Property Tax Changes

TLC knows that property taxes are inherently unfair and would like to ultimately see them disappear.

Yesterday, Lauren attended a Capital City A&M Club lunch program featuring Representative John Otto, Vice Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee and member of the House Appropriations Committee. Representative Otto discussed HB 2, enabling legislation for HJR 36. With his proposed legislation and constitutional amendment, Otto hopes to reform the property tax appraisal process by requiring districts to appraise a residence homestead based solely on the property's value as a residence homestead instead of as its "highest and best use" and by creating regional appraisal review boards with qualified judges.

Several bills have been filed this session which would affect agricultural tax valuation. SB 678 by Shapleigh would increase the rollback property taxes on land that loses its agricultural valuation from 5 to 10 years. HB 2230 by Parker would relieve landowners of liability for interest on rollback taxes if land loses its agricultural valuation.

Let the Hearings Begin

Today, Jimmy provided TLC's position on SB 688 by Wentworth at a Senate Education Committee hearing. TLC opposes this bill as it allows the commissioner of education, if he determines that a residential development of at least 1,000 single-family units "is likely to significantly increase elementary school student enrollment in a school district and that the increase in enrollment warrants the construction of a new elementary school facility to accommodate the increased elementary school population," to require a developer to sell a school district at least 15 acres within the development in order to receive plat or permit approval. This legislation seems especially unnecessary since school districts currently have eminent domain authority.

Thus far, SB 688 is the only bill TLC is tracking that has been scheduled for a hearing.