LEBANON, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers are working to amend inconsistencies in the state’s property tax system, aiming to create a more equitable landscape for property owners.
“It’s a chaotic situation,” said Representative Jim Murphy, emphasizing the disarray regarding property tax rates across the state. On Wednesday, lawmakers from over 20 districts gathered in Lebanon to discuss the ongoing challenges with property taxation.
Murphy highlighted the stark discrepancies in tax assessments, noting that some residents experience tax increases of up to 40 percent, while others see far less, sometimes as low as 4 percent. “While the system is designed to promote equal assessment, it often fails in practice,” he explained.
The current property tax system leaves many residents unsure about their tax obligations, according to Murphy. “Citizens shouldn’t face uncertainty regarding their tax bills year after year,” he said, labeling the existing situation as unacceptable.
Gregory Allsberry, chief counsel for the Missouri State Tax Commission, stated that the challenges stem primarily from state law. “The Missouri constitution mandates that we work towards equalizing property assessments throughout the state,” he explained.
Allsberry noted that efforts are underway to ensure all counties adhere to a standardized assessment system. “To achieve fairness, we rely on market value as our benchmark,” he said, indicating that discrepancies arise when some counties assess properties significantly below their true market value.
The tax commission is keenly aware of counties where property assessments do not align with others, leading to potential inequities. “If one county assesses properties at 60 percent of market value and another at 95 percent, that disparity is considerable,” Allsberry pointed out. “The law acknowledges this unfairness, and we are committed to adjusting those assessments.”
Moving forward, Murphy and the legislative panel plan to continue their discussions and proactive efforts into the summer. “We’ll be working diligently until the start of the next legislative session to formulate solutions,” he said, underscoring the gravity of the task ahead.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for August in Macon, just north of Columbia, where legislators will continue to explore solutions for a fairer tax system.
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