To the editor:

As director of the St. Louis County Department of Revenue, I oversee the administration of the senior tax freeze.

This winter, we determined we would need additional staff and software costing $1.8 million. The County Council approved one-sixth of that amount – $300,000. Our department was already operating under a $900,000 budget cut. Typically, when a new program is approved, it is fully funded to ensure its success. That was not the case here.

Nevertheless, my office is committed to performing essential services and standing up the new program benefiting our seniors. We are in the process of hiring staff and purchasing software. Ordinance requires that seniors must reapply each year, and more staff will be needed to process up to 150,000 applications yearly.

We are required to follow Civil Service Commission rules when hiring employees, and procurement laws when purchasing software. The process does take time, further, current ordinance conflicts with the new bill Gov. Mike Parson signed this summer. The new law lowers the eligibility age to 62, removes the cap on eligible home values and apply the freeze to all tax levies. These changes will require the council to void the current county ordinance and adopt a new one.

Sixth District Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-Oakville, introduced a bill to get the senior program fully operational. I encourage our seniors to contact council members and urge their support. New programs cost money. This is an opportunity for the council to show our seniors are a priority.

Tony Smee

Creve Couer

Editor’s note: Tony Smee is the  director of the St. Louis County Department of Revenue. He was appointed in December 2023.