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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of information by tax officials related |
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to ad valorem tax rates. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 25.19(b) and (i), Tax Code, are amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The chief appraiser shall separate real from personal |
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property and include in the notice for each: |
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(1) a list of the taxing units in which the property is |
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taxable; |
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(2) the appraised value of the property in the |
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preceding year; |
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(3) the taxable value of the property in the preceding |
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year for each taxing unit taxing the property; |
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(4) the appraised value of the property for the |
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current year and the kind and amount of each partial exemption, if |
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any, approved for the current year; |
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(5) [if the appraised value is greater than it was in
|
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the preceding year, the amount of tax that would be imposed on the
|
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property on the basis of the tax rate for the preceding year;
|
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[(6)] in italic typeface, the following |
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statement: "The Texas Legislature does not set the amount of your |
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local taxes. Your property tax burden is decided by your locally |
|
elected officials, and all inquiries concerning your taxes should |
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be directed to those officials"; |
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(6) [(7)] a detailed explanation of the time and |
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procedure for protesting the value; |
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(7) [(8)] the date and place the appraisal review |
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board will begin hearing protests; and |
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(8) [(9)] a brief explanation that the governing body |
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of each taxing unit decides whether or not taxes on the property |
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will increase and the appraisal district only determines the value |
|
of the property. |
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(i) Delivery with a notice required by Subsection (a) or (g) |
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of a copy of the pamphlet published by the comptroller under Section |
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5.06 or a copy of the notice published by the chief appraiser under |
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Section 41.70 is sufficient to comply with the requirement that the |
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notice include the information specified by Subsection (b)(6) |
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[(b)(7)] or (g)(3), as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 26.012, Tax Code, is amended by adding |
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Subdivisions (13-a) and (13-b) to read as follows: |
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(13-a) "Last year's maintenance and operations levy" |
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means the difference between last year's levy and the sum of last |
|
year's debt levy and last year's junior college levy. |
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(13-b) "Last year's maintenance and operations rate" |
|
means the rate expressed in dollars per $100 of taxable value |
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adopted in the preceding year for maintenance and operations. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 26.04, Tax Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.04. SUBMISSION OF ROLL TO GOVERNING BODY; |
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EFFECTIVE, SAME SERVICES, AND ROLLBACK TAX RATES. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 26.04(b), (c), (d), (e), (e-1), (f), |
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(i), and (j), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The assessor shall submit the appraisal roll for the |
|
unit showing the total appraised, assessed, and taxable values of |
|
all property and the total taxable value of new property to the |
|
governing body of the unit not later than the 21st day after the |
|
date the appraisal roll is certified to the assessor. On or before |
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the 21st day after the date the appraisal roll is certified by the |
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assessor [by August 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable. By
