VOTERS TO DECIDE PROPERTY TAX HIKE

BENTON -- Scott County senior citizens could face a decrease in services if a November property tax initiative is defeated at the polls, senior advocates warn.

Voters rejected a similar tax increase in April 1997 by a 11 percent margin.

"Soon we're going to have more senior citizens but not any more money than we have now," said Marilyn Schlosser, a senior advocate who is working to get the tax passed.

"This tax will ensure the continuation of many senior citizen services," Schlosser said.

The tax revenues, which are projected at $150,000 per year in the county, will be earmarked specifically by the Scott County Commission for a senior citizens service fund.

Schlosser, Tina McDowell and other senior advocates approached the commission in late July asking that an eighth of a cent sales tax increase be placed on the November ballot.

The commission studied the proposal and instead decided unanimously to place a property tax initiative on the November ballot.

The initiative would increase the county's property tax by five cents per $100 assessed valuation on all taxable property. A family with a $60,000 home would pay an additional $6 per year for the senior tax. The tax increase on a $100,000 home would be less than $10 per year.

In writing the resolution that put the issue on the Nov. 3 ballot, the commission said it recognized the need for the county's senior citizens' organizations and the "essential service" the groups provide.

With an increasing demand, the groups also need an increasing level of funding, the commission said in its resolution.

Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner said the commission not only supported putting the initiative on the ballot, but supported the tax itself.

"These people got their funding cut just when there was more need for extra funds," said Kielhofner, who is not seeking re-election.

Currently, services for the senior citizens in the county are funded by matching grants, federal money and private donations. But with cuts in the federal budget, the money that senior organizations will receive will be reduced.

Even if the tax initiative is passed in November, the tax itself will not go into effect until next year. The tax money will not be collected until the end of the year.

Once collected, a board of trustees set up by the county commission, will have to propose how the money will be divided up among the county's senior citizen agencies.

The trustees will act on the basis of funding requests made by the agencies, prioritizing the requests and making their recommendations to the commission. The commission will have the final say on how the money will be divided.

Agencies are not likely to see any of the funds raised by the tax until sometime into the year 2000.

Currently, in Southeast Missouri, six counties -- Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Ste. Genevieve -- have property taxes in place which go to a Senior Citizens Services Fund. Mississippi County also has a fund, though it receives its money through a sales tax rather than a property tax.

McDowell said, ""Not all our services would be funded even if this passes. But we need the money just to help keep what we have going."