Carter County officials will be reviewing the county’s tax relief program which aids elderly and disabled homeowners as part of the budget process this year.
Members of the county’s Financial Management Committee unanimously voted to refer the tax relief program to the Budget Committee for consideration.
During the Financial Management Committee’s meeting on Wednesday, Chairman Ray Lyons said he had been researching the tax relief program. Currently, Carter County provides a $20 discount to taxpayers who qualify under the state’s Tax Relief Program under one of four categories — elderly homeowner, disabled homeowner, disabled veteran homeowner, or the widow or widower of a disabled veteran homeowner — and who have an income of $29,180 a year or less.
Lyons told his fellow committee members he was researching the matter to see if the county could provide additional assistance to qualifying residents. The Chairman said he had looked at both a set dollar amount as well as a percentage discount across the board.
“I sort of backed off the straight percentage across the board because it would be unfair to some people and would be too cumbersome for the county,” Lyons said.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Lyons invited Carter County Trustee Randal Lewis to address the committee regarding the tax relief program. Lewis said an average of just over 1,900 Carter County residents take part in the tax relief program each year. Last year, Lewis said, the county gave out nearly $34,000 in property tax relief.
Lewis said the amount granted by the county is over and above the relief provided by the state.
“In Carter County the state gives $144, and the county gives $20,” Lewis said.
According to Lewis, in other counties across the region the amount of tax relief by both the county and the state varies. Greene County provides $32 under its program while Washington County matches the state’s rate for their county of $136.32. Unicoi, Sullivan, and Johnson counties do not offer a county level property tax relief program, Lewis said.
The tax relief only applies to a property owner’s residence, Lewis said.
“If they own 10 parcels of land, it only applies to the one where their residence is,” Lewis said.
While Lewis expressed his thanks to the committee for wanting to help local elderly and disabled residents, he also cautioned them that changing the program amount would affect the county’s budget.
“If there is a benefit to the people, then we have to pay for it,” Lewis said.
Lyons said he would like to see the committee recommend the Budget Committee take up the issue.
Commissioner Danny Ward made a motion to forward the research compiled by Lyons and Lewis’ staff to the Budget Committee for consideration. Lyons asked if Ward would like to attach a dollar amount to the recommendation and Ward said he did not.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bobbie Gouge-Dietz and passed unanimously on a vote.
Members of the Budget Committee will review the property tax relief program during a future meeting.