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Trustee: county match for property tax relief will cost $3.9 million; $2.7 million identified so far
Summary
Shelby County Trustee Regina Newman told the committee the county's 100% match to the state property tax relief program will cost $3.9 million this year. She identified $1 million in recurring trustee revenue and about $1.7 million in FY26 trustee excess that could roll to meet part of the match; the remainder would come from general fund balance if the commission approves.
Regina Newman, Shelby County trustee, briefed commissioners on the county's ordinance requiring a 100% local match to the state property tax relief program for eligible seniors and certain disabled veterans. Newman said the county's match obligation for the coming year is $3.9 million.
"The ordinance specifies a 100% match," Newman said. "We provided a funding source of $1,000,000 from trustee revenue. We anticipate ending FY26 at about $1,700,000 above forecast in trustee revenue, which could roll to fund balance." She said the trustee office had submitted a proposal at the start of the budget season and that none of the trustee match dollars were included in the mayor's proposed budget.
Commissioner Thornton and others expressed frustration that the trustee match routinely arrives as an amendment to the proposed budget rather than being included by the administration; Audrey Tipton said the mayor chooses what to include in the proposed budget and the administration left the trustee match outside the proposed baseline this cycle.
Newman explained eligibility and process: the state determines eligible homeowners (generally residents 65 and older under a state income limit around $38,000 in prior years and 100% disabled veterans), and the county's ordinance provides a 100% county match up to the amount determined by the state. She said the application process is available online and by mail and that the trustee's office anticipates serving more than 10,000 taxpayers in the program this season.
The committee did not vote on a funding source; members asked finance and the trustee to bring detailed forecasts, mail/participation data by ZIP code (if available), and options for accommodating the remaining gap prior to the June 10 session.
Next steps: trustee and finance to submit participation counts, ZIP‑code rollup where possible, and a recommended reconciliation to cover the remaining match gap.
