Citing an increased need in the senior community amid inflation, Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs announced a tax freeze eligibility expansion for homeowners 65 and older.

Biggs proposed increasing the income limit per senior household to the Knox County Commission from $44,940 to $60,000, the state maximum.
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The Trustee’s Office will host sign-up events at local senior centers around the Knox County area throughout October. More information, including a link to the application, is available on the Trustee’s Office web page. Hrre is the Trustee's Office phone number: 865-215-2305.

Georgia's Senate Finance Committee plans a hearing on Monday on a bill limiting increases in a home's value, as assessed for property tax purposes, to 3% per year. The limit would last as long as the owner maintained a homestead exemption. Voters would have to approve the plan in a November referendum.
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In Texas, voters in November approved a plan cutting property taxes by $18 billion. Kansas' Democratic governor and its Republican-majority legislature are both endorsing larger exemptions for homeowners to cut taxes by $100 million annually. Colorado lawmakers meeting in a November special session approved higher residential deductions and a lower assessment rate. Pennsylvania is using lottery proceeds to cut property taxes and subsidize rent for seniors and people with disabilities.

What great ideas. It would really be nice if Tennessee would consider some of these programs. The last property tax hike hurt a lot of people.

"The Blount County property assessor’s office recently finished its quadrennial reappraisal of every piece of real property in the county. Assessor of Property Todd Orr said Thursday that the new values are “jaw dropping.”

It's been reported in the mainstream media and social media that property values have been reappraised up by 60% and in some cases doubled.

It is kind of a bad time for homeowners since we are at the top of a market and home prices are already going down. It will be another four years before the county appraisals can be normalized.

"Tennessee law doesn't allow the county government to earn more money from property reassessment. The process has to be revenue neutral. "

"The current property tax rate for Blount County is $2.47 for each $100 of assessed value. Orr estimates that will decrease to approximately $1.60 per $100 of assessed value. "

I didn't take long for Blount County commissioners to consider a tax increase.

"Commissioners and the public discussed a preliminary certified rate of $1.5953 per $100 of assessed value and a proposed increase to $1.69."

On Thursday, May 18, 2023, the Blount County commissioners were supposed to vote on the tax increase.
A "Resolution to levy a tax rate in excess of the Certified Tax Rate - Removed from agenda."

"I want our public to have public hearings and public committee meetings on June 5. Everyone needs to understand this is not final yet. I think when we get final numbers from the state, we will get the opportunity to adjust accordingly," said one commissioner."

According to the WBIR report it is state law where "local governments are required to conduct public hearings before adopting a property tax rate that generates more taxes overall in a reappraisal year than were billed the year before, at the previous year's lower values."

Knox County Property Reappraisals have been published. Are you happy with your reappraisal? Did they do an across the board increase? Will our tax bills increase?

The only way I know how to look up the new appraisal is by going to this Knox Assessor link. When the property record is displayed as a result of the search, click on the property owners name to see reappraisal information. I cannot find the link on the Knox County Property Assessor web site. I do see information on how to appeal your new appraisal.

I'm not too happy about the increase in a property I manage. Plus, they have the property details incorrect. Alas, another conversation with local government.