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Texas Protax in the News
As voters weigh higher tax rate for Austin public schools, group of former trustees raises concerns
November 27, 2024, Mark Heschmeyer, Costar News
Fourth-quarter commercial property pricing started strong in October as investors slowly began returning to deals in response to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cut its borrowing rates…
Harris County’s top elected tax official hasn’t swiped into the office in years, report finds
October 24, 2024, Alexandra Hart, Texas Standard
Where has Harris County’s Tax Assessor-Collector been? A recent Houston Chronicle investigation found that the top tax official in Texas’ most populous county has not shown up to her office in four years…
As voters weigh higher tax rate for Austin public schools, group of former trustees raises concerns
October 25, 2024, Becky Fogle, KUT.org
Voters are deciding whether to approve a tax rate increase that would generate new revenue for Central Texas’ largest public school district as it grapples with a $119 million budget deficit…
Houston ISD to hold $3.93 billion bond election for school upgrades
October 24, 2024, Rachel Estrada, CW 39 Houston
On November 5, voters in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) will have the chance to vote on Proposition A, a $3.96 billion bond proposal. If approved, the bond will be used to construct new school buildings, renovate and expand existing ones, and enhance safety and security measures across the district...
Powers and Limitations of the Appraisal District Board of Directors
October 13, 2024, Texas Taxpayers Research Association
On July 22, 2024, the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) Board of Directors (BOD) held its first meeting to include three directors elected to their positions by voters…
Will your property taxes go up next year? Use this simple calculator to find out
October 2, 2024, Jose Luis Martinez, Houston Landing
Harris County voted to raise its property tax rate in September and Mayor John Whitmire is expected to announce his plans for Houston’s tax rate this month. What does that mean for your wallet? The calculator and tutorial below will help you find out...
Houston City Council members clash over property tax hike
October 1 , 2024, Dominic Anthony Walsh, Houston Public Media
City Council members are split over a potential increase in property taxes to cover the costs of recent disasters and a budget shortfall. So far, opponents of an increase outnumber those who want to raise the rate…
Triten Enters Austin With Logistics Campus Purchase
October 1, 2024, Claudiu Tiganescu, Commercial Property Executive
Triten Real Estate Partners has acquired Central Texas Logistics Center, a seven-building, 485,885-square-foot industrial portfolio in San Marcos, Texas, within metro Austin. Peak Rock Capital previously owned the properties, CommercialEdge data shows...
5 reasons why the industrial real estate outlook is so strong — especially in Houston
October 1, 2024, Britini Bell, Houston Business Journal
The industrial real estate sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, fueled by a combination of evolving consumer behavior, technological advancements and strategic geographic advantages…
3 Large Texas Manufacturers Apply for State Tax Breaks
October 1, 2024, Mike Boyd, Connect CRE Texas
The three applicants expect to plow $11.6 billion into the Texas economy. Eligible manufacturing, research and development companies that launch...
Tax rates are going down while bills go up: Here’s why
October 1, 2024, Haley Velasco, Community Impact
Alvin, Friendswood and Pearland ISDs each adopted a lower tax rate compared to the prior fiscal year, but residents in all three districts could still see an increase in the district’s portion of their tax bills…
SMTX adopts highest budget in a decade
September 27, 2024, Eleanor Munoz The University Star
At its Sept. 17 meeting, the San Marcos City Council approved the city’s budget of more than $300 million for fiscal year (FY) 2025 and set the new tax rate amount…
Aviation, semiconductor manufacturers apply for Texas property tax breaks
September 25, 2024, Hannah Norton, Community Impact
Six companies have applied for Texas’ new business tax break program since it opened in February, according to the state comptroller’s office. Among the first applicants were a Fort Worth-based aircraft manufacturer, a sustainable aviation fuel company and a semiconductor manufacturer…
TCAD okayed suing 23 property owners—and tried to conceal their names
September 29, 2024, Editor Ken Martin The Austin Watchdog
TCAD violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, then refused the Bulldog’s request for a list of the property owners until threatened with lawsuit. Travis Central Appraisal District’s Board of Directors on September 5th committed a blatant violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA)…
Pflugerville City Council approves budget, property rate for 2025 fiscal year
September 25, 2024, Anthony Torres KXAN Austin
The Pflugerville City Council approved its $857 million budget for the 2025 fiscal year. This included a property tax rate of $0.5428. The budget was approved at the city council’s meeting on Tuesday...