|
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August 1 or as soon thereafter as practicable], the taxing unit's |
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collector shall certify an estimate of the collection rate for the |
|
current year to the governing body. If the collector certified an |
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anticipated collection rate in the preceding year and the actual |
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collection rate in that year exceeded the anticipated rate, the |
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collector shall also certify the amount of debt taxes collected in |
|
excess of the anticipated amount in the preceding year. |
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(c) Not later than the 30th day after the date the appraisal |
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roll is certified to the assessor, an [An] officer or employee |
|
designated by the governing body shall calculate the effective tax |
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rate, the same services tax rate, and the rollback tax rate for the |
|
unit, where: |
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(1) "Effective tax rate" means a rate expressed in |
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dollars per $100 of taxable value calculated according to the |
|
following formula: |
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EFFECTIVE TAX RATE = (LAST YEAR'S LEVY - LOST PROPERTY LEVY) / |
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(CURRENT TOTAL VALUE - NEW PROPERTY VALUE) |
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; [and] |
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(2) "Same services tax rate" means a rate expressed in |
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dollars per $100 of taxable value calculated according to the |
|
following formula: |
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SAME SERVICES TAX RATE = [(LAST YEAR'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS |
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LEVY + (NEW PROPERTY VALUE x LAST YEAR'S |
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MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE))/CURRENT |
|
TOTAL VALUE] + CURRENT DEBT RATE |
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; and |
|
(3) "Rollback tax rate" means a rate expressed in |
|
dollars per $100 of taxable value calculated according to the |
|
following formula: |
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ROLLBACK TAX RATE = (EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE |
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x 1.08) + CURRENT DEBT RATE |
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(d) The effective tax rate for a county is the sum of the |
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effective tax rates calculated for each type of tax the county |
|
levies. The same services tax rate for a county is the sum of the |
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same services tax rates calculated for each type of tax the county |
|
levies. The [and the] rollback tax rate for a county is the sum of |
|
the rollback tax rates calculated for each type of tax the county |
|
levies. |
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(e) Not later than the fifth day after the date the |
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designated officer or employee completes the calculations required |
|
by Subsections (c) and (d) [By August 7 or as soon thereafter as
|
|
practicable], the designated officer or employee shall submit the |
|
rates to the governing body and provide to the chief appraiser in |
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the form prescribed by the comptroller the effective tax rate, the |
|
same services tax rate, the rollback tax rate, and an explanation of |
|
how they were calculated. At least 14 days before the date of the |
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first meeting of the governing body to consider the budget for the |
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current tax year, the designated officer or employee [. He] shall |
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deliver by mail to each property owner in the unit or publish in a |
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newspaper in the form prescribed by the comptroller: |
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(1) last year's [the effective] tax rate, the same |
|
services [rollback] tax rate, the tax rate required to fund the |
|
budget for the current tax year, and an explanation of their meaning |
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and how they were calculated; |
|
(2) a statement, including an example calculation, |
|
that the tax liability of any parcel of taxable property can be |
|
derived by multiplying the property's taxable value as computed on |
|
the basis of the notice of appraised value delivered by the |
|
appraisal district by each tax rate; and |
|
(3) a statement that adoption by the governing body of |
|
a tax rate for the current year that is higher than the same |
|
services tax rate will constitute an overall tax increase [the
|
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estimated amount of interest and sinking fund balances and the
|
