Boone County Commission says property tax freeze would likely apply to homes appraised at $300k or less
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Boone County Commission wrote in a Tuesday state that if a question about a property-tax freeze passes, it will likely only apply to homes that are appraised at $300,000 or less.
Boone County voters on April 2 will vote either “yes” or “no” to the following question: “Shall the County of Boone exempt senior citizens from certain increases in the property tax liability due on such senior citizens’ primary residences?”
A state law allowing a property tax freeze for seniors went into effect Aug. 28. The freeze has to be put into effect by county commissioners. The Boone County Commission approved a resolution in November saying the idea was good, but the law allowing the tax freeze needed to be addressed. Boone County opted to resolve it by letting the voters choose to enact it.
Tuesday’s release says if the measure passes, “the Commission will begin the public process of drafting a policy and addressing key elements of the senior tax relief program.”
The release says the commission would “consider enacting a stipulation that the program will only apply to those homesteads with an appraised value of $300,000 or less, as shown by the Boone County assessment file.” The release says it would include 86% of Boone County homes.
The Commission also stated in the release that it will “investigate renewing the program after a certain amount of time, to determine whether the program is working as intended.”
State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) -- who sponsored the legislation that led to the law and is running for Boone County Northern District Commissioner – told ABC 17 News the $300,000 assessment cutoff could be challenged.
“Their 3/19/24 Statement seems that they have already decided, without holding public hearings, that only homeowners with houses valued under $300,000 would qualify. This is NOT in the law and could be challenged in court,” Toalson Reisch wrote.
