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ST. ANN — Hundreds of seniors waited for hours to apply for a property tax freeze on Tuesday, the first day the application was available.

Despite the long lines, the mood was calm at ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County's Northwest Crossing satellite office on Tuesday morning. Some people were just happy to finally get a chance to apply for the freeze.

Ann Henson, 76, has been looking forward to applying for the break for months. She's a widow and has to watch her finances carefully. Freezing taxes on her Overland home, where she has lived for nearly 40 years, would be a huge relief.

"I'm so glad they're doing it," Henson said.

She arrived at about 8 a.m. to get help from county staffers with her application, and expected to wait several hours. There were at least six county staffers on hand checking people in and processing applications, and more than 100 people waiting.

"People have got to know to be patient," Henson said. "I've got all day."

Bernadine Webster, 69, of Hanley Hills, got in line outside at about 7 a.m., before the office opened. She shifted inside after the office opened at 8 a.m., and was still waiting at about 9:15 a.m. But she thought the process was generally organized.

"Might as well get it done," Webster said.

Not everyone was pleased. David Eaton, 74, of St. Ann, called the process a "fiasco."

"It should be more efficient," said Eaton, who wanted to apply in-person, not online.

Eaton didn't realize he had months to submit his application, but he figured he might as well get it done Tuesday because he was already there. He's retired, and said he didn't have anything else to do.

Senior homeowners may also submit their application online at . The county will not accept mailed or dropped-off paper applications.

The county has four locations where people may apply in-person 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays through June 30, 2025:

• County government headquarters: 41 South Central Avenue, Clayton (appointment only)
• Northwest Crossing: 715 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann
• South County: 4546 Lemay Ferry Road
• West County: 74 Clarkson Wilson Center, Chesterfield

Appointments for the Clayton office may be made online at .

The deadline is June 30.