Tax exempt senior bill moves along

By Judith R. Tackett, jtackett@nashvillecitypaper.com

April 23, 2004 for The Nashville City Paper

A constitutional amendment that would freeze property tax increases for seniors has a good chance of moving out of the Senate next week after most senators signed onto the bill Thursday.

The amendment would enable local governments to pass a resolution or ordinance that taxpayers 65 or older would not have to pay increases in property taxes on their primary residence.

A law, which was passed 25 years ago and addressed the same issue, was found to be unconstitutional. That’s why Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) proposed the constitutional amendment, which would only take effect if money to fund the initiative is available in the budget.

The General Assembly would establish an income cap, meaning households earning above the cap would not be eligible for the tax exemption.

The earliest local governments could pass a property tax freeze for seniors would be in 2007, after passing in next year’s General Assembly and a favorable popular vote in the 2006 gubernatorial elections.