Your Grandparents Need Your Help
-- Posted: April 26,2007 | Brian Varvel
On May 12, 2007, Texas voters will once again be asked to hit the polls to vote on the latest round of bills for the Texas Legislature. This time however, it's your grandparents who need you to show up en masse. House Bill SJR13 will be voted on, and unless it passes our seniors will pay the price.
SJR13 is an amendment to correct an error made by the Texas Legislature when they voted for a reduction in school property taxes in 2005. When the Legislature voted for a one-third reduction in school property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year, those persons having the homestead exemptions for senior citizens and people with disabilities were left out. There was NO reduction in school property taxes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
When residents achieve the age of 65, or for those who are disabled, the state constitution caps school property taxes for them at the current rate that year, whatever the current rate may be. An amendment is on the May 12th ballot to correct this error. The concern is that most voters who are younger than 65, or not disabled, may not notice the amendment or care. The fear is that with a low voter turnout, the amendment could very well not pass.
The Early voting site for Fort Bend County in the Katy area this year has changed from the University of Houston. It will be held at:
Willowfork Fire Station
24655 Westheimer Parkway
Katy, Texas 77494
April 30 - May 4 | 10 am to 7 pm
May 5 | 8 am to 5 pm
May 7 - May 8 | 7 am to 7 pm
Election day is May 12 | 7 am to 7 pm
The amendment on the ballot reads:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for public school purposes on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect any reduction in the rate of those taxes for the 2006 and 2007 tax years.
Brian Varvel, At Home in Katy
Brian is the owner / operator of the At Home in Katy Team at Keller Williams Realty Katy @ Cinco Ranch. In addition to his real estate career, he is also a regular contributor to multiple websites on real estate and technology. Brian also takes great pride in serving on the Board for Cinco Charities, Inc. a non-profit organization serving the Katy area.
You can contact Brian at:
281.787.0930
brian@athomeinkaty.com
http://www.athomeinkaty.com
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