The looming budget deadline in St. Louis County is putting an essential service for seniors at stake. The Senior Property Tax Freeze Program, a relief effort that has drawn the application of over 35,000 St. Louis County residents, could see a daunting setback due to a disagreement on the approval timeline of the county's new budget. County Executive Sam Page is urging the County Council to vote by today, according to Fox2Now, warning that a delay could disrupt the application process for the program launched in October.
In a letter sent last Thursday, Page appealed to the Council Chair Shalonda Webb to promptly pass the 2025 budget during the council meeting scheduled for today. Failure to pass the budget by Thursday would mean seniors will have to exclusively apply online, potentially disenfranchising those in need of in-person assistance. This detail came to light in a report by 5 On Your Side.
Page has claimed that if his request is not granted, the staffing agency handling these applications could have its contract lapse. This contract is essential for maintaining the workforce that assists seniors, in person, with their applications—a service all the more important considering the county has spent $900,000 on software and staff for the program just this year. First Alert 4 reported the urgent nature of this budget passage for the continuation of the program's application process.
But resistance from council members remains firm. Council Chair Shalonda Webb, for example, has accused Page of needless drama and employing scare tactics as a way to compel the council to act hastily on the budget. Furthermore, Councilman Mark Harder described Page's actions as a "despicable tactic" and told First Alert 4 that the county executive should "stop playing on the emotions of our seniors." The council, meanwhile, is currently scheduled to meet on December 30, a significant delay from the usual pre-Christmas timeframe, due mainly to the need for careful review of changes and potential cuts in light of new financial obligations like upcoming raises and a new police contract.
Despite the ongoing budgetary chess game, online applications for the tax freeze will remain open until June 30, 2025. Seniors aiming to apply can still access the portal on the County’s official website, a haven amid the bureaucratic storm. Eligibility for the program requires seniors to be at least 62 years old by the end of 2024, to provide written proof of ownership, and to primarily reside at the property needing the tax freeze. Additional documents like proof of identification and proof of residence are also necessary to complete the application. As 5 On Your Side noted, the benefit of the program will reflect on the 2025 tax bill for those who successfully navigate through the upheaval and apply.
