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G-94-06-23-8A - 6/23/1994a ORDINANCE NO. ' q - - 3 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1, SECTION 1.701(1) AND (3), CODE OF ORDINANCES (1990 EDITION) CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS TO INCREASE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE ELDERLY; TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS, THAT: I. That Chapter 1, Section 1.701(1), Code of Ordinances (1990 Edition) City of Round Rock, Texas is hereby amended to read as follows: (1) HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE ELDERLY From and after January 1, 1994, twenty-two thousand dollars ($22,000.00) of the assessed value of residence homesteads as defined by law of persons who have attained the age of sixty-five (65) years of age, on or before January 1st of the year for which the exemption is claimed, shall be exempted form city ad valorem tax; provided, however, that where the ad valorem tax has heretofore been pledged for the payment of any debt, the taxing officers of the city shall have authority to continue to levy and collect the tax against the homestead property at the same rate as the tax so pledged until the debt is discharged, if the cessation of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was created. II. That Chapter 1, Section 1.701(3), Code of Ordinances (1990 Edition) City of Round Rock, Texas is hereby amended to read as follows: (3) MAXIMUM HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION In no event shall the tax exemption on any residence homestead exceed twenty-two thousand dollars ($22, 000.00) . KS\ORDINANCE ORO6094D.2 III. A. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, or resolutions in conflict herewith are expressly repealed. B. The invalidity of any section or provision of this ordinance shall not invalidate other sections or provisions thereof. U READ and APPROVED on first reading this the ---1-11-1 day of r , 1994. READ, APPROVED and ADOPTED on second reading this the day of Lt , 1994. ATTEST: E LAND, City Secretary (41 ,// CHARLES CULP PE Mayor City of Round Roc , Texas 2. DATE: June 21, 1994 SUBJECT: City Council Meeting, June 23, 1994 ITEM: 8. A. Consider an ordinance concerning increasing homestead property tax exemptions for persons 65 and over. (Second Reading) STAFF RESOURCE PERSON: David Kautz NARRATIVE AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The Homestead Property Tax Exemption — Age 65 and Over This exemption is provided by the City to qualifying homestead property owners and is in addition to other exemptions. A residence homestead is usually a house and a yard used as the principal residence of the owner. Condominiums, townhomes, co—op housing and similar units can also qualify as residence homesteads. An exemption excludes part of the property value from taxation and lowers taxes for that property as a result. For example, if a residence homestead is valued at $75,000 and qualifies for the $15,000 Over -65 exemption, City taxes would be calculated as if the property was worth only $60,000. In other words, in this case, $15,000 of the property's value is not taxed by the City. Advisory Board for the Aging Recommendation In October of last year, the board recommended to the Council that the Over -65 homestead property tax exemption be increased from $15,000 to $22,000. Fiscal Impact Changes in the value of exemptions are inserted into the Effective Tax Rate calculation formula and mathematically influence the rate. In other words, if exemptions increase, the total value of taxable property is reduced and the Effective Tax Rate is increased. The chart below estimates the effect on property tax revenue if the exemption is increased. Number of Over -65 homesteads Total Value of Exemptions at $15,000 each Revenue Exempted (currently) Total Value of Exemptions at $22,000 each Revenue Exempted (proposed) Effect of the change on the Tax Rate 645 $9,675,000 $48,375 $14,190,000 $70,950 Less than 1/4 cent increase ($.0017) Property owners benefited by this exemption would see an additional annual savings of $35 per property. Implementation Date If approved, this exemption will become effective immediately and will appear on the October tax billings.