Texas Taxpayers and Research Association December 1, 2017 Senator Paul Bettencourt 1
LOCAL TAX BURDENS NATIONALLY Texas has one of the highest property tax burdens in the country, with a median property tax rate of $2.17 per $100 in property value. Only 4 states have a higher median tax rate. Sources: CoreLogic, via Dallas Morning News 2
100.0% % Change in Total Tax Levies All Units, 2005-2015 92.7% 80.0% 60.0% 82.2% 71.0% 40.0% 39.5% 20.0% 0.0% Non-ISD revenue is growing 2 times as fast as ISD s -20.0% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 County City ISD Special District 3
Texas Property Tax Bill Growth VS Median Household Income 35 30 25 Property Tax Bills grew 2.33 times faster than Median Income 33.7 Property Tax Bill Growth on a Median Valued Home from TTARA based on data from Texas Real Estate Research Center and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 20 15 Texas Data 14.5 Median Household Income US Census Bureau 1-year American Community Survey, 2010-2015 10 13.9 5 0-5 Federal Data 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 American Community Survey (ACS) Median Real Estate Taxes Paid 2010-2015 Note that the survey also had Property Taxes growing slower than income. 4
What s really happening with revenues For the 3 year period (2013 2016) the Top 5 Counties had revenues increases of: 1. Bexar County 38.2% 2. Harris County 36.4% 3. Dallas County 25.0% 4. Travis County 18.9% 5. Tarrant County 11.6% 5
What s really happening with revenues For the 3 year period (2013 2016) the Top 5 Cities had revenues increases of: 1. San Antonio 35.0% 2. Houston 26.6% 3. Dallas 24.6% 4. Austin 18.9% 5. Ft. Worth 17.1% 6
What s happening with tax bills 2013 2016 2013 2016 County tax bill increases City tax bill increases 1. Harris County 36.4% 1. Houston 24.6% 2. Dallas County 25.5% 2. San Antonio 24.0% 3. Bexar County 24.3% 3. Ft. Worth 20.7% 4. Tarrant County 19.1% 4. Dallas 20.3% 5. Travis County* -0.7% 5. Austin* 6.4% Travis County cut their property tax rate by 22%, or roughly $0.11 from 2013-2016, however there has been a 14.1% increase on tax bills in the health area from 2013 2016 and Travis Health levies a separate ad valorum property tax as a special taxing jurisdiction. Travis County has large commercial growth and the City of Austin had a 9% increase in 2017. 7
Property Taxes Reported by Taxing Unit Type 2005 vs. 2015 Taxing Unit Type Number of Taxing Units 2005 2015 Tax Levy Percent of Levy Number of Taxing Units Tax Levy Percent of Levy Change from 2014 to 2015 School Districts 1,019 20,194,915,813 60.32% 1,019 $28,176,465,862 53.97% 39.52% Cities 1,064 4,901,791,597 14.64% 1,064 $8,380,435,861 16.05% 70.97% Counties 254 4,772,791,597 14.26% 254 $8,696,387,395 16.66% 82.07% Special Districts 1,791 3,609,629,697 10.87% 1,834 $6,954,137,406 13.32% 92.66% Total 4,128 $33,478,989,315 100.00% 4,171 $52,207,426,524 100.00% 55.92% Note: 2014 to 2015 Increases: 5% ISDs, 7% Cities and Counties, 9% SDs 8
Senate Bill 1 The Property Tax Reform and Relief Act of 2017 9
Senate Bill 1 proposes to: Lower Rollback Rate from 8% to 4%, the lowest rate since 1979 Provides for automatic election if Rollback Rate is exceeded. Adjusts election calendar so that Rollback elections will be held in November Creates the Property Tax Administration Advisory Board Changes the tax rate notice for increased transparency and ease of understanding 10
What does SB 1 do for Tax Relief? Current Rollback Rate: 8% +1% Growth = 9% Low Limit +5% Growth = 13% High Limit Proposed Rollback Rate: 4% +1% Growth = 5% Low Limit +5% Growth = 9% High Limit Lowers the rollback rate from 8% to 4% but leaves growth intact. SB 1 simply slows the rate of increasing taxes. Originally, the rollback rate was 5%, but it was raised to 8% during high inflation periods and left there even though Texas is now in a sustained period of low inflation. The last time the Rollback rate was 5% or less was 1979! (Bill as passed by the Senate was 4%) 11
Automatic Elections Requires automatic tax rate ratification if the taxing unit adopts a tax rate that exceeds the rollback rate, removing the onerous petition requirement in current statute. The tax rate ratification election will occur in November. Revised Tax Calendar Appraisal notices for homeowners and property owners must be mailed by April 15 th. The business personal property deadline is also April 15 th. (SB 2228) All real property protests must be filed by May 15 th. All tax calendar deadlines moved back two weeks for elections 12
