Boone County voters pass extension of senior property tax freeze in 2025 election
Keriana Gamboa
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Boone County Commission says it will move quickly to expand a property tax break for seniors that voters approved Tuesday.
Northern Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson told ABC 17 News that it will implement a new the new policy at the next meeting on Tuesday.
Officials promise a smooth transition for property owners.
“As stated throughout the election cycle, the Commission intends to ensure no disruption for the thousands of seniors already participating in the program,” the three-member commission wrote in a statement Tuesday.
Boone County voters have approved an extension of the senior property tax freeze under Proposition 1. The measure allows homeowners aged 62 and older to maintain current property tax rates by preventing increases in tax rates related to government debt.
The approval means qualifying senior homeowners won’t see their tax burden increase to pay off debt carried by school districts and other local governments. Proponents say the measure provides more financial stability for aging residents on fixed incomes.
The policy change will go into effect immediately after the vote.
Debt levies are portions of property taxes designated to repay loans for large projects, such as new school buildings or public infrastructure. These levies are typically approved by voters through bond issues.
Currently, all debt levies in Boone County are held by school districts and fire districts.
Thompson says Boone County School and fire districts are impacted by this change and could potentially take legal action.
“If we are sued by an entity that is impacted by this, if a court finds that to be unconstitutional, then we have to go back to the program that we have currently,” Thompson said.
Boone County Fire Assistant Chief Gale Bloomenkamp says they are not expecting to see much change.
“Unless we’re planning on increasing our tax rate, we are not going to see any effect of this whatsoever. It’s not that it freezes the amount of assets evaluation that’s being taxed. It actually just freezes the tax rate itself,” Bloomenkamp said.
He says taking legal action against the commission is not on their agenda.
Harrisburg School Superintendent Steve Combs told ABC 17 News that he voted in favor of the proposition but expects the district will begin to see a loss in revenue in the coming years.
Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick told ABC 17 News last month that the expansion could create legal uncertainty.
In 2024, Boone County voters approved a measure to freeze property taxes for homeowners aged 62 and older. However, county commissioners carved out two exceptions: the blind pension fund and existing debt levies.
Over 70 percent of voters approved the senior tax freeze extension.