Commercial real estate looks to stronger 2025 with Fed rate cuts underway
September 23, 2024, Corey Smith CBS Austin
Better times are ahead for the commercial real estate market with one sizable Federal Reserve interest rate cut down and multiple rate cuts likely to come in the next year, according to CBRE...
RNR Real Estate Briefs – Texas & more
September 21, 2024 Realty News Report
RNR Real Estate Briefs from Realty News Report HOUSTON — Brookfield Properties announced that the Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP law firm leased 16,000 SF in Brookfield’s Heritage Plaza, a 52-story office tower at 1111 Bagby Street in downtown Houston…
Hays County Commissioners Court approves fiscal year 2025 budget, raises property taxes
September 20, 2024, Jacquelyn Burrer University Star
The Hays County Commissioners Court voted 5-0 on Sept. 17 to approve the budget for fiscal year 2025, with an increase in property taxes and a decrease in the overall budget amount...
Harris County approves 8% property tax rate increase
September 20, 2024 Kyle McClenegan Houston Public Radio
For a house appraised at $400,000, the new rate would cost an additional $160 more per year. This increase could be higher if voters approve a flood control tax increase this November…
You Bought an Office Building. Now What?
September 18, 2024, Commercial Property Executive by Patrick Kirk
The past several months have witnessed a surge in office building sales, with investors mostly snapping up distressed assets, often at or near the value of the land they occupy. Much of the office product trading at deep discounts consists of lower-tier and substantially vacant buildings...
Round Rock ratifies property tax increase, passes budget
September 13, 2024 Community Impact
The city of Round Rock ratified the property tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25 at 36 cents per $100 valuation, following City Council approval Sept. 12. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1…
Houston ISD board adopts tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25
September 12, 2024, Community Impact
Despite Houston ISD board managers adopting the same tax rate for fiscal year 2024-25 as the previous year’s tax rate, some homeowners within the district’s boundaries will still see an increase on property taxes owed...
Can Texas Eliminate Property Tax?
September 4, 2024 KXAN
he short answer: no. The longer answer: definitely no, at least not anytime in the foreseeable future, and not without drastic increases to the sales tax or sacrifices of vital state services like healthcare and education at all levels…
Texas Senate panel to explore cutting or eliminating local property taxes
September 4, 2024,CBS Austin
Wednesday, a panel of Texas lawmakers will look at expanding or perhaps eliminating property taxes in the Lone Star State. It’s a lofty goal right now, but state senators want to explore the possibilities..…
The September Digital Issue of CPE Is Now Available!