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estimated amount of maintenance and operation or general fund
|
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balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal year that are
|
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not encumbered with or by corresponding existing debt obligation;
|
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[(3)
a schedule of the unit's debt obligations
|
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showing:
|
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[(A)
the amount of principal and interest that
|
|
will be paid to service the unit's debts in the next year from
|
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property tax revenue, including payments of lawfully incurred
|
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contractual obligations providing security for the payment of the
|
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principal of and interest on bonds and other evidences of
|
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indebtedness issued on behalf of the unit by another political
|
|
subdivision and, if the unit is created under Section 52, Article
|
|
III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, payments on
|
|
debts that the unit anticipates to incur in the next calendar year;
|
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[(B)
the amount by which taxes imposed for debt
|
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are to be increased because of the unit's anticipated collection
|
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rate; and
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[(C)
the total of the amounts listed in
|
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Paragraphs (A)-(B), less any amount collected in excess of the
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previous year's anticipated collections certified as provided in
|
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Subsection (b);
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[(4)
the amount of additional sales and use tax
|
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revenue anticipated in calculations under Section 26.041;
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[(5)
a statement that the adoption of a tax rate equal
|
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to the effective tax rate would result in an increase or decrease,
|
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as applicable, in the amount of taxes imposed by the unit as
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compared to last year's levy, and the amount of the increase or
|
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decrease;
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[(6)
in the year that a taxing unit calculates an
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adjustment under Subsection (i) or (j), a schedule that includes
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the following elements:
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[(A)
the name of the unit discontinuing the
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department, function, or activity;
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[(B)
the amount of property tax revenue spent by
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the unit listed under Paragraph (A) to operate the discontinued
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department, function, or activity in the 12 months preceding the
|
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month in which the calculations required by this chapter are made;
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and
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[(C)
the name of the unit that operates a
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distinct department, function, or activity in all or a majority of
|
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the territory of a taxing unit that has discontinued operating the
|
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distinct department, function, or activity; and
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[(7)
in the year following the year in which a taxing
|
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unit raised its rollback rate as required by Subsection (j), a
|
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schedule that includes the following elements:
|
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[(A)
the amount of property tax revenue spent by
|
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the unit to operate the department, function, or activity for which
|
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the taxing unit raised the rollback rate as required by Subsection
|
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(j) for the 12 months preceding the month in which the calculations
|
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required by this chapter are made; and
|
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[(B)
the amount published by the unit in the
|
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preceding tax year under Subdivision (6)(B)]. |
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(e-1) The notice requirements imposed by Subsection (e) |
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[Subsections (e)(1)-(6)] do not apply to a school district. |
