Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press
Roma Marshall, right, plays bridge with friends at the Joyce Raye Patterson Senior Center on Wednesday. Buchanan County will vote in August on a proposed senior citizen tax. The money will be used to improve senior centers, expand Meals on Wheels, senior transportation and other home services.
Buchanan County voters will have the final say Aug. 5 on a new property tax that would assist this county’s senior citizens.
“We have a large population of seniors who do without necessary services,” said Martha Wakely, one of the organizers. “This tax would help them stay at home and have an improved quality of life instead of having to move into a home where expenses to the taxpayer would be higher.”
The new tax would collect 10 cents per each $100 of assessed valuation. Someone who owns a $100,000 home would pay $19 annually plus about $6.40 for $20,000 of personal property. The tax could generate about $1.1 million annually.
“We feel it’s a genuine need for senior citizens,” said Royal Turner, Buchanan County presiding commissioner.
Mercer County passed a senior citizens tax in April.
Other counties that have approved a senior citizens tax in Northwest Missouri include Andrew, Atchison, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Nodaway, Platte and Worth, Ms. Wakely said. A number of other counties scattered throughout the state have already adopted similar legislation, Mr. Turner said.
If approved, the tax could be used to contract for expanded and improved Meals on Wheels, basic home repairs, yard cleaning, light housekeeping, senior transportation and improving senior centers as well as nutrition sites throughout the county, organizers said.
A group of about 20 seniors has been studying the issue for the last nine months.
“Seniors have taken care of us and paid taxes, now it’s our turn to take care of them,” Ms. Wakely said.
The Buchanan County Commission listened Wednesday to Kevin Kirby and Ms. Wakely, who came prepared with facts and figures on why the county should pass the tax. The commissioners voted unanimously to put the issue on the ballot.
Marshall White can be reached at
marshall@npgco.com.
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So let me get this straight, we're looking forward to voting on tax increases for:
1) the school district
2) the city, in the form of a bond, for roads and other misc items
3) the city, for "safety services"
4) the senior citizens
YIKES! What exactly is our money going toward now??? I will soon be taxed out of this city!
Posted by scrubnurse on May 15, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)Here's an idea......First let me say I truly believe the seniors need assistance. But instead of raising OUR taxes to assist them why doesn't the county make THEM exempt from paying property taxes. I'm sure that would help alot of these older people out.
Posted by JesseJames on May 24, 2008 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)In response to scrubnurse, I fail to see why the pictured senior who just built an elaborate new home in the upper east side should be exempt from paying taxes. Let's help those who really need the help. If your idea passes, I'm moving from this town immediately.
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