August 29, 2024 Commercial Property Executive
We represent commercial properties just as we do residential. Continue to visit this page and follow us on social media to get the latest information. Follow this link for fresh insights into this month’s featured topics…
New lawsuit takes aim at Project Connect’s property tax funding in latest Austin budget
August 27, 2024, USA Today
A group of Austin plaintiffs filed a new lawsuit against the Austin City Council on Monday over property tax rate allocations to the Project Connect mass transit program, according to documents obtained by KXAN.…
Friendswood ISD announces historic tax rate, but homeowners see little relief
August 26, 2024 Channel 13 Eyewitness News
Friendswood ISD is introducing a new tax rate deduction, which is being promoted as the lowest tax rate in over 40 years.The deduction gives a 4-cent refund on every taxable hundred dollars of home value…
Jose Pineda Leads Strategic Real Estate Investment Initiative, Targeting High-Growth Commercial and Residential Properties in Houston, Texas
August 31, 2024, USA Today
The Houston real estate market is gaining momentum at a rapid pace. The city has continuously settled its position as one of the fastest growth areas in the metropolitan U.S. and is considered to be one of the hottest for real estate investments…
Texas Homeowners Facing Tax Hike After Storms
August 26, 2024 Newsweek
Homeowners in Texas’ most populous county are facing an 8 percent increase in property tax following recent storms in the state. Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas as a Category 1 storm on July 8…
Deadline approaches for Harris County homeowners to apply for derecho disaster exemption
August 23, 2024, Community Impact
Officials from the Harris Central Appraisal District are reminding property owners to apply for the derecho temporary disaster exemption by Sept. 3.…
Map Shows States Which Have The Highest Property Tax
August 23, 2024 Newsweek
Property taxes are a crucial aspect of homeownership in the U.S., impacting everything from monthly mortgage payments to long-term financial planning. A new study from Maptive has revealed which states are imposing the highest and lowest property taxes in 2024…
Harris County Could Use Loophole to Raise Your Property Taxes
August 23, 2024, KTRH
Harris County Democrats are about to to an end around on a state law that was meant to keep property taxes in check.It turns out that there is a loophole in that law; allowing them to exceed the 3.5 percent state-imposed property tax cap without approval from voters…
Hutto City Council faces deadlock over proposed 15% tax hike amid rapid growth
August 23, 2024 CBS NEWS Austin
Hutto City Council is at odds over next year’s proposed budget, which potentially includes a fifteen-percent tax increase. State law requires five votes to pass a budget, but three members of the seven-person council are pledging to reject any rates that are “no-new-revenue.”…
Will Clouds in Texas Commercial Real Estate Clear in the Second Half?
August 21, 2024, REbusiness Online
It is not a shock to anyone in the industry to say that the commercial real estate market this year has been challenging and expected to experience further turbulence. The hoped-for interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve have not yet happened…
Richmond Publishes Maximum Tax Rate
August 21, 2024 Richmond Texas
Richmond City Commission voted to publish the maximum tax rate at $0.640000 per $100 property valuation for consideration for the City’s 2024- 25 fiscal year tax rate. This does not mean the 2025 tax rate is set but is one step in the process of setting the tax rate during the budget process….
Houston ISD, Harris County seeking additional revenue from taxpayers in November
August 20, 2024,Fox 26 Houston
Multiple levels of local government are seeking additional revenue from hard-pressed Houston-area taxpayers, a development that’s alarmed residents on fixed incomes and still grappling with inflation.…
Manor ISD proposition could lower property taxes
August 20, 2024 Fox 7 Austin
Voters in Manor ISD could decide to lower their property taxes. The Manor ISD Board of Trustees approved a lower tax rate at a meeting that will go to voters in November…
How does the state’s ‘recapture’ program impact Austin ISD?
August 20, 2024, KVUE
On Monday, Austin ISD’s Board of Trustees voted to put a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, on the November ballot. But if the thought of more taxes makes you mad, wait until you find out why the district needs the money…
Bexar County Commissioners discuss budget priorities, hold the line on higher property tax rate
August 20, 2024 Texas Public Radio
Bexar County commissioners on Tuesday listened to presentations on the county’s $2.8 billion budget, including keeping the property tax rate at nearly 30 cents per $100 valuation….
Katy ISD’s FY 2024-25 budget faces $26.7M general fund shortfall
August 20, 2024 KVUE
Katy ISD is facing a $26.7 million shortfall in its general fund for fiscal year 2024-25 budget, district staff said at the Aug. 19 board workshop meeting. The proposed shortfall—$22 million of which is due to staff raises—will be covered…
Public Hearing Notice for Proposed Tax Rate Increase for 2024 Tax Year
August 20, 2024, KVUE
As Central Texas school districts work to accommodate a lack of assistance and financial expectations from the state, as well as address teacher concerns and a rising cost of living, some are turning to taxpayers for help….
