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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE June
27, 2007
Letter to Local Tennessee Residents from
Rep. Jim Hackworth
Dear Fellow Tennessean:
The 105th
Tennessee General Assembly’s first session adjourned June 12 after
approving two property tax relief measures for seniors 65 years old and
older. As your representative, I want to tell you and other
eligible neighbors how these new laws could reduce your tax bills over
time.
You may remember that in
November 2006, Tennesseans amended the state constitution to
specifically allow local governments to freeze the property taxes of
seniors. The House of Representatives and Senate then passed
enabling legislation that gives cities and counties the right to freeze
property taxes at the most recent amounts paid by eligible homeowners.
Keep in mind, local
governments aren’t mandated to freeze property taxes. Any tax
freeze must be approved by city or county authorities before it takes
effect. So for this legislation to be enacted, please talk with your
local city or county commission.
Another bill passed by
the legislature increases the income eligibility level from $20,000 to
$24,000 annually for elderly residents who receive property tax rebates
from the state. This initiative is separate from the
constitutional amendment.
Finally, all Tennessee
residents are receiving a permanent half-cent reduction in the sales tax
on food, starting New Year’s Day 2008. The half-penny cut will
save residents about $41 million per year and really help seniors,
disabled veterans and working families meet their everyday needs and
wants.
Thank you for your time
and attention to these matters. I hope you’ll find this
information useful.
Yours sincerely,
Rep. Jim
Hackworth
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