The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Other Topics Miscellaneous Topics Texas Property TaxesGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| one of us |
It was a shock to sit in on a presentation by the outgoing Tax Assessor Collector in Collin County, Texas and hear him say that an over-65, homestead-exemption property could expect to see a 25% drop in property taxes 2023 over 2022. (The 2022 bill jumped only .5% from '21.) The tax statement arrived and he had underestimated the benefit slightly. The 2023 tax was only 73.6% of the 2022 bill. I'll take it, thank you very much. Maybe that is why so many Yankees move to Texas. | ||
|
one of us |
I had a good reduction, too, but primarily because I protested the valuation, as it was considerably more than what I had just paid for it. But it is still a lot higher than what I was paying in New Mexico. Of course, that state has a personal income tax, but that isn't much of a burden for an old retiree getting by on Social Security alone. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
|
| One of Us |
Swap the vowels in Texas and Taxes and whatta you got? Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
Comes from being a fiscally responsible republican run state! You can send a thank you letter to Greg Abbot and Dan Patrick. . | |||
|
| One of Us |
The county line runs through my property, so I get billed by Williamson + Travis. I got the bill from WILCO,but the Travis statement won't go out until next Friday. We shall see if they get it right this year. I really resent them coming up with any excuse over the last 4 years to not give me my over 65+ HS exemptions. And while I'm on a rant, I still say that those of us over 65 should be exempt from paying school taxes. | |||
|
| one of us |
Hope they treat you better this year Randy. Property taxes are a real worry for an old retired guy like myself. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
|
| One of Us |
Really? Someone from New York making a crack about Texas taxes??? . | |||
|
| One of Us |
Yeah, here you pay for the house and mortgage the taxes!  Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
I will give an update when I get my Travis statement. | |||
|
One of Us |
I just got my property tax bill. No, I don't live in Texas. I only have 34 acres. $516.75 It's the same as last year. This was one reason why I do not live in many other states. High taxes. ~Ann   | |||
|
| One of Us |
Hard to believe that! I have a small ranch style house on a 100'x100' piece of property. This year was $6530.42 township taxes and since I live in an incorperated village I also payed to the Village $864.19 additional. WHAT HAPPENED TO LIVE FREE OF DIE? Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
And like everywhere else, most of my taxes go to the local school system. I made a very good choice when I moved here but I did a lot of research. I wanted to escape the spendy NE and was sure the American West was going to be my future. I priced Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and more. Besides high taxes, land prices were all high in those places. I got out of the NE but I chose none of them. That was ten years ago. I like where I live so well that if I won a lottery, I would stay right here. Yes, the low taxes help but there is a lot more. ~Ann | |||
|
| One of Us |
My son sold the 5 acres next to me a couple of years ago because he could either sell it or lose it for the taxes.The current tax statement that was sent to him by mistake, as the new owner is liable was $21K. That is just wrong on so many levels. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Ann, You mentioned school taxes, locally the local paper had an article the school district had a 3.5 BILLION Safety Zone backup money in the cash register! Now who is gettin' Shagged here especially when they supply Free lunches and Breakfasts as well as all sorts of After School Activities (Say Entertainment) plus all kinds of sports. All on the taxpayers dollar----Say Socialism!!! Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
What is the land worth? Right or wrong, property taxes appear to be the primary revenue source for local government or schools. I think this has largely been true throughout US history. What source would you suggest? I believe all state constitutions require public funding of schools. Traditionally that requirement was funded by local property tax. I think its fair to say that state funding and federal funding has overall reduced the reliance on property tax. Do you think income tax or sales tax funding would be more equitable? Remember, all your local officials, who approve the budgets and determine the source of revenue, were elected by a majority of voters. Also, don't forget they also make the laws as to who gets tax exemptions or tax reduction, which simply spreads the burden to fewer properties. In my taxing jurisdiction, there is a large amount of tax exempt property and vacant property owned by investors, developers etc. can be qualified for agricultural use and thus get a very significant tax reduction. The burden is passed on to residential property and to business property which has an effective tax burden of almost 3 times that of residential property because of different tax assessment rates approved by elected government officials. Ultimately, someone has to pay for those expenses approved by local elected officials or those services mandated by higher level governments. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Well, I can tell that you don't live in Williamson County. They pretty much just do what they want. Case in point, when the last high school bond came up for vote to the tune of $80 million, it was voted down, but they did it anyway. And the biggest gripe was how the money was spent. Right off the top, there was a new football stadium, weight room, etc. Then after raises for the administration, on to building the school. When the smoke cleared + all the money was spent, the kids still didn't have any lockers. Now due to all the folks moving in this area, they want another high, + elementary schools. These taxes should be paid by the folks moving in + taking the amenities, + as the H.S. is 4A, it sells more homes, so let the realtors pay, as they are the only ones who benefit. For those of us over 65 + retired on a fixed income, we should not be burdened by having to pay for other people's kids. I know I'm just pissing in the wind, as there is too much money involved, so forget about the right thing being done. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Who is they? What's the process by which voters reject the bond issue but bonds are still issued? How do you legally use bond proceeds for items like salaries? You know there is a formal statutory process required by state law to issue bonds and further regulations on how the proceeds must be used? Bond counsel must sign off that the bond issuance was in compliance with all laws and regulations. Bond investors also want assurance that the bonds were issued properly. Something about this doesn't jibe. I'm sure the process didn't occur in a vacuum. Since you're retired, maybe you ought to run for the school board, a thankless job if there ever was one. I understand your frustration with areas growing and requiring additional schools, although it's always existed. As pointed out earlier, states require public education with all the pros and cons of funding methods. I can see developers paying impact fees, but why would you expect realtors to pay as they are being paid only a transaction fee? Also you didn't answer my earlier question - what was the value of the land your son sold? He didn't have to sell, but chose to sell because the use of the property or the gain in value of the property wouldn't support the tax burden. If that's the case, it is really not much different than any investment that won't support the holding or carrying cost. Presumably, the property is now being used, or will be used, for a higher and better use which is generally considered a good economic result. