Runaway assessments

The Joplin Globe

Missouri legislators have tried to offer relief to property taxpayers over the years in the form of special breaks for older residents and the poor.

But the problem with the never-ending growth of assessments continues. People are finding that their property taxes are going up just about every year, regardless of whether they make improvements to buildings or houses. ...

What we would like to see from state legislators in the next session is a complete revamping of property taxes with an eye to slow, or better yet stop, this upward spiral of values. That won't sit well with schools.

They count heavily on property taxes for financing. One possibility worthy of exploring might be to retain the same assessments on residences in which a family has lived for at least 10 years and where no significant improvements, such as the addition of a room or a garage, have been made.

Forcing schools to roll back levies if the local tax revenue growth exceeds, say, 2 percent, could help.

We're not suggesting that schools take huge hits. Legislators could ask voters to increase the state sales tax by several cents.

Actually, there may be many ideas meriting consideration out there. The property tax hurts young families just starting out, working middle-income adults and older people even after qualifying for tax breaks.

The governor and state legislature should take the lead. If they don't, taxpayers may copy California and impose their own limits on appraisals and property tax growth.