THE TEXAS NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNTY SENIOR LEADERSHIP GROUP

SAMPLE TAX FREEZE REQUEST FOR TEXAS

If you want your city or county taxing entity(ies) to freeze property tax for the disabled and over-65 homestead taxpayers, start with a request.  Texas taxing authorities have the authority to freeze tax for these taxpayers.  If your taxing authority does not freeze the tax based on your request, you can force an election for that taxing entity if 5% of the voters in the taxing entity submit a petition to the taxing entity. 

Individuals can request that the taxing authority freeze the tax.  It may be more effective for such groups as an AARP Chapter, a NARFE Chapter, a Teachers Organization, or other similar organizations to submit a request to the taxing entity.  Below is a sample request:

ADDRESS TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: 

Subject: Ad Valorem taxes based on appraisals of homesteads for disabled and over-65  homeowners

Whereas; On September 13, 2003 the voters of Texas gave over-whelming approval to Amendment No. 13 and;

Whereas; The Texas Constitution now permits counties, cities and towns, and junior college districts to establish an ad valorem tax freeze on residence homesteads of the disabled and of the elderly and their spouses, and;

Whereas; This would NOT decrease existing tax/revenue for your taxing entity, but would keep taxes for the disabled and over-65 homeowners from exceeding the amount of tax they are paying when they are disabled or reach the age of 65, and;

Whereas; Implementation of a tax freeze for disabled and over-65 homestead owners in your taxing entity, will make homestead tax law for your taxing entity the same as the homestead tax policy for independent school districts.

Since Proposition 13 was approved by 81% of Texas voters (if available give the percentage in your taxing entity), a freeze of homestead tax for disabled and over-65 homestead owners as a result of petitions and an election is a distinct possibility.  You can save taxpayers the cost of an election by acting on this Resolution and enacting an ordinance to freeze homestead tax for disabled and over-65 homestead taxpayers. 

Therefore; we (I) (individuals name or name of organization) respectfully ask that your body place an item on your Agenda prior to (enter a date) to consider and implement freezing taxes on the homesteads of the elderly and disabled in your jurisdiction. We request that you advise (enter name here) of your decision about placing this issue on your agenda.

Signed by: 

Give name and address.  If submitted by an organization, have several people from the organization sign.