Property Tax Freeze program for Seniors
By: Pat Hunter
September 21, 2008
Everything that you ever wanted to know about the property tax freeze program is located on the Tennessee Comptroller's website including frequently asked questions. Please click to view: http://www.comptroller.state.tn.us/pa/taxfreeze.htm#
Listed on Monday's Sept. 22nd Commission workshop agenda are two hot top items, Item # 7. Tennessee Property Tax Freeze Act – Commissioner Austin Shaver and agenda Item #5 Noise Ordinance - Chairman Roy Bledsoe. For more information about an earlier discussion about a Noise Ordinance please click: Pancho Villa Uprising-Stamping Out Noise!
So far Commission has refused to adopt the Property Tax Freeze program for Seniors and the question is WHY? Anderson, Knox, Roane, Blount, Sevier and Campbell are but a few of the counties that have adopted the tax freeze for seniors so why not Loudon County?
Last year Commission ended the fiscal year with over $6.3 Million in Fund Balance and this year the County is supposed to end with another Fund Balance of over $5 Million.
Commissioners eat on our dime and some have actually bought laptop computers at taxpayer expense. Commissioners gave themselves a hefty yearly ten percent pay increase based on the county mayor's annual salary. Who gets an automatic ten percent pay hike?
Taxpayers pay for vehicles and fuel and even roads to gated communities for multimillionaire developers, yet commissioners refuse to budge an inch when it comes to adopting a property tax freeze for seniors. The question is WHY?
Residents have asked Commission to address these issues:
Other counties have adopted a property tax freeze for seniors, when will commission follow their lead and adopt this for Loudon County seniors?
Voters overwhelming passed the ballot question for a property tax freeze for seniors, why is commission ignoring the voters mandate?
Commissioners have ignored the public and editorials have stressed promoting a senior tax freeze program. In 2 years, voters will have an opportunity to make changes on commission, representatives who will listen to seniors and taxpayers.
Property Tax Freeze
Tax Year 2008 - Income Limit Loudon County - $33,060
Tax Freeze by County Year Adopted
Anderson 2007
Blount 2007
Bradley 2007
Campbell 2008
Davidson 2007
Franklin 2008
Hamblen 2007
Hickman 2008
Knox 2007
Montgomery 2008
Roane 2007
Robertson 2008
Rutherford 2008
Sevier 2008
Shelby 2008
Smith 2008
Sumner 2008
Williamson 2008
Wilson 2007
City Year Adopted
Clarksville 2008
Dyersburg 2008
Fairview 2008
Gallatin 2008
Goodlettsville 2008
Gordonsville 2008
Greenbrier 2008
Manchester 2007
Memphis 2008
Portland 2008
South Carthage 2008
The following counties and cities in Tennessee have adopted the local option
Property Tax Freeze program. In order to qualify, an applicant’s principal
residence must be located within one of these jurisdictions.
Source: State of Tennessee, Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Property Assessments
Tax Freeze Provisions in the Tennessee Constitution, Article II, Section 28
By general law, the Legislature may authorize the following program of tax relief:
(a) The legislative body of any county or municipality may provide by resolution
or ordinance that:
(1) Any taxpayer who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older and who
owns residential property as the taxpayer's principal place of residence shall pay taxes on
such property in an amount not to exceed the maximum amount of tax on such property
imposed at the time the ordinance or resolution is adopted;
(2) Any taxpayer who reaches the age of sixty-five (65) after the time the
ordinance or resolution is adopted, who owns residential property as the taxpayer's
principal place of residence shall thereafter pay taxes on such property in an amount not
to exceed the maximum amount of tax on such property imposed in the tax year in which
such taxpayer reaches age sixty-five (65); and
(3) Any taxpayer who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older who
purchases residential property as the taxpayer's principal place of residence after the
taxpayer's sixty-fifth birthday shall pay taxes in an amount not to exceed the maximum
amount of tax imposed on such property in the tax year in which such property is
purchased.
(b) Whenever the full market value of such property is increased as a result of
improvements to such property after the time the ordinance or resolution is adopted, then
the assessed value of such property shall be adjusted to include such increased value and
the taxes shall also be increased proportionally with the value.
(c) Any taxpayer or taxpayers who own residential property as their principal
place of residence whose total or combined annual income, or wealth exceeds an amount
to be determined by the general assembly shall not be eligible to receive the tax relief
provided in subsection (a) or (b).
09-21-08