Voters should debate the full impact on local government before going to polls

Tennessean.com
April 8, 2006

A constitutional amendment that would allow local governments to freeze the property taxes of some elderly Tennesseans is certainly appealing. Before voters face the issue in November, they should hear a full debate on the consequences.

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, would allow cities and counties to freeze property taxes for residents who are 65 or older. Seniors would still pay property taxes, but they would not have to pay additional money when the taxes are increased in subsequent years. The General Assembly, if it chose, could limit the property tax freeze so it would apply only to certain income levels.

The proposal gets to a problem that has become particularly painful as property values have soared across the state: Elderly homeowners with fixed incomes find that increased assessments and higher taxes are making their homes too expensive to afford.

The amendment passed both the House and Senate in 2004. It recently passed again in the Senate unanimously, and on Thursday, it passed 95-1 in the House, putting it on the ballot in November.

Some opponents to the notion of a property tax freeze have said that older Tennesseans would benefit more from broader tax relief, including a reduction in the sales tax, particularly on sale tax applied to food. They rightly maintain that elderly Tennesseans who do not own a home would reap no benefit from the amendment and that older Tennesseans on fixed incomes also must cope with higher costs of food, electricity and gasoline.

That is a valid point. Another one to consider is the loss of revenue to cities and counties. The amendment would not require local governments to freeze property taxes, but few would be able to reject this program.

Mark Norris Official Web Site

Mark Norris Personal Web Site

Tennesse Senate Republican Caucus

Senator Mark Norris
303 War Memorial Building,
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0232
Phone 615-741-1967
1-800-449-8366

Email: Sen. Mark Norris