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(f) If as a result of consolidation of taxing units a taxing |
|
unit includes territory that was in two or more taxing units in the |
|
preceding year, the amount of taxes imposed in each in the preceding |
|
year is combined for purposes of calculating the effective, same |
|
services, and rollback tax rates under this section. |
|
(i) This subsection applies to a taxing unit that has agreed |
|
by written contract to transfer a distinct department, function, or |
|
activity to another taxing unit and discontinues operating that |
|
distinct department, function, or activity if the operation of that |
|
department, function, or activity in all or a majority of the |
|
territory of the taxing unit is continued by another existing |
|
taxing unit or by a new taxing unit. The rollback tax rate of a |
|
taxing unit to which this subsection applies in the first tax year |
|
in which a budget is adopted that does not allocate revenue to the |
|
discontinued department, function, or activity is calculated as |
|
otherwise provided by this section, except that last year's levy |
|
used to calculate the effective maintenance and operations rate and |
|
the same services tax rate of the unit is reduced by the amount of |
|
maintenance and operations tax revenue spent by the taxing unit to |
|
operate the department, function, or activity for the 12 months |
|
preceding the month in which the calculations required by this |
|
chapter are made and in which the unit operated the discontinued |
|
department, function, or activity. If the unit did not operate that |
|
department, function, or activity for the full 12 months preceding |
|
the month in which the calculations required by this chapter are |
|
made, the unit shall reduce last year's levy used for calculating |
|
the effective maintenance and operations rate and the same services |
|
tax rate of the unit by the amount of the revenue spent in the last |
|
full fiscal year in which the unit operated the discontinued |
|
department, function, or activity. |
|
(j) This subsection applies to a taxing unit that had agreed |
|
by written contract to accept the transfer of a distinct |
|
department, function, or activity from another taxing unit and |
|
operates a distinct department, function, or activity if the |
|
operation of a substantially similar department, function, or |
|
activity in all or a majority of the territory of the taxing unit |
|
has been discontinued by another taxing unit, including a dissolved |
|
taxing unit. The rollback tax rate of a taxing unit to which this |
|
subsection applies in the first tax year after the other taxing unit |
|
discontinued the substantially similar department, function, or |
|
activity in which a budget is adopted that allocates revenue to the |
|
department, function, or activity is calculated as otherwise |
|
provided by this section, except that last year's levy used to |
|
calculate the effective maintenance and operations rate and the |
|
same services tax rate of the unit is increased by the amount of |
|
maintenance and operations tax revenue spent by the taxing unit |
|
that discontinued operating the substantially similar department, |
|
function, or activity to operate that department, function, or |
|
activity for the 12 months preceding the month in which the |
|
calculations required by this chapter are made and in which the unit |
|
operated the discontinued department, function, or activity. If |
|
the unit did not operate the discontinued department, function, or |
|
activity for the full 12 months preceding the month in which the |
|
calculations required by this chapter are made, the unit may |
|
increase last year's levy used to calculate the effective |
|
maintenance and operations rate and the same services tax rate by an |
|
amount not to exceed the amount of property tax revenue spent by the |
|
discontinuing unit to operate the discontinued department, |
|
function, or activity in the last full fiscal year in which the |
|
discontinuing unit operated the department, function, or activity. |
|
SECTION 5. Sections 26.041(a), (c), (e), (g), and (h), Tax |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In the first year in which an additional sales and use |
|
tax is required to be collected, the effective tax rate, same |
|
services tax rate, and rollback tax rate for the unit are calculated |
|
according to the following formulas: |
|
EFFECTIVE TAX RATE = [(LAST YEAR'S LEVY - LOST PROPERTY LEVY)/ |
|
(CURRENT TOTAL VALUE - NEW PROPERTY VALUE)] - |
|
SALES TAX GAIN RATE |
|
SAME SERVICES TAX RATE = [(LAST YEAR'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS |
|
LEVY + (NEW PROPERTY VALUE X LAST YEAR'S |
|
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE)) / |
|
CURRENT TOTAL VALUE] + CURRENT DEBT RATE - |
|
SALES TAX GAIN RATE |
|
and |
|
ROLLBACK TAX RATE = (EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE x |
|
1.08) + CURRENT DEBT RATE - SALES TAX GAIN |
|
RATE |
|
where "sales tax gain rate" means a number expressed in dollars per |
|
$100 of taxable value, calculated by dividing the revenue that will |
|
be generated by the additional sales and use tax in the following |
|
year as calculated under Subsection (d) of this section by the |
|
current total value. |
|
(c) In a year in which a taxing unit that has been imposing |
|
an additional sales and use tax ceases to impose an additional sales |
