ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – St. Louis County is inching toward finally setting up a property tax freeze program for its senior citizens. The stumbling block was when the Department of Revenue wanted nearly $2 million to implement the program. St. Charles County was apparently the deciding factor in moving things forward in St. Louis County.
Officials from St. Charles County traveled across the Missouri River to attend a St. Louis County Council hearing to speak about their own tax freeze program.
St. Charles County Collector of Revenue Michelle McBride, who is tasked with implementing the tax freeze program, said they’ve received more than 10,500 applications from senior citizens ages 62 and older with homes valued at less than $550,000.
“The election authority and ISM did some merging of data, and they estimated there’s likely 36,000 (households) in St. Charles County that can be applying for this,” McBride said.
But St. Louis County Councilmembers were concerned about costs. Would they have to spend $1.7 million to implement the program, like the Department of Revenue reported?
“So far, it’s cost us $110 to buy a locking drop box to put in the lobby to secure the documents that people are getting,” McBride said. “It will probably cost upwards of $200,000, maybe $300,000 by the time we hire an additional position.”
How is St. Charles County able to get by spending just $300,000?
McBride said they have an in-house printshop, and annual maintenance on software purchased in 2011 allows for changes to county legislation.
She agrees the program is worth the money.
“Our seniors do need help. We have a tax sale every year and some of the saddest stories come from that; when you’re contacting people cause you want to help them get their taxes paid cause that’s the last thing any collector wants to do is offer a property for back taxes.”
Some St. Louis County Councilmembers believe they are on track to get their senior property tax program up and going, but for a lot less than a million dollars. They hope to have it in place and ready to go soon.