Your Letters for Jan. 16, 2025

Caring for seniors

Kudos to Platte County for their recent passage of the Homestead Act that freezes the property value from future tax increases. Several states have enacted this law to give a small relief to seniors who have paid their fair share of taxes through the years. Keep in mind, this does not mean seniors will be exempt from paying taxes on their property, it simply means the value of the property will be frozen from future tax increases.

I find it appalling that our Buchanan County Commissioners lacked the backbone to allow their citizens the same benefit. Some seniors received the tax relief, but if you live in a TIF (Tax Incentive Finance Area) or if new bonds are passed, you will not qualify. These are elements passed by our local government, given to contractors to build in blighted areas or new developments which benefits the contractors and increases the tax base for our local politicians to tax and spend.

I hope the seniors of Buchanan County remember the commissioners and our local politicians when election time rolls around. Perhaps we can elect some new people who care for their senior citizens.

Richard Sharp
St. Joseph