|
and use tax the effective tax rate, same services tax rate, and |
|
rollback tax rate for the unit are calculated according to the |
|
following formulas: |
|
EFFECTIVE TAX RATE = [(LAST YEAR'S LEVY - LOST PROPERTY LEVY) / |
|
(CURRENT TOTAL VALUE - NEW PROPERTY VALUE)] + |
|
SALES TAX LOSS RATE |
|
SAME SERVICES TAX RATE = [(LAST YEAR'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS |
|
LEVY + (NEW PROPERTY VALUE X LAST YEAR'S |
|
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE))/CURRENT |
|
TOTAL VALUE] + CURRENT DEBT RATE + SALES |
|
TAX LOSS RATE |
|
and |
|
ROLLBACK TAX RATE = [(LAST YEAR'S MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS |
|
EXPENSE x 1.08)/([TOTAL] CURRENT TOTAL VALUE - |
|
NEW PROPERTY VALUE)] + CURRENT DEBT RATE |
|
where "sales tax loss rate" means a number expressed in dollars per |
|
$100 of taxable value, calculated by dividing the amount of sales |
|
and use tax revenue generated in the last four quarters for which |
|
the information is available by the current total value and "last |
|
year's maintenance and operations expense" means the amount spent |
|
for maintenance and operations from property tax and additional |
|
sales and use tax revenues in the preceding year. |
|
(e) If a city that imposes an additional sales and use tax |
|
receives payments under the terms of a contract executed before |
|
January 1, 1986, in which the city agrees not to annex certain |
|
property or a certain area and the owners or lessees of the property |
|
or of property in the area agree to pay at least annually to the city |
|
an amount determined by reference to all or a percentage of the |
|
property tax rate of the city and all or a part of the value of the |
|
property subject to the agreement or included in the area subject to |
|
the agreement, the governing body, by order adopted by a majority |
|
vote of the governing body, may direct the designated officer or |
|
employee to add to the effective, same services, and rollback tax |
|
rates the amount that, when applied to the total taxable value |
|
submitted to the governing body, would produce an amount of taxes |
|
equal to the difference between the total amount of payments for the |
|
tax year under contracts described by this subsection under the |
|
rollback tax rate calculated under this section and the total |
|
amount of payments for the tax year that would have been obligated |
|
to the city if the city had not adopted an additional sales and use |
|
tax. |
|
(g) If the rate of the additional sales and use tax is |
|
increased, the designated officer or employee shall make two |
|
projections, in the manner provided by Subsection (d) of this |
|
section, of the revenue generated by the additional sales and use |
|
tax in the following year. The first projection must take into |
|
account the increase and the second projection must not take into |
|
account the increase. The officer or employee shall then subtract |
|
the amount of the result of the second projection from the amount of |
|
the result of the first projection to determine the revenue |
|
generated as a result of the increase in the additional sales and |
|
use tax. In the first year in which an additional sales and use tax |
|
is increased: |
|
(1) [,] the effective tax rate for the unit is the |
|
effective tax rate before the increase minus a number the numerator |
|
of which is the revenue generated as a result of the increase in the |
|
additional sales and use tax, as determined under this subsection, |
|
and the denominator of which is the current total value minus the |
|
new property value; and |
|
(2) the same services tax rate for the unit is the same |
|
services tax rate before the increase minus a number the numerator |
|
of which is the revenue generated as a result of the increase in the |
|
additional sales and use tax, as determined under this subsection, |
|
and the denominator of which is the current total value minus the |
|
new property value. |
|
(h) If the rate of the additional sales and use tax is |
|
decreased, the designated officer or employee shall make two |
|
projections, in the manner provided by Subsection (d) of this |
|
section, of the revenue generated by the additional sales and use |
|
tax in the following year. The first projection must take into |
|
account the decrease and the second projection must not take into |
|
account the decrease. The officer or employee shall then subtract |
|
the amount of the result of the first projection from the amount of |
|
the result of the second projection to determine the revenue lost as |
|
a result of the decrease in the additional sales and use tax. In the |
|
first year in which an additional sales and use tax is decreased: |
|
(1)[,] the effective tax rate for the unit is the |
|
effective tax rate before the decrease plus a number the numerator |
|
of which is the revenue lost as a result of the decrease in the |
|
additional sales and use tax, as determined under this subsection, |
|
and the denominator of which is the current total value minus the |
|
new property value; and |
|
(2) the same services tax rate for the unit is the same |
|
services tax rate before the decrease plus a number the numerator of |
|
which is the revenue lost as a result of the decrease in the |
|
additional sales and use tax, as determined under this subsection, |
|
and the denominator of which is the current total value minus the |
|
new property value. |
