It has been said that insanity is doing the same thing time after time and expecting a different result. "Throw the bums out" we cry, yet we keep electing and re-electing politicians that seem to soon forget those of us that put them in office. "It's time for a change" or " A person you can depend on". Boy do I get sick of hearing those lines over and over again. Some survive the pressure of lobbyists and influence peddlers, but some cannot, and soon fall prey to the desire to get re-elected at any cost.
In 2007 our state legislature voted to allow local municipalities the right to grant property tax relief to qualified seniors, yet local politicians have refused to consider this legislation. "We can't afford it" they say. Yet they continually grant some new companies and developers that very tax abatement and relief. Taxes that are partially born by our struggling seniors who bear those added taxes.
This Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. the County Commissioners will be voting on whether to follow the lead of the 5 to 4 vote by the City Council to grant a graduated 15 year tax abatement tax relief to a developer proposing to build an apartment complex near UTC. Oh the developer is reported to be committing 20 percent of the apartments to low income renters. Those are said to be 400 square feet apartments renting for around $750 per month (what a deal). Are you kidding? If it is true, I have some ocean front property in Nevada to sell you, cheap.
Good government can only survive with a vigilant electorate. I encourage each of you who read this entry to call your county commissioner, voice your opinion, and be there at the meeting on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Lets support our seniors, some of them have waited a long time for our help. Good politicians can only survive if we let them know we are listening and watching.
William Reesor
Ooltewah
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What an excellent point, Mr. Reesor. I believe there is a provision for property tax emption under very narrow thresholds for seniors with excessive poverty. That is not enough, and voters demanded a broader exemption in 2007.
The problem is an elderly person does not have income growth to keep up with increased taxation, especially in the city of Chattanooga where property taxes are essentially double. Elderly citizens can literally be taxed out of their home. Senior citizens are essentially being rendered homeless to fund PILOTs for rich corporations.
It is truly mind boggling how our local government exempts rich corporations from paying their share of local property taxes under PILOT or Payment in Lieu of Taxes. Yet, senior barely getting by get tax increases.
I believe that the voters approved, by referendum, tax reductions for seniors, and never approved tax breaks for rich corporations yet they receive the PILOT. However, our local Chamber of Commerce and City Council are granting PILOT to rich corporations often. The list of 72 or so major corporations get property tax breaks.
It is way past due to grant all senior citizens property owner their own PILOT, property tax abatement in the same manner our local governments are granting tax exemption to rich corporation that do not need to the money in the first place.
Organize and demand that the referendum be honored, and grant all senior citizens PILOTs. If our local governments will not grant PILOTs to seniors, then perhaps it is time to rewrite a petition with language that orders our local government to carry out the will of the people. It is doable.
April Eidson