JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Kevin Corlew pre-filed a bill Wednesday to provide property tax relief to seniors.
The bill, HB 1650, would give Missouri counties the opportunity to put a cap on residential property taxes for senior citizens and the disabled so that the tax rate could not rise above the cost-of-living increase, if one occurs, for Social Security benefits.
The bill would apply to persons who are at least 67 years old or are disabled. To qualify, the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income could be no more than $60,000 for a single person or $68,000 for married persons filing joint tax returns.
Corlew said he filed the bill after hearing from concerned senior citizens on fixed income who recently learned that they will receive no cost-of-living increase next year from Social Security. Approximately 30 percent of the senior citizens in Clay and Platte Counties, where Corlew serves, pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing, according to statistics from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
“Seniors on fixed incomes are particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in housing costs,” Corlew, R-Kansas City, said. “If the government thinks that they can live without any increase, then the government should abide by the same standard.”
The idea has received support from Clay County Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte, a former state representative who now serves a part of Corlew’s district.
“Representative Kevin Corlew’s legislation is real property tax relief for seniors in our community,” said Nolte. “By consulting with our county commission and including a county opt-in provision, Kevin is demonstrating his commitment to working with local government for the people of Missouri.”
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.