By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
State budget woes may stymie many of the bills introduced this session in the Missouri General Assembly, but State Rep. Marilyn Ruestman said she hopes she can get passage of a measure that would provide property tax relief for homeowners.
Ruestman, R-Joplin, is among a number of lawmakers who have pre-filed bills for consideration in the legislative session that begins Wednesday.
One measure that Ruestman plans to sponsor would set limits on how much the assessed value of an owner-occupied home could increase until the property is sold or transferred.
“I’ve probably received more phone calls on this issue than any other,” Ruestman said. “Especially from older people who say they don’t see how they can stay in a longtime family home if their taxes keep going up.”
Local lawmakers who have pre-filed bills also include:
• Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, who is sponsoring a measure that specifies that a pharmacy cannot be required to participate in any act resulting in an abortion.
• Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, who has submitted a bill that would bar felons from holding public office.
• Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, who is sponsoring a measure that would regulate sexually oriented businesses. Emery has sponsored similar legislation earlier and said he will push for a similar bill in the House this session.
Ruestman said she sponsored a similar property assessment measure last year, but it stalled after a single committee hearing.
“Last year, budget got the focus, and it will be taking a lot of time this year,” she said.
Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, who is House speaker, said budget issues “will be a priority.”
“But part of the budget process will be looking at tax issues,” Richard said. “I’m always open to property tax relief, and there’s support for it, because taxes have gotten so high in some counties.”
Richard said his first priorities for action include a measure requiring insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders and a bill that would address the “stacked sales tax issue” that has prompted lawsuits against Joplin and other cities.
“Those are going to get a pretty good push on my side; I want to get them to the counter for debate,” he said. “And I’m supportive of (property) tax reform, but it’s got to work, and it’s got to be constitutional.”
Under Ruestman’s bill, the increase in the assessed valuation of an owner-occupied home could go up each year no more than 2 percent or the percentage of increase in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less.
But when the home is sold or transferred, the assessed value would be readjusted. The homeowner would have the choice of whether the amount would be the purchase price or an amount determined by the county assessor or by a recent appraisal.
“My intent is not to do away with that income, but make it so people won’t be taxed out of a house they’ve lived in for years,” Ruestman said. “And entities that rely on that revenue will still see the value increase, but the big increase will only come at a sale or transfer.”
Currently in Missouri, all real estate is reassessed every two years to meet a state requirement that county-appraised values be within 5 percent of market values.
But too often, Ruestman said, values spike during reassessment for other reasons, such as an upgrade of a neighbor’s house or other neighborhood improvements.
“People shouldn’t have to pay higher taxes for reasons like that, but when the house sells, the value would be readjusted,” Ruestman said. “It’s not just for seniors. That sort of thing is hard on young married couples on a budget, too.”
She said a state senator and another representative are working on similar legislation, and that the three “will sit down and try to take the best out of each bill.”
“I don’t care who gets the credit,” she said. “I just believe in my heart we need some property tax reform.”
New session
The 2010 session of the Missouri General Assembly opens at noon Wednesday at the Capitol in Jefferson City.
