Dallas raises property tax exemption for homeowners over 65 or disabled

Dallas householders who’re disabled or 65 and older will probably be eligible for a modest enhance within the amount of cash they will exempt from their property taxes subsequent yr.

The Dallas Metropolis Council on Wednesday unanimously authorised an 8% enhance within the quantity these householders can exclude from their property tax valuation to $115,500 from the present $107,000 exemption.

Metropolis officers say senior and disabled householders with a mean house worth of $328,453 would pay $1,141 in metropolis taxes, understanding to a $63 annual discount with the change. That tally additionally contains the usual 20% homestead exemption, which might be utilized for each Dallas householders’ major residence. That 20% is the very best quantity allowed by state regulation.

The over 65 and disabled house owner exemption enhance would apply to greater than 74,500 properties within the metropolis and is supposed to present extra tax reduction to residents who’re sometimes on mounted incomes within the face of elevating property taxes.

At 77.3 cents per $100, Dallas has one of many highest property tax charges within the state.

In 2021, Houston, San Antonio and Austin all had property tax charges beneath 57 cents per $100 of valuation. Amongst main Texas cities, solely El Paso, at 90.7 cents per $100 valuation, has a bigger tax charge than Dallas.

“Excessive property taxes could make it tough for anybody, however there’s a recognition that seniors and other people with disabilities, many who’re on a hard and fast revenue, are unable to soak up into their finances the property worth will increase we’re seeing in Dallas,” mentioned council member Cara Mendelsohn earlier than the vote.

Mendelsohn mentioned the exemption enhance may imply the distinction between some householders with the ability to afford groceries or prescription treatment and she or he was certainly one of a number of council members who expressed assist for decreasing Dallas’ general property tax charge within the subsequent metropolis finances.

Property taxes are town’s largest income supply, bringing in near $1.2 billion in a yr. Of that quantity, 73% or $877 million, goes towards town’s normal fund and the remainder towards paying metropolis debt.

In line with metropolis data, $46.8 billion in property worth is at present exempt from taxes in Dallas. That represents about $361 million in income town isn’t getting.

That features homestead, historic and environmental exemptions, tax abatements and properties fully exempt like authorities buildings, church buildings and faculties.

Additionally Wednesday:

–The council voted to delay a vote on whether or not to approve redrawn district boundaries by two weeks to June 22. Wednesday marked the primary time council members publicly offered amendments to the proposed new metropolis map, which was authorised by town’s redistricting fee on Could 10.

Of eight proposed adjustments, just one acquired the required 12 council votes of the 15-member physique to be added. It was an modification by Resendez to increase his district boundary in southeast Dallas’ Nice Grove to re-add River Ranch and the Texas Horse Park.

“The horse park could be a big asset round which future District 5 management and group members may rally to maximise the power’s potential and profit to the group,” Resendez mentioned. He mentioned a close-by neighborhood affiliation that might nonetheless be in his district supported the horse park and didn’t wish to see it moved exterior of their metropolis illustration.

Different amendments largely aimed to reclaim areas moved out of present council districts. Council members can suggest amendments once more earlier than the ultimate vote on the redistricting map on June 22.

–The Dallas Metropolis Council authorised paying a neighborhood nonprofit to rent blind or partially sighted folks to reply nearly all of municipal court docket calls.

The greenlit three-year contract with Envision Dallas, which helps present jobs and different companies for people who find themselves visually impaired, contained a number of adjustments from a draft of the deal publicly offered final month.

The town will rent seven staff as an alternative of six and they are going to be working 37 hours every week as an alternative of 40. The town may also pay greater than $891,000 over the three years, round $105,000 greater than initially proposed.

The council didn’t waive a metropolis requirement that contracted staff be paid a minimum of $15.21 an hour. It was into consideration final month as a result of Dallas’ 311 Buyer Service Director Janette Weedon mentioned there was concern that the payrate could be too excessive and make staff ineligible for federal advantages, reminiscent of Social Safety Incapacity Insurance coverage.