|
SECTION 6. The heading to Section 26.043, Tax Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 26.043. ROLLBACK, EFFECTIVE, AND SAME SERVICES TAX |
|
RATES [RATE] IN CITY IMPOSING MASS TRANSIT SALES AND USE TAX. |
|
SECTION 7. Sections 26.043(a) and (b), Tax Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In the tax year in which a city has set an election on |
|
the question of whether to impose a local sales and use tax under |
|
Subchapter H, Chapter 453, Transportation Code, the officer or |
|
employee designated to make the calculations provided by Section |
|
26.04 may not make those calculations until the outcome of the |
|
election is determined. If the election is determined in favor of |
|
the imposition of the tax, the representative shall subtract from |
|
the city's rollback, [and] effective, and same services tax rates |
|
the amount that, if applied to the city's current total value, would |
|
impose an amount equal to the amount of property taxes budgeted in |
|
the current tax year to pay for expenses related to mass transit |
|
services. |
|
(b) In a tax year to which this section applies, a reference |
|
in this chapter to the city's effective, same services, or rollback |
|
tax rate refers to that rate as adjusted under this section. |
|
SECTION 8. The heading to Section 26.044, Tax Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 26.044. EFFECTIVE AND SAME SERVICES TAX RATES [RATE] |
|
TO PAY FOR STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANDATE. |
|
SECTION 9. Sections 26.044(a) and (b), Tax Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The first time that a county adopts a tax rate after |
|
September 1, 1991, in which the state criminal justice mandate |
|
applies to the county, the effective maintenance and operation rate |
|
and the same services tax rate for the county are [is] increased by |
|
the rate calculated according to the following formula: |
|
(State Criminal Justice Mandate) / (Current Total Value - New |
|
Property Value) |
|
(b) In the second and subsequent years that a county adopts |
|
a tax rate, if the amount spent by the county for the state criminal |
|
justice mandate increased over the previous year, the effective |
|
maintenance and operation rate and the same services tax rate for |
|
the county are [is] increased by the rate calculated according to |
|
the following formula: |
|
(This Year's State Criminal Justice Mandate - Previous Year's State |
|
Criminal Justice Mandate) / (Current Total Value - New Property |
|
Value) |
|
SECTION 10. Sections 26.0441(a) and (b), Tax Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In the first tax year in which a taxing unit adopts a tax |
|
rate after January 1, 2000, and in which the enhanced minimum |
|
eligibility standards for indigent health care established under |
|
Section 61.006, Health and Safety Code, apply to the taxing unit, |
|
the effective maintenance and operations rate and the same services |
|
tax rate for the taxing unit are [is] increased by the rate computed |
|
according to the following formula: |
|
Amount of Increase = Enhanced Indigent Health Care Expenditures / |
|
(Current Total Value - New Property Value) |
|
(b) In each subsequent tax year, if the taxing unit's |
|
enhanced indigent health care expenses exceed the amount of those |
|
expenses for the preceding year, the effective maintenance and |
|
operations rate and the same services tax rate for the taxing unit |
|
are [is] increased by the rate computed according to the following |
|
formula: |
|
Amount of Increase = (Current Tax Year's Enhanced Indigent Health |
|
Care Expenditures - Preceding Tax Year's Indigent Health Care |
|
Expenditures) / (Current Total Value - New Property Value) |
|
SECTION 11. Section 26.05, Tax Code, is amended by amending |
|
Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) The governing body of each taxing unit, before the later |
|
of September 30 or the 90th [60th] day after the date the certified |
|
appraisal roll is received by the taxing unit, shall adopt a tax |
|
rate for the current tax year and shall notify the assessor for the |
|
unit of the rate adopted. The tax rate consists of two components, |
|
each of which must be approved separately. The components are: |
|
(1) the following rate, as applicable: |
|
(A) for a taxing unit other than a school |
|
district, the rate that, if applied to the total taxable value, will |
|
impose an amount equal to the amount computed by: |
|
(i) adding the following amounts: |
|
(a) the amount of principal and |
|
interest that will be paid to service the unit's debts in the next |
|
year from property tax revenue, including payments of lawfully |
|
incurred contractual obligations providing security for the |
|
payment of the principal of and interest on bonds and other |
|
evidences of indebtedness issued on behalf of the unit by another |
|
political subdivision and, if the unit is created under Section 52, |
|
Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, |
|
payments on debts that the unit anticipates to incur in the next |
|
calendar year; and |
|
(b) the amount by which taxes imposed |
|
for debt are to be increased because of the unit's anticipated |
|
collection rate; and |
|
(ii) subtracting from the amount computed |
|
under Subparagraph (i) the sum of the following amounts: |
|
(a) any amount collected in excess of |
|
the previous year's anticipated collections certified as provided |
|
