Elderly Tax Break

WRCB TV
April 27, 2007

A proposal moving in the Tennessee Legislature would determine which elderly homeowners would be shielded from future property tax increases by using local income levels.

It's not been as simple as Senate sponsor Mark Norris had hoped. Norris intended for the Legislature to set a maximum and for counties to be able to enact any limit below that. Voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to allow the tax break in November, but state Attorney General Bob Cooper says it doesn't reflect Norris' wishes. Cooper says the measure doesn't give local governments any flexibility.

State figures show the average annual income among people of retirement age varies from less than $17, 000 in Hancock County on the Cumberland Plateau to more than $52, 000 in Williamson County, immediately south of Nashville.

The bill now before lawmakers would set separate limits for each county, based on the average income of all its residents between 65 and 74. People in the age bracket with incomes under the local average would be shielded from future property tax hikes.

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