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The county’s revenue department had requested $1.8 million from the council. The legislation passed Tuesday provides $300,000 for software and personnel.

“This has been a long time coming,� said Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock of Fenton. “We’ve all heard from constituents questioning, ‘When will it happen?’ Well, it’s happening.�

County revenue Director Tony Smee said $300,000 is not enough to fully implement the program because it won’t pay for all the necessary staff. But it will allow the county to hire at least eight workers, buy software and get an application ready.

Hancock said the council will consider additional money in budget talks later this year.

The freeze became law last fall, but Smee said he didn’t have the staff, software or equipment to enact the program. He said the department needed $1.7 million to hire 28 people to handle tens of thousands of applications, plus $65,000 for new software and $42,000 for computers, scanners and other equipment.

Hancock said that was too much and last week suggested spending a sixth of that amount — $85,000 for software and $215,000 for personnel.

But the county’s chief deputy recorder of deeds told council members last week how the tax freeze will impact her office. Georgie Simmons said the recorder’s office, which falls under the revenue department, will be essential in determining eligibility. Yet $904,000 in council budget cuts to the revenue department this year are already affecting operations.

“Our department would love to provide that service, but as of right now, we do not have the funding to do it,� Simmons said.

County Executive Sam Page said his administration would explore what it can do with the money.

Residents older than 67 will have to apply for the tax break by submitting a form annually to the county collector of revenue. The law includes a $550,000 cap on the value of eligible homes.

Once the application is ready, applicants will have until the end of June 2025 to fill it out.

The Missouri Legislature is working on tweaks to the bill that could force ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County to drop its property value cap. Changes would also clarify that eligible homeowners must be 62 or older to receive the benefit.

Earlier this month, a candidate running for Missouri Senate filed suit against ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County for failing to start its senior property tax freeze. The lawsuit seeks to force the county to begin accepting applications immediately.

Hancock’s bill passed unanimously.