Patrick Rose

Dear Friends and Neighbors: 

Over the last several months, as property owners in Blanco, Caldwell and Hays Counties received preliminary appraised value notices, my office has heard from many concerned homeowners about the increase in their appraised values.  As allowed by Texas law, some of these property owners chose to file a protest with their local Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The deadline for these protests was June 9^th and now homeowners await review by the board.

Should the ARB rule against a property owner, in 2005 I sponsored legislation (Senate Bill 1351) that gives Texans an affordable option to appeal unreasonable tax appraisals.  The legislation gives property owners the option of requesting binding arbitration as an alternative to filing an appeal of an ARB’s decision; instead of hiring lawyers and filing costly lawsuits.   For more information about Property Tax Binding Arbitration for Property Owners, please visit the Texas Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/arbitration05/.

It is clear from the preliminary appraised value notices that a lot of work remains to safeguard homeowners.  I strongly believe that property tax relief passed by the Legislature becomes meaningless without addressing appraisals.

In 2006, I supported the new business tax that dedicated revenue to lowering property taxes closed the franchise tax loopholes and lowered the maintenance and operation portion of property tax rates by approximately one-third.  The benefits of the property tax relief are not currently recognized because there are no appraisal caps.  The Legislature must do more to protect property owners from runaway appraisal districts that make any tax relief temporary and ineffective. 

For three legislative sessions, I have supported and voted for appraisal cap legislation to ensure that homeowners benefit from any property tax cuts passed by the Legislature.  During the 80^th Regular Session last spring, I voted for House Bill 438 and House Joint Resolution 40 by Rep. Scott Hochberg.  This legislation prohibits appraisal districts from increasing appraisals on homesteads more than 10% per year even if they didn’t increase by the full 10% in the prior year.  The legislation was approved by Texas voters as Proposition 3 last November.

In both the 79^th Regular Session in 2005 and in the 78^th Regular Session in 2003, I worked with my colleagues in the House in support of legislation to cap appraisal increases on homesteads at 5% per year.  I believe that this can be a starting point to give homeowners the relief that they need and deserve.  As the Texas Comptroller collects the new margins tax this month, the Legislature must ensure that all revenue generated continue to go towards funding further property tax cuts and appraisal caps. 

I hope you will join my efforts to pass strong appraisal caps.