"I had to fill out this form, send in two proofs of age ID. I had to show utility bills to show I lived here," Bodner said.

And the tax disappeared. However, that was last year. Now, it's a different story.

"So this year I got my tax bill and the parcel tax was still there," Bodner said.

School officials told him he was qualified for the tax break, but he couldn't get it this time around.

"The woman I got on the phone said, 'Oh, you've got to file for the exemption every year' and I said, 'Huh? How would I possibly know that?'" Bodner said.

The school district said he failed to re-apply for the tax break by June 30, which he must do every single year. Art says that's silly. Once you prove you're over 65, why should you have to keep proving it?

"I mean, as much as I would like to think it, I'm never going to be 64 again," Bodner said.

Bodner says many elderly won't remember to file every June and if they don't, they pay. No refunds.

The school district says it mails renewal notices to remind folks. Bodner says he never got one.

"It's sort of an 'I gotcha' thing cause then if you don't get the form or you forget to fill it out, that's extra money in their coffers," Bodner said.

Bodner contacted 7 On Your Side and we asked San Francisco Unified, "Why put that burden on seniors?"

The district said it must verify that the same person still owns the property, telling us, "A parcel is not eligible for the exemption if it is sold or transferred to a non-senior resident. San Francisco Unified is a separate agency from the city and county. So unfortunately we do not have access to notices of the transfer of a property."

Policies vary around the Bay Area. Districts like Novato Unified and Fremont Union High automatically renew tax exemptions for seniors each year. Others like Palo Alto and Cupertino require them to renew annually.

Still, after our call, San Francisco Unified did refund Bodner's $224 tax payment.

"I'm glad I got my exemption, but it would thrill me to no end if in fact they just made it so all of us who are getting to be that age could file it once and not have to worry about it," Bodner said.

The school district grants exemptions to more than 20,000 seniors each year. At $224 each, it amounts to $5 million. Renewal forms require only a parcel number and signature, so it's a pretty easy process. Still, Bodner says it's a process that can slip through the cracks.