NRH Citizens for Fair Taxation (i.e. Continual Property Tax Increases for Seniors and Disabled.)

(As defined by Ken Sapp)

Red Letters are Added by Citizens for the Freeze (Ron West et. al.)  8/21/04

Leadership of this group

Kenneth Sapp, chairman                    

Jerry D. Henry, Treasurer                  

NRH Citizens for Fair Taxation

Special Election:
A special election regarding a senior and disabled tax freeze is scheduled for September 11, 2004.

The question submitted to voters is:
Shall the total amount of taxes paid to the City on homesteads of persons sixty five (65) years of age or older or who are disabled never be increased as provided by Article 8, Section1-b(h) of the Texas Constitution? Yes or No    (This language was developed by the City Attorney under the direction of the majority of the council.  It is intended to present the Tax Freeze in the most negative language possible to try to discourage an affirmative vote.)

NRH Citizens for Tax Fairness recommends a NO vote. 

Other NRH Citizens recommend a YES vote for the Freeze!

The opposition to the freeze is on the basis of fundamental fairness. A freeze is unfair for these reasons:  Examine each of them carefully!

  • When a freeze is implemented it will impair the ability to increase the exemption in future years. Since an exemption provides the greatest percentage of help to those in lower value homes and who may need help the most. Is a tax freeze fair?   The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?
    In reality, there is no such limitation relating to this freeze.  City officials would still be in a position to increase any exemption they feel warranted or needed.  They would also still have the power to increase the exemption only on homes with a market value below $50,000 or any other number they might choose.  The freeze does not limit increasing exemptions in any way at all.                                                                                 
  • A freeze creates multiple classes of citizens. Two neighbors can have the same value home but have their taxes frozen in different years. They may have identical ability to pay but have different tax liability. Is a tax freeze fair?  The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?  This is another red herring.  Thankfully, it shows that each of us will receive the benefits of the freeze when we reach Age 65.  Those of us under Age 65 must continue to face ever increasing taxes before we reach Age 65.  I wonder what Mr. Sapp and friends think is a fair increase in each of our taxes each year?   The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?                                                                                                                                                                                                         
  • When the taxes of one class of citizen are frozen, future tax increases are disproportionately shifted to future taxpayers. This shift is not just to our children and grandchildren but to middle aged homeowners who have yet to achieve age 65. Is a tax freeze fair?  The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us? Mr. Sapp ignores the fact that revenues from all sources are projected to continue to increase regardless of the freeze.  The best we can hope for is that the freeze will in some small way, slow down the runaway spending by the city.  Remember – property tax revenues went up 95% over the past 10 years during a time that population only increased 19.6% in our city.  The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?

  • The baby boom generation will cause the largest demographic shift in the history of our country. Beginning in 2010 Americans will begin to turn age 65 every 7seconds. Today 20% of NRH homeowners are over 65, that percentage could change dramatically. A freeze would shift an even higher burden to younger families with children. Is a tax freeze fair? The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?  If all city revenues are projected to increase with the freeze – why not look at spending rather than continue to INCREASE the taxes of the Seniors and Disabled.

  • Freezing taxes for individuals that retain the right to vote for bond issues or increased city expenditures without having an obligation to pay for them. Is a tax freeze fair?  The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?    Unfortunately, our city leaders have a habit of issuing Certificates of Obligation – which are bonds without voter approval.  The issue is spending!
     
  • An irrevocable tax freeze limits the ability of future elected officials to fairly adjust tax policy to accommodate future changes in economic or demographic circumstances. These can be significant over the next 10-15 years. Is a tax freeze fair?  The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?  The evidence is clear – there is no amount of money that will satisfy our current money hungry city council.
     
  • As the city builds out, the tax base will stabilize or even decline. In these circumstances city officials may have to increase the tax rate to collect the same amount of taxes. The tax freeze legislation freezes not only the dollar amount of taxes but the tax rate as well. In this case those with frozen taxes might see a decrease in taxes due while others actually get an increase in order to maintain a revenue neutral position. Is a tax freeze fair?  The real question – Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?  Sales Tax Revenue went up over 140% between 1992 & 2002 from city figures.  Did you get a break on your property taxes?  When a city (compare to Hurst) builds out, theoretically, there should be reductions in taxes because the infrastructure is completed and then in a maintenance state.  New toys seems more important to our city leaders than maintaining our city.  Have you seen the new “crooked” sidewalks going in on Rufe Snow.  Please note that our city leaders have elected to increase property tax revenues every year for the last 11 years and plan to do so again this year.  THEY HAVE NEVER ADOPTED THE REVENUE NEUTRAL APPROACH TO TAXES.

We encourage a vote of YES for the TAX FREEZE for our Seniors and Disabled.  The best part of this vote is that – if passed – it takes away the power of local officials to increase future taxes on their property after they reach the Age of 65.  It is not only FAIR – since they have truly paid their dues – it is the RIGHT THING TO DO!

 

The real question –

Is Runaway Spending either Fair or Acceptable to us?

 

For Yard Signs in Support of the Freeze

Call – 817-938-1383