1/25/07		Property tax again!
David Tuthill

Re:  Averaging, revenue cap urged by Panel by TERRENCE STUTZ (Dallas Morning News, January 24, 2007)

While the DMN article provides hope of residential property tax relief, I am concerned about one comment in particular:

The article quotes Dallas lawyer Tom Pauken,  Chairman of the Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform:  ?Frustration and anger among taxpayers in Texas is mounting."

Stutz says many cities and county governments are again opposing tax appraisal reform.  This is especially worrisome since many of these entities cannot control their spending and have been in the news regarding mismanagement of their affairs.   They seem to be above accountability.

I am concerned that we are about to see a display of smoke and mirrors with our legislatures claiming to have addressed the problem of taxing residents out of their homes with out any real relief.   I do not trust the Legislature or the county, and certainly not the city or DISD to address this problem.

Again like a broken record:

1)  Prohibit local government form using tax dollars to lobby state officials against initiatives to control property taxes.  This would include the cap debate, as well as jiggling with homestead exemption issues that they oppose.

2)   Enact a 3% (or less desirable 5%) cap on increases in valuations that appraisal districts can increase an existing residence.

3)   Enact full price disclosure on commercial and residential property values, so homes when sold will reflect their true value. 

NOTE:  It has been suggested that if we have full price disclosure that the cap on valuation increases be limited to 1%.  If point 3 is enacted then points 2 and 9 should be edited to reflect a 1% per year cap.

4)  Prohibit an appraisal district from increasing land value of a neighborhood based on homes purchased as teardowns.  

NOTE:  The logic goes that if a house is sold to a developer for $300,000 ($100 structure and $200 land) and the home is demolished to make way for a speculative million dollar McMansion that the home must be valued at -0- (it is being torn down) and the property should be valued at $300,000.  Neighbors should not pay for developers' speculations.

5)  Increase the homestead exemption for those who have lived in their homes
for at least one full calendar year with an increased amount each add ional year.

6)  Enact the proposed cap that municipalities can spend from one year to another.  To override, voters must approve with a super majority (65%) to increase spending.

7)  Enact a prohibition on municipalities from condemning a property (eminent
domain) for use by a private (non-governmental) developer or project.  

NOTE:  This was approved in a non-binding Republican primary referendum last Spring.

8)  Prohibit local governments granting tax abatements to developers.  Repeal any existing tax abatements granted to developers and restore their property to the tax rolls at full value.

9)  Perhaps the only true way to avoid the squirming of the various taxing entities and interests is to enact a 3% cap increase from year to year (down from 5% from myt rant) that the end tax bill for the homeowner to pay.

To our legislature and local elected officials:

Clean out your ears, pay attention, and give us tax relief and keep your hands off of our homes!

Oh, yes, control yourselves with our money!

David W. Tuthill