Arnona

From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/janglo/message/149659:

I'm trying to help my friend who applied for a reduction in his arnona. He
received a reply from the City that he hadn't submitted proof of his
authorized "Guaranteed Income (Avtachat Hachnasa)" from the Minsitry of
Religion. The reason he didn't, is because he doesn't get it.
His question is, does anyone know if one can get an Arnona reduction without
Avtachat Hachnasa.

So how does Arnona work? Who does it go to?

1. The first thing to know is that Arnona, despite being a city tax, is regulated by the central government.
2. The central government published lists of criteria for Arnona reductions from time to time.
3. Arnona is calculated according to three factors, location, area, and use.
4. Location zoning is regulated and calculated by the city. Price per sqare meter is regulated by misrad haPnim

Now, we can list several criteria for Arnona reductions.
1. New Immigrants can get reduced arnona rates for their homes for their first year in Israel, for the first 100 sq.m. of their homes.
2. Small Businesses run by senior citizens get reduced arnona rates for their businesses.
3. Soldiers, senior citizens, holocaust survivors, WWII veterans, and the disabled receive reduced rates as well.
4. Those who are in financial straits, due to illness, unemployment, and other criteria - which entitle them to supplemented income (אבטחת הכנסה) - are also entitled to reduced Arnona rates.