(The Center Square) – A bill freezing property taxes for seniors is on the desk of Democratic St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.
In a 4-2 vote, with Rita Heard Days the only Democrat to support the bill, the council approved a freeze on property taxes for those 67 and older with a home valued at $550,000 or less. It was the second attempt for the council to implement the policy passed by the Missouri General Assembly and signed into law by Republican Gov. Mike Parson. Four other counties adopted variations of the bill and 25 other counties are considering the measure.
“This is not a tax cut,” Councilmember Dennis Hancock said before the vote. “Future tax payments for seniors will not be subject to future inflationary pressures on items such as food, medication, utilities and other day-to-day expenses. This is also not a perfect bill. The legislature didn’t give us a perfect bill to start with. But in my opinion, we cannot wait for them to make corrections.”
Senate Bill 190 allows counties to grant a property tax credit through an ordinance or by a vote. Hancock said the county requirements are better than the state law because there’s no stipulation on being eligible for Social Security benefits.
Shalonda Webb, who joined fellow Democrat Councilmember Kelli Dunaway in voting against the bill, said the initiative will harm school districts dependent on property tax revenues.
“We know the more money that you pay into a certain district, the better school district you have,” Webb said. “… The same is true for our fire districts.”
Webb also said the $550,000 “means test is a very high bar.”
Hancock highlighted a five-year sunset clause in the bill and said if it’s found to be unconstitutional in court, he would introduce legislation to repeal.
During public comments, David Stokes, director of public policy for the show-Me Institute, spoke against the bill.
“As I like to say, assessments should be as accurate as possible and the tax base should be as broad as possible so the tax rates can be as low as possible for everyone,” Stokes said. “For everyone – not one set of people and not some businesses that get a special deal with TIFs (tax increment financing) or whatever and some don’t. Those are all bad ideas.”
Dennis Ganahl, founder and managing director of MO Tax Relief Now, challenged council members to help seniors after they recently gave Boeing a tax break for a new production facility.
“If the county council can’t do for the seniors what they did for Boeing, then I think anybody up for reelection next year should be voted out,” Ganahl said during public comments. “If you can’t treat your taxpayers as well as you treat a corporation, then you’re out of touch with Missouri’s values and certainly St. Louis’ values.”
