Philosophy Department Ethics Bowl team wins regional, advances to national competition
The Texas State Ethics Bowl team, composed of philosophy students Jordan Albracht, Sean Batura, Nichole McNiel, Ben Sullivan, and Ryan Wieruscheske, competed against 14 teams from Texas and Arkansas at the Regional Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio on November 15, 2008 and won the first place trophy. The team will […]
Unitarians welcome new minister
The San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is very pleased to welcome their new minister to the pulpit this Sunday, November 23. Rev. Aaron White will deliver his sermon 11:00 a.m. at UCM-Wesley at 604 N. Guadalupe across from Jones Food Court on the Texas State University campus. Parking is available in the university […]
I-35 road closure planned Sunday for electric utility project
A section of I-35 in San Marcos will be closed for brief periods Sunday, Nov. 23, beginning at 7 a.m. while San Marcos Electric Utility installs an overhead primary electrical crossing in the 2800 Block of South I-35 near the 202 mile marker.Both north and southbound lanes of I-35 will be closed for about 10 […]
Newstreamz.com will print updates of dropped charges or not guilty verdicts upon request. Send requests with appropriate documentation and working daytime phone number to cops@newstreamz.com or by fax to (512) 392-5132.
•1:15 p.m. November 19. Possession of Marijuana, 1600BLK Post Rd. Cory Tyler Tipton, 22, arrested.
•5:03 p.m. November 19. Aggravated Assault w/ Deadly Weapon, 1502 S […]
Council gives initial ok to modest tax break for elderly homeowners
Posted on November 24, 2007 at 7:19 pm • Print • Share
With an exemption increase given preliminary approval, San Marcos’ senior citizens will get some property tax relief.
By BRAD ROLLINS
Managing Editor
In 2005, Jack Hugman got the cold shoulder when he set out to convince local government officials to freeze tax bills for homeowners older than 65. Appearing before the city council and commissioners court, the local AARP leader argued that retired people on fixed incomes deserve a tax bill insulated from yearly increases in appraisal values. He said he was ignored.
“It went over like a lead balloon. They didn’t want to hear a word of it and came up with all kinds of off-the-wall excuses for why it shouldn’t be done,” Hugman, 79, said later.
Fast-forward two years and Hugman’s one-man offensive has paid off. Partially.
When it takes its third and last vote on the measure Dec. 4, the city council will finalize an increase in the senior homestead exemption from $10,000 to $25,000 in property value and authorize a $45,000 exemption for legally disabled homeowners. About 2,017 elderly San Marcos homeowners will qualify for the exemption next year, the Hays Central Appraisal District estimates.
In increasing the exemption, city officials are following Hays County which last year implemented a senior exemption increase to $45,000 and added a $45,000 exemption for disabled residents. The exemption went into effect this year.
As with the county, the city took up the issue in an election year that saw incumbents in tight re-election bids. The council instructed staff to draw up the legal paperwork to put the senior exemption increase into effect in October. Staff originally proposed a $10,000 increase to $20,000 but council members decided Nov. 5 – a day before the election – to up the tax break to $25,000. The measure passed unanimously on second reading this week.
The change will result in $96,788 less in ad valorum revenue each year, Interim City Manager Collette Jamison said. That’s assuming the tax rate stays the same and everyone else does not get older.
Homeowners must apply to the appraisal district for the exemption by Jan. 1 but residents who already qualify for a city senior exemption do not have to re-apply. Residents cannot claim both the senior and disabled exemptions and couples and other joint homeowners get one exemption between them.
brad@newstreamz.com
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While it is true that we voted the day before election day on this agenda item, it should be pointed out that it was on the second of three readings required to pass this ordinance. The discussion of the effects on the general fund budget and the impact on our citizens however took place about 2 months prior to election day. The increase in the exemption from $20,000 to $25,000 came from an amendment I made on the first reading, 3 weeks prior, on October 16th.
John Thomaides
San Marcos City Council
Here are the dates based on the agendas and minutes which are linked.
Initial discussion:
Oct. 16
http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/PublicAgenda/MeetingAgenda.aspx?meetingid=99
First Reading:
Nov. 5
http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/PublicAgenda/MeetingAgenda.aspx?meetingid=100
Second Reading:
Nov. 20
http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/PublicAgenda/MeetingAgenda.aspx?meetingid=101
Third Reading:
Scheduled for Dec. 4
I stand corrected on the dates Brad. Well done. There is often a lag time between a discussion item that has consensus and voting on an agenda item, and it is not always the next meeting. Then again, I don’t set the agenda!