Missouri considers property tax break for disabled veterans

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – The Missouri Legislature is considering a property tax break for 100 percent disabled veterans, but time is running out before the current legislative session ends in two weeks.

On April 20, the Missouri House passed House Joint Resolution 115. The resolution would let voters decide in November whether to give 100 percent disabled veterans a 100 percent break on their property taxes.

An estimated 21,000 veterans in the state would benefit from the tax break.

Missouri lags behind neighboring states

At least 20 states provide a full property tax break to disabled veterans. That includes all eight states bordering Missouri. But in Missouri, only disabled veterans who were POWs qualify.

“Missouri kind of lags behind some of our surrounding states,” said Bruce Becker, commander of VFW Post 8828 in Troy, Missouri.

Republican Missouri Rep. Dave Griffith of Jefferson City filed the bill for the eighth time.

“But I think this is another step we show our veterans the appreciation we have for them,” Griffith said.

Rich Hackenberger served in the Vietnam War and was injured during a 1970 military operation into Cambodia. He spent 14 months in the hospital. Hackenberger supports the proposed Missouri tax break for disabled veterans like himself.

“I am on a fixed income,” Hackenberger said. “Anything they can do to help a veteran is great.”

Griffith said the tax break represents a commitment to veterans.

“We make a promise to the country. And I think the country makes a promise to us that if something happens to us, they are there to have our backs and take care of us,” Griffith said.

Veterans organizations have campaigned hard this year to pass the bill.

“They stepped up and volunteered, and they did a service and now I think Missouri could do something to honor their service,” Becker said.

The bill is currently waiting on a Senate hearing before it could be voted on by the full Senate.

The tax break would apply only to a disabled veteran’s primary home. Taxes for cars and other personal property would remain the same.