Property Tax Administration Advisory Board Appointed by the Texas Comptroller with at least 6 board members representing taxpayers, appraisal districts, school districts and ratio study experts Board will provide recommendations regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the property tax system, best practices and complaint resolution procedures Equivalent Tax Rate Finally, establishes an easily understood Equivalent Tax Rate and standardizes taxpayer public notices showing the property tax increases on average homes per taxing unit. Notice of [current year] tax year proposed property tax rate for [taxing unit] will explain terms and increase/decrease 13
40% Harris County 2013-2016 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 Avg Home Taxable Value Growth Total Tax Levy Growth Avg. Home Tax Bill Growth Harris County Avg. Home 2013 2014 2015 2016 Total Growth Taxable Value $116,242 $129,227 $145,569 $157,835 +35.8% Tax Rate 0.4146 0.4173 0.4192 0.4166 +0.0020/0.5% Tax Bill $482 $539 $610 $657 +36.4% Harris County Total Levy $1.15B $1.32B $1.46B $1.57B +36.4% $418,196,000 14
35% City of Houston 2013-2016 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2013 2014 2015 2016 Total Tax Levy Growth Avg. Home Tax Bill Growth Avg Home Taxable Value Growth City of Houston Avg. Home 2013 2014 2015 2016 Total Growth Taxable Value $128,503 $144,004 $156,170 $170,171 +32.4% Tax Rate 0.6388 0.6388 0.6311 0.6011-0.0376/5.9% Tax Bill $821 $920 $986 $1,023 +24.6% City of Houston Total Levy $970.2M $1.07B $1.18B $1.23B +26.6% $258,406,000 15
TAXABLE VALUES VS HOUSEHOLD INCOMES Harris County Since 2005, taxable values for both single family and multifamily housing have increased faster than household median income. 140.00% 120.00% 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 138% 46% 31% Average Taxable Value- Single Family Home Average Taxable Value- Multifamily Median Household Income 0.00% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Sources: Harris County Appraisal District; U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) Historical Nominal Median Household Income
TAXABLE VALUES VS HOUSEHOLD INCOMES Harris County Since 2005, taxable values for both commercial and industrial properties have increased faster than household median income. 140.00% 120.00% 100.00% 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 111% 58% 31% Median Household Income Average Taxable Value- Commercial Real Average Taxable Value- Industrial Real 0.00% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Sources: Harris County Appraisal District; U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) Historical Nominal Median Household Income
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Billions Billions $37 $32 $27 $22 $17 $12 $7 $2 -$3 NEW VALUE AS A PART OF INCREASING VALUES Harris County In the last 3 years, the vast majority of the increase in the market value for both single family homes and multifamily housing has been due to increasing appraisals on existing properties. New Market Value- Single Family Homes Increase/Decre ase in Market Value- Single Family Homes $6 $5 $4 $3 $2 $1 $0 -$1 New Market Value- Multifamily Increase/Dec rease in Market Value- Multifamily *Sources: Harris County Appraisal District
Disaster Reappraisal Texas Tax Code - TAX 23.02. Reappraisal of Property Damaged in Disaster Area A) The governing body of a taxing unit that is located partly or entirely inside an area declared to be a disaster area by the governor may authorize reappraisal of all property damaged in the disaster at its market value immediately after the disaster. B) If a taxing unit authorizes a reappraisal pursuant to this section, the appraisal office shall complete the reappraisal as soon as practicable. The appraisal office shall include on the appraisal records, in addition to other information required or authorized by law: Taxing Entities that have asked for Disaster Reappraisal: 1) Fort Bend County 2) Montgomery County 3) Katy ISD 4) Spring Branch ISD 5) Several smaller taxing entities such as the City of Shoreacres 19
Question & Answer 20