Jefferson County’s senior citizens get a real estate tax break starting during the 2025 tax year.
The Jefferson County Council voted 5-2 Feb. 13 to allow the county to participate in what’s being termed a senior property tax freeze outlined in Senate Bill 190, which was approved by the Missouri Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson in 2023.
Officials in St. Louis and St. Charles counties already agreed to take part in the property tax freeze, but the Jefferson County Council had been reticent about joining in, based on advice from legal counsel.
The council members did approve a resolution on Sept. 11 expressing support for the tax breaks, though, but added that there seemed to be “many unintended consequences involved with this legislation if enacted as written” and concluded that the County Council would consider enacting the real estate tax breaks for seniors once the Legislature addressed problems with the current law.
With the ordinance the council passed on Feb. 13, the county now will allow the county to extend the credit to eligible seniors beginning in the 2025 tax year and has directed county staff to develop plans to put the tax break into place by then.
County Counselor Jalesia F.M. Kuenzel had advised the County Council to take its time with SB190 while legislators work on revisions and while lawsuits challenging various aspects of the law work themselves through the court system, but she has been asked to draft the ordinance.
County Councilman Charles Groeteke (District 4, Barnhart) pushed for the county to pass the legislation because residents have pushed for it.
“I think that’s fair to say,” he said. “People have been asking about it. It certainly will impact a lot of seniors. The delayed implementation will mean that the problems should get all worked out by the time it takes effect here and that the staff in the Collector’s Office and the County Clerk’s Office will get sufficient time to put into place the processes that will be necessary to implement it.”
Previously, Kuenzel told council members that one of the problems with the current state legislation is that it’s not a freeze on real estate assessments, but more like credits on property tax bills.
She said it’s not clear that the county can mandate that every taxing entity that residents pay property taxes to – school districts, ambulance districts, fire protection districts – issue tax credits.
While Jefferson County currently levies no property tax, there’s a question whether three other property taxes levied by the county – for parks, for road and bridge improvements, and for law enforcement – would be included.
The legislation states that the freeze, or credit, would go back to the time when someone is eligible for Social Security, typically 62 years old.
However, Kuenzel told the council it’s unclear whether the credit would apply if a resident had moved after that time, and how people who don’t pay into the Social Security system, such as teachers and railroad workers, would fit into the equation.
Groeteke, however, said that by passing the legislation, people now know the council is serious about enacting the tax breaks while allowing time for the questions to be addressed.
Kuenzel acknowledged that the council members had political expediency to consider.
“Another problem is that if the council had not passed this, there was the possibility that people (using a petition drive) would put it on the ballot independently, and if it had gone that way, we wouldn’t have any control over the language.
“Now, by passing this legislation, the county will be able to do it the right way, while hopefully avoiding the lawsuits that other jurisdictions will surely face.”
Groekete and fellow council members Gene Barbagallo (District 2, Imperial), Lori Arons (District 3, Imperial), Dan Stallman (District 6, De Soto) and Bob Tullock (District 7, House Springs) voted for the ordinance while Brian Haskins (District 1, High Ridge) and Scott Seek (District 5, Festus) cast dissenting votes.
Seek said in an attempt to dodge possible lawsuits, he offered an amendment that was unsuccessful. He said the amendment would have tied the tax credits to whatever jurisdictions the General Assembly or the courts say they should be applied to.
“I’m not against the tax credits, but I think we could be in a lot of trouble if we pass this tonight. I want us to do this right, and I say that if you want to rush this through, it’s grandstanding.”
Haskins agreed.
“I’m not against tax breaks for seniors, but I don’t know why we’re in such a hurry to do this when there are so many unanswered questions. My no vote is for a pause, not a no for senior tax relief.”
County Executive Dennis Gannon said he wouldn’t take a stand on the legislation.
“I hope they (the General Assembly) fix it, but the way things are happening up there (in Jefferson City), I’m not as hopeful as I’d like to be. You as a council are going to take the position you need to take.”