You could be voting in November on a property tax ballot issue, under a proposal from a state lawmaker from western Missouri.
State Rep. Rick Brattin speaks on the Missouri House floor in March 2017 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)
State Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, has filed a House joint resolution, which would authorize a property tax exemption for people who have owned real property for thirty years and for those who have owned personal property for ten years.
“We pay for personal property or real property taxes forever,” Brattin says. “I mean it’s in perpetuity. It never, ever goes away.”
Real property is land and homes.
Brattin, who represents Cass County, will be serving his eighth and final year in the House in 2018. He says schools will “bark” about his proposal.
Missouri public schools receive much of their funding from property taxes.
Brattin tells Missourinet his constituents overwhelmingly support his proposal, noting that many are on fixed incomes.
“Your seniors are the ones that will benefit, your farmers will be the ones that have had their century-long farm that their family has paid in full for, you know, decades and decades,” says Brattin.
Brattin says he has not talked to House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, yet about the plan. Brattin says Speaker Richardson is inundated with legislation.
If the Legislature approves Brattin’s plan, it would be placed on the statewide ballot. Brattin tells Missourinet he would like to add a provision to his bill, which would take effect if it’s passed by Missourians at the polls.
“A property owner could opt for an early tax pay off for whatever time is left within that 30 year taxable period. Like a mortgage or car loan, you have the option to pay off the loan in full at any time or pay until the note is paid in full,” Brattin says.
Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Rep. Rick Brattin, which was recorded on December 11, 2017:
