Homestead Tax Exemrtion Proposition

[kb5ykj]

I was just putting a pencil to the Homestead Tax Exemption Proposition on the ballot.
I personnally cannot qualify for this but was just doing some looking and as best I can figure if you take the Property evaluation of my house and subtract $50,000 from it and then multiply by the rate of .06134 the city tax rate this would make a difference of around $306.00 per year on my taxes. This works out to $25.56 per month. This Proposition effects only City of Marble Falls taxes and has no affect on to Burnet County, Water Conservation Dist, Marble Falls ISD, or the Co Special, Road & Bridge taxes. City hall estimates this will make a change of $137,000 in the budget.

[Caretaker]

I was just putting a pencil to the Homestead Tax Exemption Proposition on the ballot.
I personnally cannot qualify for this but was just doing some looking and as best I can figure if you take the Property evaluation of my house and subtract $50,000 from it and then multiply by the rate of .06134 the city tax rate this would make a difference of around $306.00 per year on my taxes. This works out to $25.56 per month. This Proposition effects only City of Marble Falls taxes and has no affect on to Burnet County, Water Conservation Dist, Marble Falls ISD, or the Co Special, Road & Bridge taxes. City hall estimates this will make a change of $137,000 in the budget.



Well figured out Chuck. But let me add something to it. That 137k is minor compared to what the city has in reserves.And Yes they do have reserves. All or most Corporate citys do.
And heres food for thought for any out there that believe it will hurt the rest of the taxpayers. Horsehockey. Wont do squat to them.. This propostion Will pass and if by any chance it does not. All the seniors and those with disabilitys who would have qualified for the expemtion will have to do is this. Just File for a Deferment. IF they have to go that route. The city wont see one dime of that money for years.Nor will the school,county etc..
Which way will the voters go on this? Hmm.No brainer on that one.

[curious]

Everyone is ignoring the "elephant in the room". There's a silence that speaks so much louder than words. . . .

[carvet44]

What is the elephant in the room?

[Webmaster]

You know - the City of Marble Falls city manager just got rid of the warrant officer position at the police department. Last year, that position netted the city over $125,000 in fines and fees that were owed the city from Class C Misdemeanors. I thought that the city was hurting for money. So why would they get rid of a position that brings in money that is already owed the city when they're so concerned about this tax exemption vote and its effect on the budget?

[mdarling]

It's the same mentality that wants the police to be kinder to the tourists (and residents) when they are speeding through Marble Falls at 40 and 50 miles an hour. The same mentality that doesn't want Marble Falls to get the reputation of the "speed trap town". My only comment to that attitude is if they weren't breaking the law they wouldn't be stopped and ticketed. DUH!

[curious]

If you can't do the time, don't do the crime!

[curious]

Thank you, Webmaster. Some of us are under a gag order. And I do mean GAG!

[Webmaster]

Thank you, Webmaster. Some of us are under a gag order. And I do mean GAG!
So I've heard. The public really needs to hear the real story on all of that.

[JSKR]

It's the same mentality that wants the police to be kinder to the tourists (and residents) when they are speeding through Marble Falls at 40 and 50 miles an hour. The same mentality that doesn't want Marble Falls to get the reputation of the "speed trap town". My only comment to that attitude is if they weren't breaking the law they wouldn't be stopped and ticketed. DUH!

I don't understand why we want to have more tourists.
The hotels get booked, the lake gets crammed, it's only so big here and it's really not big at all.

That was a little off topic,, but, I do get sick of people on my bumper when I
AM doing the posted speed limit and they want to drive like they are still in Austin... when they tailgate, I go even slower.

[countryboy]

Everyone is ignoring the "elephant in the room". There's a silence that speaks so much louder than words. . . .


If you really want to have some fun. Put a couple mice in that same room and see how loud it gets. Can we say RUN.

[countryboy]

Thank you, Webmaster. Some of us are under a gag order. And I do mean GAG!


Even with a GAG, eventually something comes out. And if it doesnt, boy does it have a burning after effect.;)

[JWebb]

Elephant in the room?

I will be voting for any help seniors and the disabled might get from a tax rate cap or homestead exemption. $137,000? I understand the city just contributed $50,000 to the skate park. I am not against skate parks but having had a 28 + per cent tax increase last year it is time to re-evaluate our spending.

[curious]

They do away with a warrant officer that was bringing in over $200,000 a year to the city, and then "warn" the employees that, if the exemption passes, they may have to take a pay cut.

[Webmaster]

They do away with a warrant officer that was bringing in over $200,000 a year to the city, and then "warn" the employees that, if the exemption passes, they may have to take a pay cut.

Playing politics with the taxpayers' money, and the employees' livelihood. How typical of this city manager.

Everyone I know at the city is against the warrant officer position being disbanded and the new "friendlier" position on handling warrants. Sometimes, being a leader means listening to those under you. Sometimes it means admitting you are wrong. It seems that the city manager is incapable of either.

[Caretaker]

Playing politics with the taxpayers' money, and the employees' livelihood. How typical of this city manager.

Everyone I know at the city is against the warrant officer position being disbanded and the new "friendlier" position on handling warrants. Sometimes, being a leader means listening to those under you. Sometimes it means admitting you are wrong. It seems that the city manager is incapable of either.


I think the city manager is doing a Great job.Considering he inherited one heck of a Big mess and during a recession and a looming depression on the horizon.

Yes being a leader sometimes means listening to those under you. But,It also means deciding the Hard calls or the unpopular decisions.ANY department head has to make them.

Govermental and/or City employees are Funded by the Taxpayers money.(At least in part,the rest comes from Other sources) If the taxpayers cant pay well guess what.The employees may not get paid either.Or they may get Cut. And unfortunately like they teach you in the private sector. Anyone can learn the phrase.Will that be paper or plastic

[curious]

Your precious city manager didn't inherit anything. He went, hat in hand, and asked for the job. Besides, he doesn't even live in Marble Falls. Where's his "vested interest"?

[Caretaker]

Your precious city manager didn't inherit anything. He went, hat in hand, and asked for the job. Besides, he doesn't even live in Marble Falls. Where's his "vested interest"?


Lets see. he was assistant manager. Then Miller unexpectantly left. And From my recollection He did not want the job.The city Offered him the Job and he accepted it. So Dont know where the hat in hand came from.
And he is planning on moving to the city.Last I heard as well.

[numberonemom]

Elephant in the room?

I will be voting for any help seniors and the disabled might get from a tax rate cap or homestead exemption. $137,000? I understand the city just contributed $50,000 to the skate park. I am not against skate parks but having had a 28 + per cent tax increase last year it is time to re-evaluate our spending.

The Highland Lakes Skateboard Association, which is made up of mostly kids and young adults worked hard for the past several years to raise money and secure a matching grant for the construction of a skateboard park. Last fall the Association presented the city with $50,000 for the park. It's money raised by kids and young adults.

Donylle Green, who founded the Association when she was still in high school, did a wonderful serve for our youth by sticking with this project even though she went off to college, got married, moved to Austin and had a baby.

[JWebb]

Numberonemom, you are absolutely correct and the kids have done a good job of raising those funds. The article I read stated that the $50,000 was presented to the city but that the total cost of the park was over $100,000. I can't remember the actual figure as it's been several days since I read about it.

What I am trying to say is that the money lost to the city by granting seniors and the disabled a homestead exemption is very little compared to the total budget.

[numberonemom]

JWebb, you are correct. The skateboard project is around $100,000. The kids and young adults raised about $50,000 and the other half comes from an outside grant with no city funds going towards the project except perhaps the land that the park sits on.

The largest part of the city property tax (.43) is for debt. .18 is for operating expenses. Only two local cities, Granite Shoals (.17) and Highland Haven (.06), have a lower tax rate going towards operations. So I see that the problem here is debt. We can't do anything with the current debt side of the equation until it's paid down.

The estimated change in city budget of $137,000 can only affect operations.

[tonigking]

How did we go from Tax Exemptions to Elephants , to skateboards and so on...
Let me add goat ,as in scapegoat as to one former Asst. City Mgr.

Did anyone ever define the Elephant in the room? :confused:

[JWebb]

Numberonemom, thanks for clarifying the money source for the skate park. I chose a poor example to make my point that $137,000 is a very small portion of the total city budget.

After such a huge tax increase last year the homestead exemption for seniors and the disabled should be implemented to bring the city in line with the county and school district taxing entities.