Mayors in Rockwall County, including Heath Mayor Kelson Elam, have joined their counterparts statewide in asking Governor Gregg Abbott to avoid a probable double digit property tax increase for Texas property owners by adopting the 2019 property tax valuations for the year 2020.
The Mayors also asked that any newly developed property that was not on the tax rolls in 2019 be added to the tax rolls at the 2020 valuations.
“This would alleviate at least one of the many challenges Rockwall County citizens are facing during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Mayor Elam. “It is our understanding that we could have double digit increases with the new 2020 valuations, which seems unconscionable when there is already so much stress in our communities.”
Beyond citing the financial strain a double digit increase would cause property owners, the Mayors’ unified letter to the Governor also stated that residents would have to present themselves to the Central Appraisal District in person for protest hearings at a time when stay- at-home and physical distancing orders are in effect.
The timing of this request is critical, as valuation letters are scheduled to be mailed out to property owners on April 14. Citizens are urged to contact their county and state officials in support of the property tax freeze now. (Texas State Senator Bob Hall; Texas Representative Justin Holland; and Rockwall County Judge David Sweet.)
Rockwall County Mayors included in the unified letter to Governor Abbott are: Keith Short, McLendon-Chisholm; Kenny Phillips, Mobile City; Jim Pruitt, Rockwall; Janet Nichol, Royce City; and Tammy Dana-Bashian, Rowlett.
Submitted press release by the City of Heath.
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Rockwall County mayors including Heath Mayor Kelson Elam ask Governor Greg Abbott to freeze property tax values at 2019 levels added by Austin on
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