Just as he promised Bedford County Commissioners last month, City Councilman Josh Blevins presented a proposal for a local property tax freeze for seniors 65 and over to Council during study session Tuesday evening.
City Mayor Randy Carroll was interested Tuesday night if the County is on board. And just recently, vice versa, with the County was interested in the City’s involvement.
Many are asking in the community if this could be potentially one of the greatest financial moves between the City and County to come along in a while? That is, one that could potentially benefit residents in financial need.
Councilman Blevins and Commissioner Eric Maddox claim this tax freeze would help those, now, and in the future, who’ve paid their dues into the community over the years.
Maddox, who is up for re-election this year, has a lot to say about this issue, because it’s been on his heart for quite some time. (See the Jan. 8 edition of the Times-Gazette.)
Blevins did apologize to Council that he was unable to secure presentations this month from County Trustee Tonya Davis and outgoing Property Assessor Ronda Clanton. He assured that next month looks more promising, especially given this month’s study session was held during a holiday.
Treasurer Kay Parker commented that someone from the state division of property assessment might be willing to make a presentation on the tax freeze program as well.
Blevins explained that he’s met personally with Clanton and Davis on the topic. Property Assessor Clanton said during last month’s Rules and Legislative Committee meeting that she believes seniors would benefit more from the annual tax relief discount rather than a one-time, property tax freeze.
Blevins told Council that he’s had phone conversations with government officials from Putnum County and Dekalb County who’ve already implemented a senior property tax freeze like he and Maddox are proposing.
“I haven’t found anything that’s a red flag-a reason we shouldn’t do this,” said Blevins. “It’s a good deal for seniors. It protects our seniors.”
Why the sudden interest in a senior property tax freeze?
Blevins told the T-G on Wednesday, “I think the growth we have had in recent years has stretched our services and infrastructure significantly. That is going to put one or both local governments in a position to possibly have to raise property taxes in order to maintain the level of services residents have come to expect.”
The Councilman explained that information received from the state comptroller’s office shows that 764 seniors are taking advantage of Bedford County’s current tax relief discount.
Blevins, who had obviously done a lot of his own research, told Council on Tuesday night that at least one-third of Tennessee trustee offices across the state are now administering the senior property tax freeze option.

Blevins told the T-G Wednesday that the senior property tax freeze is not a replacement of the current tax relief program. It is in addition to the tax relief…anyone on the tax relief would continue to receive their annual tax relief and then the tax freeze would hold their property tax at its current amount.

"Currently, if the county or city raises property taxes, even those on the tax relief would have to pay a higher amount of property tax. With the tax freeze in place, those that qualify for the freeze could have the peace of mind to know their property tax would stay the same for the remainder of their life."

Blevins disagrees that the relief program carries a greater benefit for seniors. The relief program has a $32,500 annual income cap, he advised Council on Tuesday.
Blevins said with the freeze, the County/City can pick either a cap of $42,700 or $61, 920. He said no doubt the freeze will benefit a greater number of seniors, given these larger income cap options.
One elderly resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they’re saving just over $100 a year on property taxes through the relief or discount program, based on annual income. The resident has worked right here and paid in taxes in Bedford County “forever.”
The Councilman said he’d like to have the senior tax freeze proposal approved as an ordinance by spring. He said for that to happen at the City level, two separate monthly readings will need to follow in February and March.
City Mayor Randy Carroll asked Blevins if the County is still willing to consider the property tax freeze proposal. He said yes and it should be back on next month’s Rules Committee meeting for discussion.
County Commissioner Eric Maddox is working with Blevins on the tax freeze proposal. He and Blevins presented an overview of the proposal to the Rules and Legislative Committee last month.
Blevins said Tuesday, “If we don’t have a property tax increase, there’s no economic cost to the City at all with this. The only case is if we did have a tax increase.”
He added, “I ran a scenario with a 20% tax increase and it was like a .6% hit on the total property tax. It was well within something that could be budgeted for, without having any kind of negative effect on the City or the County.”
Mayor Carroll asked Blevins if he has any numbers available on how many residents in the community this freeze could potentially affect.
Blevins said the comptroller’s office reports that 7,458 seniors (about 15% of the population) are currently living in the County. Of those, 24% are living alone, that is widow or widower, and 39% of those local seniors are considered disabled.
Blevins is aware this property tax freeze wouldn’t touch all 7,000 + residents 65 and older.
“But I’d love to help as many seniors as we can with this,” he advised Council.
Council person Marilyn Ewing asked about the age limit and if it will be a complicated process for the senior community. Blevins said the property tax proposed would be for seniors 65 and older and that no, it’s not complicated at all.
He said once a senior turns 65, and they stay at the required income limit, they just have to resubmit their form every year. He said seniors must go to the trustee’s office where they’ll have to provide proper identification and current tax records before filling out the one-page document.
Mayor Carroll asked how the program works if the senior’s property is inherited or acquired by someone else, like children. Blevins said in this case, the property would revert back to the current property tax rate.
Treasurer Kay Parker added, “I was just going to mention that the state tax relief amount this year is $75 and the City matches that. So, they get a $75 discount from the state and $75 from the City.”
Parker added that this year, the disabled state veteran’s tax relief amount is $403.
Council members Betsy Noel and Bobby Turnbow were absent Tuesday.