Posted on 05/22/2006 3:02:40 PM PDT by Dubya
The problem I have in this article is it doesn't really explain that the people 'left out' have had their taxes frozen for over a decade, and thus, everyone else's taxes are being brought down close to the level this group (over 65 and disabled) has had for years. This article is deceptive in making a group believe they are being shafted when in reality, that group wasn't harmed by the increased property taxes over the past decade.
This is similar to the left always complaining the bottom 1% doesn't get an income tax cut when the bottom 1% doesn't pay income taxes.
This article is misleading at best, fraud at worst.
I wouldn't expect anything different from my former Senator Elliot Naishtat-Dem.
Oops, make that former Texas House Rep.
Yes, this change is immediate.
I've heard that there's a move afoot from many to make the next campaign contributions to Republicans from property tax savings.
Only school taxes are frozen. Other taxes and appraisals could increase. Property tax relief would be eaten up in two years by increases in appraisals. Current law caps appraisal increases to a maximum of 10% per year, but lowering the cap to 3% or 5% would keep increases at the inflation rate.
The issue though is that appraisals are a function of the local government, not the State. The local legislature/government would have to put the cap on local property taxes.
One of the other reasons it was necessary to shift the major source of funding for schools to something other than property taxes is this "freeze" at age 65, and the upcoming large demographic who will be able to take advantage of it.
You are correct about this silly whining on behalf of seniors. Many of them have their appraisals frozen at 1995 values.
ping
The state has placed the 10% cap on local appraisal districts. And while it is true that appraisals are a local functon, at 10% increase per annum the taxes would double in SEVEN years without any rate increase. Because of appraisal creep, local officials can correctly say they didn't raise your taxes, meaning tax rate, but your tax bill went up 9.8%. Many districts are at or just below the cap. I strongly urge you to go to www.lonestartimes.com and click on the link under TAX REFORM for a tutorial on how to protest your appraisal.
Good, you added the part about protesting. Many people I know just make a habit of always filing a protest - and very often, they have been rewarded for doing so.
ping for later
CITY and local community college property taxes are ALSO frozen for many senior Texans. The Texas Silver Haired Legislature (TSHL) has been going around Texas pursuing this version of "backyard socialism" for two years. (The kids pay for Grandpa's ambulance, fire, police, senior center, library, roads and other services.) The seniors have plenty of breaks already.
List of Texas towns that have frozen CITY property taxes for seniors and disables (on top of the frozen SCHOOL taxes) http://www.netarrantseniors.net/Freeze%20Status%20in%20Tarrant%20County%20&%20Elsewhere.htm
They are working a petition now to get the voters in Fort Worth to agree to a CITY property tax freeze for seniors. Everybody else's taxes will go up to support this plundering of the public treasury by a special interest group.
But where's the justice for a single male with no kids and brand new house? BCAD increased the property value of my house 12% because there will be a new library opening up on the corner. State tax code says they can ony increase it 10%.
I'd like to see an amendment that removes the school tax liability for homeowners with no children.
Waving to you from near your much loved Turkey Shop. I'm catching up on old threads and saw your post. Today I protested my assessed value with much success. For some reason MCAD decided my house was worth about 18% more than the larger homes around me. It was practically painless -- they agreed with me, and one hour in their office will save me about $500 this year. With the new reductions on top of that I'm doing the happy dance.
I'm no tax lover, but society benefits from good schools, and good schools increase your property value whether you use them or not. The homeowners in your childhood neighborhood paid taxes when you were in school to support your education, and now it's your turn. I'm an empty nester, but have no beef with paying school taxes.
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