Benton County Judge Rules $7.3 Million in Property Tax Overcharges for Elderly and Disabled
A circuit judge in Benton County, Arkansas, has ruled that the county overcharged elderly and disabled homeowners by $7.3 million in property taxes. The overcharges stemmed from the county's failure to properly apply a state freeze on property tax assessments for these vulnerable groups, as mandated by Amendment 79 of the Arkansas Constitution. This amendment freezes the assessment on homesteads for Arkansans aged 65 or older or those with disabilities. The ruling, issued on Thursday, found that Benton County systematically increased the assessed values of these homesteads after the date of purchase, rather than freezing them at the purchase value. Approximately 6,665 parcels in Benton County were affected, with the excess property taxes collected since 2018 totaling over $7.3 million. The county plans to appeal the decision, according to Benton County Judge Barry Moehring. 
