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[Dusty]

 

Subject: You must vote in May to keep the homestead tax cap for 65 and over


If you are a Texas homeowner then this is important to you. I want to be sure you are aware
 of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot at the May election.

   It is an amendment to correct an error made by the lawmakers
 when they voted for a reduction in school property taxes in
 2005.  When the lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction school
 property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year,
 they forgot about the homestead exemption for senior citizens and
 people with disabilities.  The state constitution caps school
 property taxes for homeowners 65 years and older and those who are
 disabled. However, they DID NOT get the same reduction when the
 property tax cut for schools was voted on two years ago.
   So an amendment is on the May ballot to correct this error.  The
 problem is that most voters who are younger than 65 or not
 disabled probably won't even notice the amendment or care.  PLEASE
 get out and vote for this amendment if not for yourself then for
 your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends.  We would
 really appreciate your getting the word out to all your friends
 and families to vote for this amendment. The fear is that with a
 low voter turnout, the amendment could very well not pass.
   So, please, pass the word and VOTE for the constitutional
 amendment.  Early voting will take place will April 30 - May 5
 from 7 am to 7 pm; May 6 from noon to 6 pm and May 7 - May 8 from
 7 am to 7 pm. Election day is May 12 from 7 am to 7 pm.   

[RD]

Errrr! This is a "double-edged" sword for me. I'd like the cap if I was 65, but I live in a community that has 60% over 65, and I have to pick up their slack in tax $$$'s.
I'll probably vote for it.  

[jmdaniel]

Errrr! This is a "double-edged" sword for me. I'd like the cap if I was 65, but I live in a community that has 60% over 65, and I have to pick up their slack in tax $$$'s.
I'll probably vote for it.  

And with the ever rising appraisals, (and the exemption against increases that the 65 and up group enjoy), it will only be a couple of years before those of us under 65 have lost all benefit we gained by our tax reduction. Like I always say, telling me my house is worth more doesn't mean squat, unless I am moving....   

[Quick-Silver]

Taxes - Give us a break - you will get your turn so please vote accordingly.

Appraisals - How many of you out there who have owned houses or property for more than 15-20 yrs would sell to me for what you paid originally.

If you don't like America you are always welcome to leave, otherwise vote.

[RD]

Taxes - Give us a break - you will get your turn so please vote accordingly.

Appraisals - How many of you out there who have owned houses or property for more than 15-20 yrs would sell to me for what you paid originally.

If you don't like America you are always welcome to leave, otherwise vote.

Well put.

[jmdaniel]

Taxes - Give us a break - you will get your turn so please vote accordingly.

Appraisals - How many of you out there who have owned houses or property for more than 15-20 yrs would sell to me for what you paid originally.

If you don't like America you are always welcome to leave, otherwise vote.

What side of the fence are you talking on, Jerry? I really don't care which way that vote goes...

[RD]

Taxes - Give us a break - you will get your turn so please vote accordingly.

Appraisals - How many of you out there who have owned houses or property for more than 15-20 yrs would sell to me for what you paid originally.

If you don't like America you are always welcome to leave, otherwise vote.

Well put.

It's better to have....and get appreciation in $$$, than to not have any return at all.
That's what I read into it.

[hookem]

Taxes - Give us a break - you will get your turn so please vote accordingly.

Appraisals - How many of you out there who have owned houses or property for more than 15-20 yrs would sell to me for what you paid originally.

If you don't like America you are always welcome to leave, otherwise vote.

What side of the fence are you talking on, Jerry? I really don't care which way that vote goes...

Have no fear...One day you & I will be at the mercies of the youth determining our taxes/estates.  Do the right thing for those who came before us and vote for this exemption/cap to be in effect.

[Quick-Silver]

Taxes - Give us a break - you will get your turn so please vote accordingly.

Appraisals - How many of you out there who have owned houses or property for more than 15-20 yrs would sell to me for what you paid originally.

If you don't like America you are always welcome to leave, otherwise vote.

What side of the fence are you talking on, Jerry? I really don't care which way that vote goes...

Jeff, with all due respect here, it's not so much what side of the fence I'm on as it is for all of you guys to get involved in politics, study the issues and vote.  Most likely if and when my taxes increase, I will be able to afford to pay them, however, that's not to say I will want to afford them.  Now, on the other hand I'm sure there are many elderly folks out there who are on fixed incomes and will be forced to sell there homes because of rising costs of living and increasing property taxes.  I feel relatively certain that some of those same folks will end up living at the working tax payer's expense.  My choice would be to provide a means so those folks could keep their homes a little while longer and live out their lives with pride and in dignity. 

When I vote and win, I'm elated;
When I vote and lose, I know I have to work harder;
When I don't vote and win, I really could care less;
When I don't vote and lose, I feel like going out and lying down under a tree with the rest of the sheep and accept whatever somebody thinks I need to survive on.

[jmdaniel]

I guess I'm not coming across too well in this thread. I hate the property taxes we have to pay here in the US. Tax me on my income, not the size/location of the house I live in. At least with income tax, there is an ability to pay correlation that makes a little bit of sense to me. But using my house value to determine how much I should pay to the Round Rock school district to support someone else's kids? What sense does that make? A guy with 5 kids in school, but a smaller house than ours would pay less than me? If you think using property taxes to pay for everything is fair, keep that in mind the next time you are forced to pay for something that would be more fairly taxed on a user basis.

Jerry, I think we are probably in lockstep with how we feel about the property tax ripoff here in the US, with the only difference being due to the different stages of our respective lives, and how that affects our "hot" buttons. 

[VTreX]

25 kids and rents and pays NO school TAX!!!!

[SouthernXer]

   I live in Allen and pay over $6500/year for my property tax.  WTF is that all about?    

[solitary-man]

 Well I went and paid my $380 in property taxes, had no problem. See living in the middle of nowhere does have it advantages. It ain't much, but it is my castle. 

[RD]

  I live in Allen and pay over $6500/year for my property tax.  WTF is that all about?    

It's called Allen.

That's what it's about.

[jmdaniel]

Well I went and paid my $380 in property taxes, had no problem. See living in the middle of nowhere does have it advantages. It ain't much, but it is my castle. 

Hell, $380 doesn't cover ONE MONTH of just my Round Rock school taxes, never mind the other six tax districts I am in. And by the way, the Robin Hood provision means that some of my money gets siphoned off to pay for school districts far, far away.... See why I get on the stump from time to time?