by Section 26.04(b); and |
|
(b) [the total amount published under
|
|
Section 26.04(e)(3)(C), less] any amount of additional sales and |
|
use tax revenue that will be used to pay debt service; or |
|
(B) [, or,] for a school district, the rate |
|
published under Section 44.004(c)(5)(A)(ii)(b), Education Code; |
|
and |
|
(2) the rate that, if applied to the total taxable |
|
value, will impose the amount of taxes needed to fund maintenance |
|
and operation expenditures of the unit for the next year. |
|
(b) A taxing unit may not impose property taxes in any year |
|
until the governing body has adopted a tax rate for that year, and |
|
the annual tax rate must be set by ordinance, resolution, or order, |
|
depending on the method prescribed by law for adoption of a law by |
|
the governing body. The vote on the ordinance, resolution, or |
|
order setting the tax rate must be separate from the vote adopting |
|
the budget. The vote on the ordinance, resolution, or order |
|
setting a tax rate that exceeds the same services [effective] tax |
|
rate must be a record vote. A motion to adopt an ordinance, |
|
resolution, or order setting a tax rate that exceeds the same |
|
services [effective] tax rate must be made in the following |
|
form: "I move that property taxes be increased by the adoption of a |
|
tax rate of (specify tax rate)." If the ordinance, resolution, or |
|
order sets a tax rate that, if applied to the total taxable value, |
|
will impose an amount of taxes [to fund maintenance and operation
|
|
expenditures of the taxing unit] that exceeds the amount of taxes |
|
imposed [for that purpose] in the preceding year, the taxing unit |
|
must: |
|
(1) include in the ordinance, resolution, or order in |
|
type larger than the type used in any other portion of the document: |
|
(A) the following statement: "THIS TAX RATE |
|
WILL RAISE MORE TAXES [FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS] THAN LAST |
|
YEAR'S TAX RATE."; and |
|
(B) if the tax rate exceeds the same services tax |
|
[effective maintenance and operations] rate, the following |
|
statement: "THE TAX RATE WILL RAISE TAXES [FOR MAINTENANCE AND
|
|
OPERATIONS] ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $(Insert amount)."; |
|
and |
|
(2) include on the home page of any Internet website |
|
operated by the unit: |
|
(A) the following statement: "(Insert name of |
|
unit) ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES [FOR MAINTENANCE
|
|
AND OPERATIONS] THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE"; and |
|
(B) if the tax rate exceeds the same services tax |
|
[effective maintenance and operations] rate, the following |
|
statement: "THE TAX RATE WILL RAISE TAXES [FOR MAINTENANCE AND
|
|
OPERATIONS] ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $(Insert amount)." |
|
(c) If the designated officer or employee [governing body of
|
|
a taxing unit] does not comply with Section 26.04(e) by the date |
|
required by that subsection and the failure to comply was caused by |
|
circumstances beyond the designated officer's or employee's |
|
control, such as a natural disaster [adopt a tax rate before the
|
|
date required by Subsection (a)], the tax rate for the taxing unit |
|
for that tax year is the lower of the same services [effective] tax |
|
rate calculated for that tax year or the tax rate adopted by the |
|
taxing unit for the preceding tax year. A tax rate established by |
|
this subsection is treated as an adopted tax rate. Before the fifth |
|
day after the establishment of a tax rate by this subsection, the |
|
governing body of the taxing unit must ratify the applicable tax |
|
rate in the manner required by Subsection (b). |
|
(d) The governing body of a taxing unit other than a school |
|
district may not adopt a tax rate that exceeds the lower of the |
|
rollback tax rate or the same services [effective] tax rate |
|
calculated as provided by this chapter until the governing body has |
|
complied with Subsection (d-1) of this section and has held two |
|
public hearings on the proposed tax rate and [has] otherwise |
|
complied with Section 26.06 and Section 26.065. The governing body |
|
of a taxing unit shall reduce a tax rate set by law or by vote of the |
|
electorate to the lower of the rollback tax rate or the same |
|
services [effective] tax rate and may not adopt a higher rate unless |
|
it first complies with Section 26.06. |
|
(d-1) Before giving notice of the public hearings on the |
|
proposed tax rate under Section 26.06, the governing body of a |
|
taxing unit that is required to comply with that section must take a |
|
record vote on a proposal to place consideration of an increase in |
|
taxes on the agenda for the meeting at which the governing body will |
|
adopt the tax rate. The motion for the vote must be made in the |
|
following form: "I move that a proposal to increase property taxes |
|
by the adoption of a tax rate of (specify tax rate) be placed on the |
|
agenda for the meeting to be held on (date at which the governing |
|
body anticipates adopting the tax rate)." |
|
SECTION 12. Section 26.052(e), Tax Code, is amended to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(e) Public notice provided under Subsection (c) must |
|
specify: |
|
(1) the tax rate that the governing body proposes to |
|
adopt; |
|
(2) the date, time, and location of the meeting of the |
|
governing body of the taxing unit at which the governing body will |
|
