CLAYTON, Mo. – While the St. Louis County Council has okayed an additional $600,000 to get the senior citizens’ property tax freeze program up and rolling, it’s still unclear as to when seniors will be able to apply for the benefit.
Seniors like Mary Clynes have been waiting patiently for the program to be funded. Now, they’re impatiently waiting for the application process to begin.
“I, along with many St. Louis County residents, thought this would never, ever go through. And it finally did,” she said. “I think it was because of the last couple of months you interviewed me and got the word out, and I think more citizens raised their voice and disappointment, and it should never have been that much of a struggle.”
But Clynes, like many others, is eagerly awaiting the chance to fill out an application.
“I’d like them to let us taxpayers know when the applications are going to be available,” she said. “When that happens, and I’m able to fill out an application, then I can breathe a sigh of relief.”
It’s been a long slog since the county council approved the program last October. St. Louis County Department of Revenue asked the council for $1.7 million to fund the program. So much time passed that it was ultimately reduced to $600,000 to fund a half year.
Councilman Ernie Trakas has been working to get this program across the finish line.
“The key is we finally got the money appropriated, so that the Department of Revenue can get about the business of putting this application process in place, so that we are at least catching up to our peers that are way ahead of us,” Trakas said.
How long will it take before people can finally apply?
“I wish I knew the answer!” Trakas said. “I suspect at least a month by the time they get everything up and going in terms of software and people and get qualified applicants to accept the positions that actually create the applications and begin the process. Could be longer. So…my hope is we can get it done by the end of the year.”
Although the bill was passed 10 months ago, Trakas said the delay may prove costly to seniors, who may see their property taxes increase after all, because the applications wouldn’t be approved until 2025, which is an assessment year.
The St. Charles County program will be compatible with new state legislation. The council lowered the eligibility age for the benefit from 67 to 62, removed the ceiling on the value of the home, and eliminated the $550,000 home value stipulation, making it unlimited for all homeowners.
