The DeKalb County Commission may have an alternative to giving property tax relief to eligible senior citizen property owners and others without having to adopt the property tax freeze which was overwhelmingly approved by voters at the polls in November 2006.
The commission, Monday night, may consider an alternative, as offered by Trustee Sean Driver, to give tax relief of $50 for those who meet the requirements for the state approved tax relief. This would apply to property owners 65 years of age and older and those who are deemed to be 100% disabled with income not exceeding $25,360 and disabled veterans who have qualified as being 100% disabled by the veterans administration. This would apply to 2009 taxes paid within the current year guidelines. In addition to the $50 tax relief by the county, the state will be giving a $91 tax relief to those who qualify.
Counties and cities in Tennessee can now freeze the property tax rates for eligible homeowners 65 and over. State lawmakers gave local governments the authority to enact the tax freeze
The adoption of a property tax freeze by local governments is the final step in an effort to limit the impact of rising assessments and property taxes on seniors with fixed incomes. The process began with Constitutional Amendment No. 2 which received an 83 percent “yes” vote statewide in the 2006 general election.
In DeKalb County, the vote was 4,125 (83%) to 805(16%) in favor of the Constitutional amendment
County commissions and city councils are now authorized to freeze the property tax rates at their current levels for homeowners with combined incomes at or below a certain level.
The freeze would mean eligible homeowners would not have to pay higher taxes the next time a local government increases property tax rates.
County Mayor Mike Foster and Steve Bates, the county’s financial advisor, say only a few counties in the state have adopted the property tax freeze measure, because of the complexities of the program and the cost of administration. Foster has said another employee would have to be hired in the Trustee’s Office if the property tax freeze were adopted, to handle the extra workload.
Meanwhile, the county commission Monday night may also consider another proposal, offered by Trustee Driver, to give a discount for early payment of 2009 property taxes. Two alternatives will be discussed. Under the first alternative, a 2% discount on current taxes is provided if paid by October 31st. Under the second alternative, a 1% discount is granted if current taxes are paid more than 30 days but less than 60 days after October 1st between November 1st and November 30th, 2009 as provided for under state law.
In other business, the county commission agenda for Monday night’s meeting includes action on a budget amendment and year end reports; discussion of a health care contract for inmate care; discussion of a three way stop at Trammel Branch/Dismal to Alexandria Road for safety issues; dicussion of a problem with the Jones Mill/Old Jones Mill-Luna Mill Road name and to consider the status on being a public or county road; approval of notaries; discussion of increasing the county litigation fee on civil cases in General Sessions and civil cases in Circuit Court to fund a court officer. Plus, any other business properly submitted. WJLE plans LIVE coverage
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