Property Tax Rates on the Rise in Texas; Homestead Exemption May be Reduced at HISD

Property Tax Rates on the Rise in Texas; Homestead Exemption May be Reduced at HISD

Where oh where, did this huge deficit come from and how on earth are Texans going to address it in 2011?  Well for starters, property tax rates are on the rise. Houston Independent School District is also considering lowering the homestead exemption percentage. 

The Dallas Morning News reported back in September 2010 that the County Commissioners approved a property tax rate increase effective October 1, 2010. County Commissioners added 1.5 cents to the current property tax rate of 22.81 cents per $100.00 of assessed value.

The Houston Chronicle reported on February 25, 2011 that “fewer police officers would patrol school hallways, property taxes would rise, several campuses would close and about 300 central office jobs would be cut next year” under HISD Superintendent Terry Grier’s initial cost cutting proposals.  Grier asked the Houston School Board on Thursday to consider increasing the property tax rate by up to 4 cents and reducing a tax discount known as the optional homestead exemption.  The largest tax increase option Grier presented to the Board would increase the rate by 4 cents per $100.00 of assessed value and lower the homestead exemption to 15% from 20%.

Taxes, whether they are income, sales, state or property taxes – can’t be avoided.  Just ensure that you are only paying your fair share.  Harris County Appraisal District noted in their 2011 Outlook for the Value Base under the heading 2011 Residential Valuation, “The majority of values will remain flat, with some decreases expected county wide.  The $500K and over market has shown an uptick in home pricing; a few areas that were flat or decreased in 2010 will see appraised value increases in 2011.” 

Homeowners, do you think you are paying too much in property taxes? Find out now…go to www.IProtestMyValue.com for a no risk, no cost analysis of your assessed value. If the analysis concludes that your value is too high and that you are over-assessed on your value, then a protest will be recommended.  If the analysis shows that we do not believe you can save at least $125.00 in your pocket; then no protest will be recommended – period; the evaluation report will be provided to you at no cost, to use as you see fit.  If a protest is recommended, for $49.99 we will provide you with the evidence package that details the comparable sales and or uniform and equal values of comparable homes, located within your immediate neighborhood, that have been adjusted using the same calculations that the Appraisal District used to derive at your assessed value.  A detailed map reflecting the location of the comparable homes is also included in the evidence package.  Simple instructions on how to file your protest yourself are provided on the site.  Homeowners located in Harris, Ft. Bend and Dallas counties can file their protest on-line; Homeowners in the other counties we service: Galveston, Montgomery and Travis will need to mail their protest forms into the Appraisal District offices.

It’s about keeping the money in the Taxpayer’s pocket, not putting it in the Taxman’s nor the Tax Consultant’s.  It’s easy and you can do it yourselves. Take the Bite out of your Property Tax Bill, with IProtestMyValue.com