Gibbons Takes on Property Tax
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Gibbons Takes on Property Tax

Date: January 28, 2008
By: Amy Becker
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons sponsored legislation that focuses on protecting property tax payers from tax increases caused by reassessment. One method of protection, says Gibbons, is easy access to tax information.

Amy Becker has more from the state capitol.

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Gibbons highlights an instance in St. Louis County as "false advertising" where voters approved an 18 cent tax increase then received a 22 percent increase due to reassessment.  The bill would require the assessed valuation at the time the tax levy passes, be what the new tax rate will be applied to. 

Gibbons stressed the importance of access to tax information:

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Description: We really want the tax payers to be informed about what's going on because this whole process in the roughly 23 years of its existence has been full of confusion and misunderstanding.

The Ways and Means committee heard testimony on the bill with no one testifying in opposition. 

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Amy Becker, KMOX News.

 

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Intro:  Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons bill on property tax was met with support including a petition with one thousand and forty seven signatures protesting reassessment, even though no one testified in opposition, witnesses didn't hold back their concerns on the bill. 

Amy Becker has more from the state capitol.

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Gibbons had supportive testimony from county clerks and assessors but each witness raised concern over moving up tax deadlines, saying they are worried about how accurate information can be in such a short time.

Democratic Senator Ryan McKenna had this to say concerning accuracy versus punctuality:

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Description: You know, if you get a projected amount which is astronomically wrong, I think they're going to be more mad than they are now.

 

Gibbons said current dates are up for negotiation but moving up assessor dates will let a taxpayer know exactly what taxes they owe for that upcoming tax year and allows them to prepare accordingly.

Gibbons also said if need be the state may have to provide additional funding for software programming to help get tax information quickly and accurately.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Amy Becker, KMOX News.