5/1/7
		Where's the property tax relief promised? By  David W. Tuthill

Where is our tax relief? Last year two important non-events took place.

First, the legislature in special session enacted school reform that was promised to provide some degree of tax relief to homeowners on their property tax bills.  

Second, a non-binding referendum in the Republican primary was overwhelmingly approved stating citizens wanted a 5% cap on the amount local appraisal districts can raise the value of your home per year.

I say "non-events" because, according to the appraisal district, I will be paying $761.97 more this year than 2006.  And, they aren’t finished with me yet.  They increased the value of my home of 12 years 35% in ONE YEAR!  The $761.97 reflects the amount of increase just this year (caped at 10% per year)!  I get to look forward to this again next year, too.

Looking at past tax increases, there were several periods when the appraisal district left you alone for one or two years.  However, I have been dinged by them every year for the last 4 years.  By the time I reach 65 and get at least the school portion of my tax bill frozen (at an unmanageable value and tax burden,) I will have effectively been taxed out of my home and the city of Dallas!

When you go down to fight your appraisal, if you have the time and skill, you are accosted by smoke and mirrors on why they are correct in their valuation.  The legislatures' response to this problem has been to give homeowners more smoke and mirrors, but not any tangible concrete relief.  

Why should I be forced to go through a song and dance of trying to fight these people each and every year?

Of course, there are developers speculating in the area.  Despite the housing slump, they are building full speed ahead without any regards to record home foreclosures in North Texas, market sustainability of their oversized products or quality of their homes.  Several houses are vacant (purchased by builders or speculators) waiting to flip them several times before they put an oversized McMansion on the lot that will sit vacant for months until sold.  Several McMansions have been purchased only to be on the market again after less than a year. Some seem to forever be on the market.  

Oh yes, average homeowners should pay for developers’ speculation in more property taxes.  Or, maybe we just should roll over and sell our homes to them and move out of the city (after living here for over 46 years)!

What do we get from our tax dollars?  Not much the DISD is a multi-year joke of scandals and non-compliance.

The City of Dallas is close behind with soaring crime rates and constant abatements to developers and fluff projects (like suspension bridges over a dried river bed).  This is where my tax dollars go.

David W. Tuthill