Knox County Commission has OK’d a program advocated by Trustee Justin Biggs to grant additional property tax relief to senior residents and disabled veterans. Enabling legislation was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly.
How can something with so many political paw prints be good? You decide.
For years, the county has offered a partial exemption of property taxes through a state program that reimburses participating counties for lost revenue. The county has to opt in, and it increases the workload for the Trustee’s Office.
That’s a task Justin Biggs is happy to shoulder.
“The exemption used to be $42,000 (income per household for those 60 or older). I took it to county commission and it was approved for household income less than $50,000.”
This is not a program like the greenbelt exemption for farm land, which gives land owners an exemption but requires a “rollback” of a portion of the exempted taxes if the land is sold or inherited.
“These senior and disabled veteran tax exemptions are forgiven at the time of death or property sale,” said Biggs. “It’s a way to demonstrate a deep sense of respect and gratitude for their sacrifices and experiences.”
The Trustee’s Office will host sign-up events (and answer questions) at senior centers during October. Any senior or disabled veteran may attend any event:
- Tuesday, October 1 – 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Karns Senior Center
- Wednesday, October 9 – 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Corryton Senior Center
- Thursday, October 10 – 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Halls Senior Center
- Friday, October 11 – 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – West Senior Center
- Tuesday, October 22 – 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – South Knox Senior Center
- Wednesday, October 23 – 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Carter Senior Center