Austin ISD calls for tax rate election to deal with funding shortfall
August 19, 2024 KVUE
Just hours before the start of the school year, Austin ISD’s Board of Trustees approved putting a voter approval tax ratification election, or VATRE, on the November ballot. The motion was approved 8-1 on Monday evening..
Public Hearing Notice for Proposed Tax Rate Increase for 2024 Tax Year
August 15, 2024, City of Georgetown
The no‐new‐revenue tax rate is the tax rate for the 2024 tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax revenue for City of Georgetown from the same properties in both the 2023 tax year and the 2024 tax year….
Breakdown of where funds from AISD’s proposed Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election will go
August 15, 2024 KXAN
Thursday night, Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees will hear from the public about calling for a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE. The move would raise property taxes by approximately $400 annually and help lower the district’s massive ongoing budget deficit…
Typical Austin homeowner could pay nearly $1K more in property taxes next fiscal year
August 16, 2024, KXAN Austin
Local governments and tax entities are approving their tax rates and budgets for fiscal year 2024-25, which means the decisions they make now will impact your wallet before the end of the calendar year…
Proposed Property Tax Bills Now Available Online For Travis County Property Owners
August 7, 2024 Travis Central Appraisal District
Travis County property owners can now review proposed tax rates and their potential impact on 2024 property tax bills online at TravisTaxes.com. According to Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) Chief Appraiser Leana Mann…
Houston ISD to Vote on $4.4B School Bond Proposal
August 2, 2024, Texas Tribune Insider govtech
The Houston Independent School District Board of Managers is set to vote Thursday on whether to put the district’s $4.4 billion bond proposal on the ballot in November in what would be the largest school bond election in state history.
As Tax Protests Begin, Travis Central Appraisal District Catches Heat
June 7, 2019, Austin Chronicle
Bill Aleshire, a lawyer for Texas Protax Austin Inc. – and formerly the county judge and, before that, the county’s tax assessor-collector – is calling the cancellation of informal hearings a “train wreck” decision made by…
Travis ARB Chair calls for a “do-over” after a day of property tax protests
June 5, 2019, KXAN BY Alyssa Goard
Bill Aleshire, an attorney for tax firm Texas Protax, said that many Protax agents Tuesday found themselves waiting for hours before they were called into hearings. “I just think it’s horrible that taxpayers have to have money wasted in the tax collection process,” he said. …
Action Ramps Up in Appraisal District Suit
December 17, 2018, Austin Monitor By Jo Clifton
Protax had requested “copies of the notices of the meetings, the minutes of the meetings, and any backup or explanatory material that was provided to the board members for the meetings and the secretary’s notes
159 Property Owners Sue Appraisal Review Board Over Protest Hearings
October 9, 2018, KXAN BY Kate Winkle
say they want their appraisal protests to have a hearing, as the law requires, and want monetary relief of $100,000.
How to Size Up Your Property Tax Assessment
September 9, 2018, USA Today BY Hal Bundrick
…“That absolutely can happen,” says Debra Bawcom, senior property tax consultant at Texas Protax in Austin, Texas. Your property might be incorrectly valued if a jurisdiction has documented the wrong number of bedrooms, bathrooms or square footage in your house, she adds. …
Lawsuit Seeks Property Tax Hearings
December 17, 2018, Austin Bulldog BY Ken Martin
The suit was brought by more than 150 property owners and two professional tax consulting companies (Texas ProTax-Austin Inc…
Judge Dismisses Austin’s Lawsuit Over Commercial Property Appraisals
September 4, 2016, Austin-American Statesman
TCAD not giving taxpayers timely hearings
November 16, 2018, Austin Monitor By Jo Clifton
An employee of Protax, one of the tax preparation companies suing TCAD, said, “Normally we settle about 90 percent of our hearings informally.”…