Resolution to help seniors may be ignored

Backers of measure worry gay marriage initiative getting all the attention

By KRISTIN M. HALL, KnoxNews.com
October 31, 2006

NASHVILLE - Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would help older homeowners are worried it will be overshadowed by a more controversial amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

The second amendment on the ballot Nov. 7 would allow local governments to freeze property taxes for homeowners 65 years old or older.

But unlike the flashier same-sex marriage amendment, there aren't any radio ads running on the property tax question, and religious leaders haven't spoken for or against it.

Still, Sen. Mark Norris, the Collierville Republican who sponsored the resolution, thinks Tennesseans should be aware and educated about this amendment as well.

"The candidates have been strangely silent on the issue," Norris said. "I'm afraid that the only constitutional amendment people know about is the marriage amendment."

Currently the state constitution prohibits discrimination when counties and city governments apply property taxes. The amendment would insert language that would allow local governments to exempt elderly homeowners from year-to-year increases in property taxes.

"For a lot of these homeowners, they have a choice between paying for their prescription drugs or paying for their property taxes," Norris said.

The AARP supports the amendment because it says rising property taxes are becoming a burden on households with fixed incomes such as seniors who are living on pensions or Social Security.

"They are being priced out of their homes," said Brian McGuire, state legislative director for AARP in Tennessee. "If taxes go up $100, that is huge."

Norris said he's taking every opportunity to talk to seniors, the media and others about the homestead exemption.

He created a Web site that includes the language of the amendment along with a section of frequently asked questions to help people make sense of the addition to the constitution.

The amendment hit another snag when the state mistakenly left off the final paragraph of the amendment when programming voting machines.

The part left off the ballot explains that the Legislature will set an income limit on the tax break. Local governments would be allowed to set lower limits, Norris said.

"The beauty of this is all it does is give the local governments flexibility," McGuire said. "They can fashion this in a way that wouldn't have a substantial decrease in the tax revenue."

Norris said he would like to set the financial limit high enough to help elderly homeowners who don't already get property tax assistance from an existing state grant program. The tax relief program is only available for seniors or disabled veterans who earn $20,000 or less.

"A $40,000 level would capture most homes in the 65-year-old age level," McGuire said.

In order for the amendment to pass, more than half of all voters in the gubernatorial election must approve it. If people skip the question, which McGuire suspects might happen, the amendment might not pass.

"Right now if you look at the history of amendments in Tennessee, this amendment may have to win by 60-40 margin," McGuire said.

Despite all the setbacks, Norris is confident the amendment will pass and will be crucial for the growing number of elderly homeowners in the state.

Nearly 800,000 Tennesseans are 65 years or older and that number will double by 2032, Norris said.

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