ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Homeowners in St. Louis County waited in line for hours to apply for the senior tax freeze Wednesday. Thousands already applied ahead of the deadline next summer.
“This is my third trip here. They’re very slow,” applicant Pat Young said. “Almost got turned away again. I refused to leave.”
The long wait times showed how eager seniors are to apply for the tax freeze.
“It’s been extremely busy, we know it’s been a long time coming. We know people have been expecting it and looking forward to St. Louis County rolling this out,” Erica Savage, St. Louis County deputy director of revenue, said.
Around 4,000 seniors applied online and in person on the first day, according to Savage. The county’s website allows people to join the line from home before heading to one of the four locations to apply in person.
“When we got here, they were shutting people off because they were starting to get backed up. We said we had an appointment; we had spoken to someone. They brought us in, sat us down, and everything was smooth as ice,” another applicant, Robert Hughes, added.
Seniors estimate the tax freeze could save them thousands of dollars.
“I’m stretching dollars right now. I’m going paycheck to paycheck. I’ve never felt like this in my life before. So, I need that three thousand dollars. Every little bit helps,” Young said.
The county expects around 100,000 seniors to apply for the tax freeze before the June 30, 2025 deadline. For more information, click here.
