News Summary
In response to the significant financial challenges posed by recent floods, Kerrville city officials have approved a resolution to evaluate a potential property tax increase. The city council aims to gather information on disaster rate property tax increases to help cover the costs of flood damage, which is preliminarily estimated at $200 million in lost real estate value. While some former leaders express concerns about increasing taxes, city officials mention exemptions for affected properties. The city is focused on balancing recovery needs with economic realities as discussions continue.
Kerrville city officials took a significant step towards addressing the financial implications of recent floods by unanimously approving a resolution to evaluate a potential property tax increase. On Tuesday night, the city council directed the city tax assessor to calculate the disaster rate property tax increase, which could help cover the costs associated with the flood damage. It is essential to note that no property tax increases have been formally decided at this stage.
The resolution indicates that city officials are gathering crucial information from the tax assessor to explore potential scenarios regarding the city’s future tax needs. Texas law permits the tax assessor to assess property taxes by up to 8% above the no-new-revenue rate following a disaster declaration. This measure allows the city to prepare for extensive financial planning amid ongoing recovery efforts.
While officials have not yet determined the total cost of flood damages, they emphasize the importance of being prepared for any upcoming financial obligations. A preliminary estimate suggests that Kerr County may have incurred a loss of around $200 million in real estate value due to the recent flooding, which adds urgency to the need for planning. The Kerr County Commissioners’ Court also allowed the Tax Assessor-Collector, Bob Reeves, to calculate a “voter-approval tax rate” in response to the disaster declaration. This rate represents the maximum tax rate that can be implemented without requiring voter approval.
Despite these actions, some former city leaders are expressing concerns regarding the potential tax increase. Former city council member George Baroody criticized the decision, suggesting it is insensitive to consider raising taxes during a disaster when many residents are still reeling from its impact. He argued that the city has sufficient reserved funding to manage recovery costs without burdening taxpayers further, contending that discussions of increasing property taxes feel like “beating us while we’re down.”
If a property tax increase were to occur, city officials mentioned that there would be exemptions for properties directly affected by the flood. This provision aims to cushion the financial blow for those most affected by the disaster. Moreover, during the recent Kerr County Commissioners’ meeting, officials expressed a collective desire to avoid increasing taxes while addressing the financial needs arising from the floods.Â
Not all commissioners are on board with an immediate tax increase; several voiced the need for a cautious approach when evaluating future expenses related to flood recovery. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly has also pointed out that reimbursements for recovery costs from federal and state officials might not arrive promptly, further complicating financial planning for the city.
Community members have raised concerns during public comments about how potential tax increases could affect their ability to sustain homeownership in Kerrville, highlighting the broader economic challenges residents face while navigating the aftermath of the floods. This topic is expected to be further discussed in an upcoming budget workshop on Tuesday, where city officials will continue to explore the financial landscape and recovery strategy in greater detail.
As Kerrville prepares for potential financial adjustments in the wake of the floods, both residents and officials remain engaged in discussions about the best path forward, balancing recovery needs with the economic realities faced by the community.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Texas Legislature Faces Tension Over Flood Relief and Redistricting Priorities
Additional Resources
- NEWS4SA: Kerrville Resolution on Tax Increase
- Wikipedia: Kerrville, Texas
- KSAT: Kerr County Leaders and Taxes
- Google Search: Kerrville Texas Floods
- KENS5: Kerrville Tax and Flood Discussion
- Google Scholar: Kerrville Flood Emergency
- Express News: Kerrville Floods and Tax Concerns
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Kerrville Floods
- NBC News: Kerrville Flood FEMA Aid
- Google News: Kerrville Texas Disaster Recovery
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
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