St. Charles County lawmakers unanimously approved a bill Monday night that freezes property tax rates for seniors as allowed under a new state law, while not shielding them entirely from future increases.

What You Need To Know

  • Taxpayers who are at least 62 years old as of Jan. 1, 2024, would be eligible to apply for a tax credit for an amount equal to “the difference between an eligible taxpayer’s real property tax liability on such taxpayer’s homestead for a given tax year, minus the real property tax liability on such homestead in the year that the taxpayer became an eligible taxpayer”

  • It would apply to all taxing jurisdictions in St. Charles County but would not shield seniors from increases tied to school or fire district bond issues

  • In the event of a successful legal challenge, the legislation would simply apply to the 2% in property tax collected directly for St. Charles County

  • A similar proposal failed in St. Louis County in July but is being brought back before the County Council later this month

The passage was met with applause from the crowd during the county council meeting as St. Charles County becomes the first in the area to pass the measure allowed under Senate Bill 190 which was signed by Gov. Parson in June.

Taxpayers who are at least 62 years old as of Jan. 1, 2024, would be eligible to apply for a tax credit. The freeze would start in the 2024 tax year and would not apply retroactively.

It would apply to all taxing jurisdictions in St. Charles County but would not shield seniors from increases tied to school or fire district bond issues.

Before the vote, one councilmember commented he has heard concerns from residents about the rise in property values. 

Don Schoedel, a St. Charles County resident for 7 years, says his the valuation on his three-bedroom home increased 34% in the last two years. He said COVID has “driven house prices through the roof.”

While he supports the bill, he believes the valuation process is flawed. He appealed his tax bill three times, getting all three valuations lowered. 

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann reminded residents the property valuations are in the state statutes and state legislators need to be contacted for changes to be made.

Ehlmann said the county did meet with state lawmakers before drafting the bill to make sure it would stand up in court.

“The clincher is when we went and talked to the legislators, what did you intend when you passed this bill. And I think the bill we came up with reflects their intent,” said Ehlmann. 

In the event of a successful legal challenge, the legislation would simply apply to the 2% in property tax collected directly for St. Charles County.

A similar measure in St. Louis County failed in July over fears it would defund education and fire services, but the proposal, seen as a way of helping seniors on a fixed income stay in their homes, has seen new life in light of a major tax incentive package looming to land a Boeing expansion project.

Advocates for the legislation in both counties have complained about questions left unanswered by state lawmakers, leading many to believe it’s just a matter of time before the matter ends up in court.

Gov. Parson rejected a call for a special session to address eligibility questions and to better define which property taxes are involved in the freeze.

The St. Charles County measure also funds staffing and computer software costs necessary to carry out the program.

The St. Louis County Council will hold a Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 26 to discuss changes to a second attempt to pass the legislation.