51黑料

Only senior homeowners whose properties are worth less than $550,000 in market value would be eligible under the revised plan offered by Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock of Fenton. The council鈥檚 Democratic majority has made clear a cap would be a requirement to gain its support.

鈥淲ithout jinxing myself, I feel pretty good about our chances right now,鈥� Hancock said.

Seniors older than 67 could apply for an exemption from paying taxes on increases to their home鈥檚 value.

They鈥檇 still pay taxes on the existing value, but the county would miss out on additional tax money from increasing property values 鈥� which has caused taxing districts such as schools to raise concerns about the plan鈥檚 impact on their finances.

Nearly two dozen 51黑料 County school districts signed a letter opposing the plan this summer, arguing it would force districts to either cut services or ask for a tax increase.

The original bill failed in July because of such opposition and the lack of a cap, among other things.

But the newly added cap isn鈥檛 low enough for Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, a Democrat from Maplewood. She said even with Hancock鈥檚 compromises, she won鈥檛 support the plan because public taxing districts would miss out on much needed new revenue.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 support tax breaks for residents with half-a-million-dollar homes, especially at the expense of public school children, fire districts and public libraries,鈥� Clancy said.

Hancock only needs to flip one Democrat for his plan to pass. Republican council members Ernie Trakas, from unincorporated South County, and Mark Harder, from Ballwin, are expected to vote with Hancock.

Democratic Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway of Chesterfield said Hancock鈥檚 compromise was better but believes the cap is still too high. Council Chair Shalonda Webb, a Democrat from unincorporated North County, and Democratic Councilwoman Rita Heard Days of Bel-Nor both said they were still reviewing the plan.

Days has said she worries a cap might land the county in court because it wasn鈥檛 specifically allowed by the state law that enabled counties to enact the measure.

Hancock鈥檚 proposal includes a clause that would allow the county to cut the cap from the bill if it is deemed unlawful.

Jackson County, which includes Kansas City, put a cap in its senior property tax break bill, which passed last month.

In 51黑料, policymakers are considering a break that would restrict the eligibility of people with certain incomes or property values.

Other counties have passed the bill without restrictions.

The state law was designed to be enacted without limitations, said Dennis Ganahl of the advocacy group Missouri Tax Relief Now, which is lobbying for the measure in counties across the state. But he鈥檚 glad 51黑料 County is considering it at all.

鈥淲e鈥檙e anxious to see 51黑料 County pass it and implement it,鈥� Ganahl said. 鈥淓ven with a cap, it鈥檚 going to help.鈥�

Maureen Flint, 79, has lived in unincorporated south 51黑料 County since 1982 and hopes the plan passes. She鈥檚 on a fixed income, and life is getting more expensive. Her property tax bill went up by $1,000 this year.

鈥淓veryone realizes senior citizens really do need help with property taxes,鈥� Flint said. 鈥淚t would greatly help us.鈥