Meigs County commissioners heard a detailed presentation on whether to adopt a local property tax‑freeze program and how it compares with the state tax‑relief program.

An unnamed presenter summarized the program’s key constraints and trade‑offs, telling the commission the local option is funded entirely by the county and "does not create an immediate savings" for homeowners: any reduction for eligible taxpayers only appears when the county later raises its tax rate. The presenter clarified that the program ‘‘freezes’’ a taxpayer’s bill at the base amount, not the property assessment, and that the savings occur relative to future rate increases.

The presenter said eligibility commonly requires homeowners to be 65 or older and noted income limits are set on a county‑by‑county basis under state guidance. He cited Meigs County’s standard income limit as "$37,005.30" and described an optional higher threshold that has recently been raised to about "$63,004.07" for counties choosing to broaden eligibility. He also said the program typically limits covered land to the acreage that "supports the residence" and mentioned a five‑acre maximum used in many counties.

Commissioners were told that adopting the local option requires a county resolution and a subsequent filing of the base assessment with the assessor within 45 days; the county trustee would accept applications and determine eligibility while assessors verify base assessments and track improvements.

Several members raised implementation questions: how many residents already receive state tax relief (to estimate likely caseload), whether the county would need extra staff, and whether software or shared aerial imagery could automate inspections. County staff said upgrading mapping and appraisal software could avoid hiring new employees and recommended exploring cooperative purchases with sheriff, 911, EMS and the town of Decatur to reduce per‑county costs.

The presentation contrasted the local option with the state tax‑relief program, which the presenter described as funded by state dollars, administered by the state with trustee assistance, and generally revenue‑neutral to counties unless a county chooses to provide a local match.

The commission did not take a formal vote during the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to gather additional data — including the current number of state tax‑relief recipients in Meigs County and cost estimates for software upgrades — to inform a decision at a future meeting.