HERMANN – A property tax-relief measure for homeowners 62 and older was formally placed on the November General Elections ballot by the Gasconade County Commission.

With two of the three commissioners attending last week’s session, a referendum on a state law put in place two years ago will be decided by the county’s voters. Senate Bill 190, which freezes the assessment on a homeowner’s primary residence, is being promoted as a fall-back measure in the event the courts hold that Senate Bill 3 is unconstitutional. SB 3 takes the property tax relief one step further – granting a credit to all homeowners regardless of age.

SB 3 is being challenged in court by several of the state’s 114 counties, including Gasconade County, as unconstitutional because it treats counties differently regarding the growth of property value. Arguments for and against the law, which was passed as part of a larger piece of legislation aimed at providing incentives to keep the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri, were recently made at the Circuit Court level in Cole County. The two sides are awaiting the judge’s ruling. However, it’s believed that whatever the decision is at the trial-court level it will be appealed with an ultimate decision possibly much later.

Gasconade County Assessor Julia Baker has taken the lead among courthouse officials in monitoring the status of SB 3. She told the commission Wednesday morning that there was no update regarding a possible decision by the judge.

“It’s frustrating,” she said.

Commissioners met last Wednesday because two of the three county administrators were scheduled to be away from the courthouse last Thursday, the normal meeting day.

Putting SB 190 in place, if approved by voters, is a concern for county officials. They noted that many questions need to be answered, especially regarding the application by homeowners eligible for the tax break. Does a homeowner apply only once or should they apply each year?

“Ever county is doing it differently,” said County Collector Glenda Shockley. Her office will be at the forefront of implementing the program and keeping track of the applications for participation.

Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann, said there is work to be done to get ready for SB 190.

“Do a little homework,” he told Shockley and Baker. “See what everyone else is doing.”

The assessor said that as she and her staff prepare the forms needed for applying for the credit, they will be assembled with simplicity in mind.

“We’ll make it as easy as possibly,” Baker said.

Southern District Associate Commissioner Ron Hardecke, R-Owensville, joined Schulte in voting to place the measure on the November ballot. Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, was out of town during last week’s session.

Only a simple majority vote is needed to adopt SB 190. However, if SB 3 is upheld by the courts, it’s unclear if SB 190 would be made moot by SB 3, considering that it would grant relief to all homeowners who apply, not just those 62 and older.

In other matters during the commission session, it was noted that there will not be a session on Sept. 3, at Owensville City Hall because the County Clerk’s Office staff will be attending its annual conference.

At tomorrows session, the commission is scheduled to consider a “shared road agreement” with Osage County regarding maintenance of a road that divides the counties.