Tax bills; thanking the police; renaming a building

Tax bills

I was surprised to receive an additional property tax bill from Ron Wright, Tarrant Tax Assessor.

The bill was for minerals removed from my property. I have been paying property taxes on this homesite for 29 years. Now that I have leased the mineral rights to a third party and they have removed and possess minerals, I am charged taxes on the removed property.

I do pay income taxes on the money from the lease as I should. However now that my property value has decreased by the removal of stored minerals, shouldn't I get a rebate on my tax bill instead of being taxed on something no longer there?

It would seem that government has found a way to tax a void, to tax property I no longer own or posses.

— Charles Andrews, Fort Worth

Thanking the police

I disagree with those who bad-mouth the police.

In fact, I think we should thank them for their service, as we do the military, for protecting us from crime and criminals.

When I can make eye contact with a police officer, I give them a friendly wave to let them know I am grateful for their service.

Any ideas on ways to thank the police?

— Gene Elliott, Arlington

Renaming a building

I found it very interesting that Gov. Perry, on a TV interview, said that after reflection he graciously declined to have the Academic Building at Texas A&M University renamed after himself.

When in fact there was so much public and student outcry (petition with 7,000 names) rejecting the building being named after Perry, the regents canceled the meeting intended to approve the issue.

But, if you listened only to Perry you would have thought that it was his idea to withdraw his name from consideration.

— Bob Cosby,

Fort Worth

This story was originally published December 22, 2014 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Tax bills; thanking the police; renaming a building."