Cape Girardeau County property tax credit deadline nears

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Eligible Cape Girardeau County homeowners have until June 30 to apply for two property tax credit programs approved by voters on the April 7 ballot.

Applications have been accepted since May 21 for two real estate property tax credit measures approved during the April 7 election. County officials say homeowners only need to complete one application to be considered for either program.

Cape Girardeau Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy said the programs are designed to help limit future property tax increases on eligible primary residences, not eliminate property taxes altogether.

“It’s not a tax exemption,” Tracy said. “It’s a tax credit for the increase over the base year.”

Tracy said homeowners will continue paying property taxes, but the programs help prevent taxes from increasing beyond the property’s established base year, with limited exceptions for items such as bonded indebtedness.

“There are two sets of people,” Tracy said. “The senior freeze is for eligible seniors, and the homestead freeze is for homeowners.”

Under Proposition A, eligible homeowners must be at least 62 years old, live in the home as their primary residence and be responsible for paying the property taxes. Proposition B extends similar property tax relief to homeowners who do not meet the age requirement but otherwise qualify.

“To the taxpayers, there’s no difference in them,” Tracy said. “They’re both a freeze credit. You have to be the homeowner. You have to be responsible for the taxes.”

For Cape Girardeau County resident David Overbeck, the programs offer an opportunity for relief as property values continue to increase.

“The reason I came down is because I think tax rates are too high here in the county, and especially when we’ve got subdivisions building up right next to us, it makes our property taxes go up,” Overbeck said. “Senior citizens just can’t afford any more taxes than what we’re paying. We need some tax relief.

County officials say they intentionally kept the application process simple. Tracy said most online applications take about three minutes to complete, and residents who need assistance can visit the 1908 Courthouse in Jackson, where staff members are available to help.

“We’ve really worked hard to make this simple,” Tracy said. “We didn’t want to burden the taxpayer with bringing 17 forms of ID.”

Tracy said more than 1,300 applications have already been submitted, with several hundred more under review.

Applications and eligibility requirements are available online at capecounty.us/homestead or visit the 203 N. High St., Jackson, Mo. Residents applying online must provide a valid email address to receive updates on their application status.