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Chattanooga City Council expands senior tax freeze program

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Council member Ron Elliott speaks during a June 10, 2025, Chattanooga City Council meeting. Elliott on Aug. 5, 2025, proposed amending a resolution so that older adults who were not already part of the city's senior tax freeze program would have a chance to apply and lock in their 2024 tax rates, but he withdrew the amendment after learning the deadline to apply, dictated by state law, had passed. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Council member Ron Elliott speaks during a June 10, 2025, Chattanooga City Council meeting. Elliott on Aug. 5, 2025, proposed amending a resolution so that older adults who were not already part of the city's senior tax freeze program would have a chance to apply and lock in their 2024 tax rates, but he withdrew the amendment after learning the deadline to apply, dictated by state law, had passed.

By Joan McClane August 10, 2025 3 min read

Older adults making up to $60,000 can now qualify for the city of Chattanooga’s senior tax freeze program, but more of them won’t be able to apply this year to lock in the 2024 taxes they paid on their home, before recent reappraisals skyrocketed values for many.

Hamilton County saw a historic jump in property values this year, but the highest jumps were in some of Chattanooga’s lowest-income areas.

In recent weeks, Chattanooga City Council members have expressed concerns that older adults on fixed incomes may be priced out of their homes without relief.

Council member Ron Elliott of Missionary Ridge, one of several recently elected new council members, proposed the resolution to expand the senior freeze eligibility, which passed unanimously this week.