Compiled January 2000 - FTB.ca.gov - State of California

OTHER NON-TAX PROGRAMS
Homeowner and Renter Assistance
The Homeowner and Renter Assistance (HRA) program provides partial
reimbursement of property taxes or rent paid by eligible senior citizens,
disabled, and blind individuals as provided by the Senior Citizens Property
Tax Assistance Law. The principle program activities include designing
and distributing claim forms and instructions, providing advisory services to
claimants, and processing claims.
In 1996/97, FTB processed 165,000 HRA claim requests representing a
decrease of only 1% from the prior year’s volume of 166,800. The
decrease is reflective of small raises in income that reduce HRA eligibility.
Claims allowed in 1996/97 totaled $14.4 million, of which $12.8 million was
given to qualified renters and $1.6 million to eligible homeowners. The
department responded to 98,600 IVR telephone calls, 55,300 manually
answered calls, and 17,000 in-person contact requests for assistance. A
comparison of 1996/97 HRA activities with those of the prior year is
provided in Exhibit G1.
Political Reform Audit
The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires complete public disclosure of
receipts and expenditures by political candidates and lobbyists. As a
result, the act authorizes FTB to conduct, on behalf of the Fair Political
Practices Commission, randomly selected field audits of reports,
statements, and issues to ensure accuracy and completeness. FTB also
investigates and reports information to the commission regarding the
delinquent non-filing of such reports and statements.
During the non-election year of 1996/97, 323 audits were completed of
which 152 audits related to political candidate and campaign committees,
74 audits related to lobbying entities, 85 audits of ballot measures and
general political action committees, and 12 statewide measures.
Exhibit G2 illustrates the different audit emphasis between the election year
1995/96 and the non-election year of 1996/97.
Page 16