Dueling Hamilton County Assessor candidates talk taxes

The  Hamilton County Assessor of Property race is between Democrat Mark Siedlecki, left, and Republican Marty Haynes, right.
The Hamilton County Assessor of Property race is between Democrat Mark Siedlecki, left, and Republican Marty Haynes, right.

Hamilton County Assessor of Property candidates Republican Marty Haynes and Democrat Mark Siedlecki will speak at the Kiwanis Club today.

The event marks the second time the pair have shared the stage since the March 1 primaries.

One issue has dominated the race: a senior property tax freeze that the county commission has yet to adopt since the Tennessee General Assembly gave counties and municipalities the option in 2007. Seniors making less than $38,720 could qualify for the program if Hamilton County had adopted it.

Siedlecki has taken on the issue a a key platform topic, although the assessor's office has no authority to authorize such a program. He describes himself as an advocate the senior tax freeze and has repeatedly challenged Haynes, a county commissioner, on the matter.

"If one senior citizen loses their home because they can't pay their taxes, we are not doing our job as citizens of Hamilton County to take care of these people," Siedlecki said at a candidate forum hosted by the Lookout Valley Neighborhood Association earlier this month.

Haynes has countered that all citizens, not just seniors, have benefited from a property tax rate freeze since the county commission has not increased the tax rate in nine years.

However, the senior tax freeze program also protects against higher tax payments driven by increases in property value

"I'm not opposed to [a senior tax freeze], but I'm not going to use it for political gain, either," Haynes said after the Lookout Valley forum. "If you are going to have a serious talk about a senior tax freeze for Hamilton County, you also need to include Chattanooga."

No Hamilton County municipality has adopted the senior property tax freeze.

Upcoming Events