County commissioners group cautious about elderly relief

NewsChannel5.com
December 14, 2006

NASHVILLE, Tenn. The head of the county commissioners group in Tennessee says local governments won't join a program to freeze property taxes for elderly property owners if the Legislature makes it "too rich."

The amendment passed overwhelmingly. It allows the Legislature to authorize a freeze, protecting property owners 65 and older from increases in local property taxes. Local officials must sign on to the homestead exemption for it to affect specific counties.

Doug Goddard of the Tennessee County Commissioners Association met with bill sponsor Senator Mark Norris of Collierville yesterday.

Goddard told Norris even setting the income eligibility at 20-thousand dollars per year would erode the value of a one-penny property tax increase by 20 percent.

Norris says he's prefiled a bill that would allow people over 65 with incomes up to 50-thousand dollars to come under the protection.

Norris says with the amendment passing with 83 percent of the popular vote in November, the taxpayers have spoken.

Mark Norris Official Web Site

Mark Norris Personal Web Site

Tennesse Senate Republican Caucus

Senator Mark Norris
9A Legislative Plaza,
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0232
Phone 615-741-1967
1-800-449-8366

Email: Sen. Mark Norris