TAXING MATTERS
CHERYL E . JOHNSON , PCC Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector
& Voter Registrar
Where the Rubber Meets the Road on PROPERTY TAXES
With appraisal values increasing phenomenally and ( hopefully ) record numbers of property owners filing protests , we will soon move to the next phase of the tax calendar – assessment – thus my title ( Tax Assessor Collector ). Assessment is NOT valuation – that is appraisal ( by the appraisal district or CAD ). Assessment is the calculation of tax rates based on the new ( 2021 ) values for local governments .
This is where the rubber meets the road – and you can have a big impact .
Embodied in our Constitution and Tax Code are requirements that property owners be notified of the actions of government during this process - referred to as Truth in Taxation ( TNT ). Although there may be some minor changes resulting from the 87th Legislative Session , likely nothing will radically impact TNT – except for you . How ?
In July every tax office will receive the 2021 appraisal roll . We will then begin calculating the No New Revenue and Voter Approval Rates ( see definitions ). We will submit those calculations to partner governments
by the end of July and have already asked them to propose a tax rate no later than August 9th . We will load this information into the CAD database ( along with an official contact person you may provide input to ). On the galcotax . com website I will load the calculations , proposed tax rate adoption date and the name , email and phone number for every elected official who will have a say on your tax rate . Once I have sent the notice of public hearing to the newspaper , I will include those on my website as well . The first week of August , CADs will mail a postcard to every property owner telling them where to find the database that will provide an estimate of your 2021 taxes based on the 2021 value and the proposed rates . It will also have contact information and an easy form for you to submit to each governmental entity . This is the official contact person – not the people you elected to represent you . Remember – those individuals are listed on MY website ( www . galcotax . com at the TNT link ). Local governments continue to have spending limits ( school districts 2.5 % and most others 3.5 %) unless you vote to allow more . What is most important is that it is now easier than ever for you to weigh in before the damage ( tax rate adoption ) is done . Government accountability and transparency are good things and the Texas Legislature improved both but you must take advantage of the tools it has provided . Definitions :
• No new revenue rate – the tax rate that will raise the same amount of revenue as last year on the same properties .
• No new revenue M & O rate – the M & O portion of the tax rate needed to raise same revenue as last year
• Voter approval rate – the NNR M & O rate + allowable percentage ( 2.5 % or 3.5 %) + debt which is the maximum allowable rate without an automatic election
20 MOMENTUM