Veterans Speak Out On Tennessee’s Underfunded Property Tax Relief Fund

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The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –

Tennessee has a program to help elderly, disabled, disabled veterans, widows of veterans, and widowers of veterans with property tax relief payments. Last year, the state had to rob Peter to pay Paul to fund the program. 

The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury has published a brochure that describes eligibility for the program, linked here.

According to a report filed by NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, the program is running out of money and veterans are becoming frustrated.

Around six million dollars had to be pulled from reserves to fund the program this fiscal year. Next fiscal year may prove to be worse because many jurisdictions continue to increase property taxes to fund county services and the state has not increased funding for the Property Tax Relief Program.

In Jefferson County, Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Reed (USMC Ret.) (R-Jefferson City), himself a county commissioner, is very concerned about funding for the citizens and veterans that he represents and is considering a formal county resolution that will ask the state to fully fund the Property Tax Relief Program.

Jefferson County, typical of many rural counties, has 727 elderly low-income qualifiers, 98 low-income disabled, 313 veterans and 69 veteran widows/widowers. 

“That is a significant demographic to leave out or cut funding for. We need to think about the sacrifices that our veterans have made to the security of this nation and the hardships borne by our senior citizens and those that are disabled. It will be difficult for them to keep the property that they have spent a lifetime paying for unless we find a way to support them. Properly funding the Property Tax Relief Program is one way to do that.” – said Commissioner Marcus Reed 

Another prominent Jefferson County veteran that serves as Chair of the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council has chimed in on the issue.

“Tennessee has always been considered a fairly friendly veterans state.  Our economic environment and exemptions on things like property taxes are some of the great benefits. However, the failure to ensure sufficient funds for property tax relief sends our ranking below most other states, who consider veterans a valuable resource. With the program unfunded, 43, 000 disabled veterans in Tennessee who were previously supported, are without support. The Governor’s proposed [2025] budget is a disappointment to all veterans and suggests a lack of desire to support those who contributed so much to our country and this state.” – said Major General Leslie Purser (U.S. Army Ret.) 

Jefferson County is one of a handful of counties that have a dollar-for-dollar cost matching program to enhance the amount awarded by the Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program. The match has a cap but demonstrates the county’s willingness to help seniors, disabled, and veterans with their annual property tax payments.

As other county governments in Tennessee ask the legislature to fully fund the Tennessee Property Tax Relief Program, the Tennessee Conservative News will follow developments and report accordingly.

About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.