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Who are THEY, indeed! There always seems to be a non-entity when these things go through, + no one is responsible. I have said many times that if we had real names then they could be voted out, good luck. In answer to your last reply as to value; now that is a loaded question. That all depends on who appraises it.(BTW, I know things go up in price over the years) Case in point, when I bought my 1st 5 acres in 1973, it was $750.00 per acre. When I bought the other 5 acres next to me 20 years ago, I paid $7K per acre, to the tune of $50K after the bank got their slice. Getting back to the beginning, when my son sold his 5 acres, he took the offer of $450K. I'm glad he got the money, but that is truly on beyond real value IMO. However, I know that value is what ever the market will bear; I have a resentment on others placing a value on my property that only benefits them in the act of charging me more. And yes, I have been on the city council as well as the Chamber of Commerce, + nothing was resolved except a waste of time. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I would agree with you that $21,000 tax on a $450,000 property makes no sense. However, as I pointed out earlier, this is close to the effective tax rate for commerrcial property in the city where I live - assessment rate of 25% of currrent market value and mill levy of 14-16% of that assessed value. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Mine did the same in Tarrant county. Communist California can't boast of this.... | |||
|
| One of Us |
Bonds are one way to raise cash, but the back door method is MUD taxes. These are Multiple Use Taxes that handle schools in fast growing areas. In Katy TX in 2001 my house was $450k, Real estate taxes ran 4000 per year, MUD tax ran $18,000. However, we had world class schools. When I moved to OK, had to go to private schools to get the same education. Tuition at the time for my 3 monsters was $25k per year, about what the MUD and real estate taxes were in TX. | |||
|
| One of Us |
AHEM, in response to that, our last county commissioner made ALL the roads + bridges top drawer up to his ranch + then the service went away; + guess what, so did he; but he got a fine road to his ranch + never had to work again. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Well, I handled it a different way. In Texas and over 65 you can defer city,school, and county taxes until the property changes hand. It will be due then plus interest. The way I see it as the value of my place after my decedents cash out and pay the taxes, it will leave them some pocket money. | |||
|
| one of us |
We have Proposition 13. Old farts don't get reassessed until the property is sold. Our property taxes are too high but haven't changed in 23 years. TomP Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when wrong to be put right. Carl Schurz (1829 - 1906) | |||
|
One of Us |
And the Dems tried VERY hard to repeal Prop 13 a few years ago, to no avail.  Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP | |||
|
| One of Us |
I suppose Iowa tax rates are somewhere in the middle of the pack, but my home town plays all kinds of dirty with money. They wanted 12 million for a new harbor facility, and a bond issue was voted down easily. So they just "re-appropriated" the money from the road fund, and now want a bond issue to fix the shitty damned roads. They also tore out a perfectly fine tennis court & spent 336K on a stupid pickle ball court used by maybe 50 people, tops. And for this crap my tax bill goes up every year, 28% in the last 5 years. | |||
|
| one of us |
We had a proposition on the recent primary election to do away with property taxes. I voted against the change. Anytime politicians try to change the status quo they find a way to increase the burden on the tax payer. I have no problem paying zero state income tax in Texas and paying my property taxes. | |||
|
| One of Us |
The problem that I have with the taxes is the school tax for those of us over 65. I paid taxes before I had kids, then paid when I had kids in school (no problem there), but now I am still paying school taxes with no kids in school nor will I have ever again. Due to the large amount of folks moving in who have kids in the schools, they should have ample funds without burdening the elderly retired on a fixed income. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Everywhere I have lived my property taxes were about 3/4 for school funding. ~Ann | |||
|
| One of Us |
Tell me about it! I haven't had kids in school for over 43 yrs. plus I own half of a summer house and I have never had kids in the school there and I can't even vote there either! Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
Kinda falls into the category of taxation without representation, doesn't it? I ran into the same thing here a few years back where they added another point on the local township taxes for a library fund. Now I have no problem with funding libraries but if they can do it for one cause then they can do it for any other, + I do have a problem with a tax being passed that I can not vote on. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Libraries around the country were once funded by very wealthy philanthropists. Not sure anything like that even happens anymore? ~Ann | |||
|
| One of Us |
Well, there is the Clinton library, but I think that one only has Playboy magazines in it.  | |||
|
| One of Us |
for him or her? | |||
|
| One of Us |
Probably both if the truth were known. | |||
|
| One of Us |
For Him! Wouldn't you if your wife looked like Hillary? Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
Good point, but, as far as that goes, how would you like to be Mr. Pelosi? | |||
|
| One of Us |
No Thanks! And Now you can guess why Rosie O'Donnell is gay. Hip | |||
|
| One of Us |
Gay or not, I can't imagine even being in the same room with that woman. On the brighter side, I got my new Williamson County appraisal today + they have actually decreased the taxable value for this year. That's a first. Now we shall see what Travis County will do. Anything helps; but it's a shame that we have to fight it every year. Hell, they act like it's their money, + I have yet to see any of them lending a hand on anything on my property. They, Williamson, are even in the process of building a new tax office, double the size to be more efficient to be able to tax us even more. | |||
|
| one of us |
2024 property appraisals are out. Overall in my county a jump of about 2%, with some fairly crazy swings up and down on individual properties. (They took the opportunity to increase the Over-65 / Homestead exemption property the full 10% allowed by law.) I can live with that. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata | Page 1 2 |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia