By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer is hopeful his measure capping property tax assessments can clear the legislature before the session ends in two weeks.
Luetkemeyer says property tax assessments have doubled and tripled in the last couple of assessment cycles in some parts of Missouri.
“That really puts a strain on folks, because your largest asset for most people is their home and when the government dramatically increases their taxes, it creates a risk of somebody being taxed out of their home and that’s particularly true for seniors and other folks who are on fixed incomes,” Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Luetkemeyer’s measure that would keep property assessments from rising more than 10% every two years or at the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. The measure, and a companion bill, has passed the Senate and moved to the House.
Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, says there is strong support in Jefferson City for holding down the rise in property assessments, which at times have caused huge spikes in a homeowner’s property tax bill.
“I view this really as a bipartisan issue,” Luetkemeyer says. “Whether you’re Democrat or Republican, the fact is there needs to be some reasonable control over the amount that some of these property taxes are going to increase during the assessment cycle. Otherwise, people are literally getting taxed out of their homes and I don’t think anyone, regardless of party, wants to see that happen.”
Three measures total have a chance of passing this legislative session, two of which are sponsored by Luetkemeyer. One bill would freeze property assessments for the homes of senior citizens.
Luetkemeyer is optimistic something will pass, stating huge spikes in property tax assessments have become common throughout the state, in both rural and urban Missouri.