You’ve probably already gotten your property tax appraisal in the mail. We’ve heard your concerns. I talked with Senator Paul Bettencourt about how current legislation in Austin could lower your property tax bills based on those appraisals. Plus, learn how your water meter may lead to higher bills.
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Legislation in Austin could help lower property tax bills
If there is one thing lawmakers in Austin seem to agree on this session it’s helping people save money on property taxes. Right now there are at least three bills in the works that could save you hundreds of dollars.
Senator Paul Bettencourt is the former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and is known as “the architect” for the Senate’s property tax plan. He explains how Senate Bill Three would raise the amount of your home’s value that cannot be taxed meaning your tax bill will be lower.
“Average home is about $331,000 right now. We are going to raise the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $70,000. That’s for the average home. And then we are going to be driving down tax rates on top of it,” said Bettencourt. “The bigger home you have the more you get. As the value times the rate equals the bill. The good news is, for the average home, this is about a 25% reduction in school taxes - boom like that.”
He says the average homeowner would save about $800 a year. There are other senate bills in the works, too.
If the House passes the bills, Texans will get a chance to vote on them in November. If they pass, the cuts go into effect immediately, meaning you’ll see it a couple of months later on January 31.
You can see more about each of these bills in the Ask Amy episode show notes.
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