TOP bosses have quietly vetoed a law, blocking a harmful and abrupt switch-up to a crucial tax relief program.
Had the change to the property tax credit program been implemented, it would have stripped much-needed cash from thousands of Americans.
Top bosses vetoed a harmful change to a property tax credit program[/caption]
If rolled out, the change would have taken away much-needed property tax relief from thousands of Americans[/caption]
The Senior Property Tax Credit Program, designed to freeze the property tax bills of eligible senior citizens, helps older Americans manage their housing costs.
Key deadlines regarding the program, administered at the county level by Jackson County, Missouri, have sparked recent debate.
Jackson County executive Frank White Jr. has clashed with the legislature regarding local administrative deadlines for the county-level benefit.
On Thursday, White vetoed an ordinance that would have changed the filing deadline for the senior property tax program, arguing that it would have potentially disqualified thousands of residents who had previously been approved.
Ordinance 5992 would have “quietly” moved the program’s enrollment deadline to August 30 of the prior year.
White vetoed the law because he believed that it would have “pulled the rug out” from under residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes and have already accounted for the tax relief in their budgets, per a news release.
“This is not how responsible government works. We told seniors they qualified. They followed the rules,” said White.
The county executive also argued that there was no clear justification for the change, as it was not accompanied by any public explanation or debate regarding its implications.
His veto restores the language of Ordinance 5968, which established an application deadline of June 30 of the year following qualifying residents’ initial credit year to submit applications.
White is now requesting the Jackson County Legislature to fix the ordinance’s “devastating” error.
“Whether it was intentional or not, the result is the same: thousands of seniors would be kicked off this program. That is unacceptable,” he said.
“There is still time to do the right thing. This is not a partisan issue. It’s about keeping our word, protecting our most vulnerable residents and ensuring county government works for everyone.
“I urge the Legislature to act immediately to correct this mistake.”
White is prepared to help draft new legislation that “preserves eligibility and avoids unnecessary harm to residents,” per his office.
There is still time to do the right thing. This is not a partisan issue. It’s about keeping our word, protecting our most vulnerable residents and ensuring county government works for everyone.”
Frank White Jr.
HELPING HAND
Jackson County’s property tax credit program offers much-needed tax relief on future tax bills for qualifying senior residents.
The credit essentially freezes their property taxes on their primary residence to the tax bill amount from the year of application and eligibility, according to the program website.
The year of application and eligibility establishes the base tax year amount, and credits appear in the years following.
In order to qualify for the tax relief program, Americans must meet five criteria:
- Be a Jackson County resident
- Be age 62 or older
- Be the property owner or have a legal or equitable interest in the home
- Be liable for the payment of real property taxes on the home
- Occupy the property as only primary residence
Other homeowners can save $719 on property taxes after a new policy passed.
Plus, homeowners would save thousands under a new law axing a “despised” annual fee – it’ll get rid of “rent payment to the government.”
The property tax credit program in Jackson County, Missouri, provides tax relief on future tax bills for qualifying seniors[/caption]
