Baffled how to vote on confusing property-tax proposals? Here’s our recommendation
Homeowners opening their county property appraisals this month should be forgiven if they think that the modest tax relief lawmakers put on the May 7 ballot is some kind of joke.
But the two propositions to amend the state Constitution are real, and they’re worth approving.
The Legislature did voters no favors with the brain-bending language to describe the changes, either. Amending the constitution is complicated, but a little plain English would go a long way.
The first is a benefit for seniors. Right now, a homeowner age 65 or older can freeze the taxes he or she pays, despite increases in the property’s valuation. That means, though, that some missed out when the Legislature acted in 2019 to reduce school districts’ tax rates by spending more state money on education.
If Proposition 1 passes, taxes will be reduced to reflect the new rates. Lawmakers estimate that nearly 2 million homeowners will save about $110 this year. Savings should increase slightly each year. Future cuts would apply, too.
The second proposition, mercifully, is clearer. It would raise the homestead exemption for purposes of school taxes to $40,000 from the current $25,000. Simply put, that means less of the value of anyone’s primary house will be taxed. Lawmakers behind the change estimate the average homeowners will save $175 on this year’s tax bill.
Huge appraisal increases, driven by population growth and a red-hot housing market, are hitting voters throughout the Fort Worth area. And yet, real property tax reform will have to wait. Until then, voters should take every break they can get.
Early voting starts Monday. It’s a statewide election, and a simple majority will decide the fate of the propositions.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Members of our Community Advisory Board may also participate in candidate interviews and offer their views, but they do not vote on which candidate to recommend.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.