consider adopting the proposed tax rate; and |
|
(3) if the proposed tax rate for the taxing unit |
|
exceeds the unit's same services [effective] tax rate calculated as |
|
provided by Section 26.04, a statement substantially identical to |
|
the following: "The proposed tax rate would increase total taxes in |
|
(name of taxing unit) by (percentage by which the proposed tax rate |
|
exceeds the same services [effective] tax rate)." |
|
SECTION 13. Section 26.06(b), Tax Code, is amended to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(b) The notice of a public hearing may not be smaller than |
|
one-quarter page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, |
|
and the headline on the notice must be in 24-point or larger type. |
|
The notice must contain a statement in the following form: |
|
"NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE |
|
"The (name of the taxing unit) will hold two public hearings |
|
on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the |
|
tax roll in the preceding tax year by (percentage by which proposed |
|
tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or same services |
|
[effective] tax rate calculated under this chapter) percent. Your |
|
individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even |
|
decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your |
|
property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other |
|
property and the tax rate that is adopted. |
|
"The first public hearing will be held on (date and time) at |
|
(meeting place). |
|
"The second public hearing will be held on (date and time) at |
|
(meeting place). |
|
"(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how |
|
each voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase or, if one |
|
or more were absent, indicating the absences.) |
|
"The average taxable value of a residence homestead in (name |
|
of taxing unit) last year was $ (average taxable value of a |
|
residence homestead in the taxing unit for the preceding tax year, |
|
disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to |
|
disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older). Based on |
|
last year's tax rate of $ (preceding year's adopted tax rate) per |
|
$100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the |
|
average home was $ (tax on average taxable value of a residence |
|
homestead in the taxing unit for the preceding tax year, |
|
disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to |
|
disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older). |
|
"The average taxable value of a residence homestead in (name |
|
of taxing unit) this year is $ (average taxable value of a |
|
residence homestead in the taxing unit for the current tax year, |
|
disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to |
|
disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older). If the |
|
governing body adopts the same services [effective] tax rate for |
|
this year of $ (same services [effective] tax rate) per $100 of |
|
taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average |
|
home would be $ (tax on average taxable value of a residence |
|
homestead in the taxing unit for the current tax year, disregarding |
|
residence homestead exemptions available only to disabled persons |
|
or persons 65 years of age or older). |
|
"If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of |
|
$ (proposed tax rate) per $100 of taxable value, the amount of |
|
taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $ (tax on |
|
the average taxable value of a residence in the taxing unit for the |
|
current year disregarding residence homestead exemptions available |
|
only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older). |
|
"The taxes on any parcel of taxable property can be derived by |
|
multiplying the property's taxable value as computed on the basis |
|
of the notice of appraised value delivered by the appraisal |
|
district by each of the above tax rates. |
|
"Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings |
|
and express their views." |
|
SECTION 14. Section 26.06(d), Tax Code, as amended by |
|
Chapters 1105 (H.B. 3495) and 1112 (H.B. 3630), Acts of the 80th |
|
Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is reenacted and amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(d) At the public hearings the governing body shall announce |
|
the date, time, and place of the meeting at which it will vote on the |
|
proposed tax rate. After each hearing the governing body shall give |
|
notice of the meeting at which it will vote on the proposed tax rate |
|
and the notice shall be in the same form as prescribed by |
|
Subsections (b) and (c), except that it must state the following: |
|
"NOTICE OF TAX REVENUE INCREASE |
|
"The (name of the taxing unit) conducted public hearings on |
|
(date of first hearing) and (date of second hearing) on a proposal |
|
to increase the total tax revenues of the (name of the taxing unit) |
|
from properties on the tax roll in the preceding year by (percentage |
|
by which proposed tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or |
|
same services [effective] tax rate calculated under this chapter) |
|
percent. |
|
"The total tax revenue proposed to be raised last year at last |
|
year's tax rate of (insert tax rate for the preceding year) for each |
|
$100 of taxable value was (insert total amount of taxes imposed in |
|
the preceding year). |
|
"The total tax revenue proposed to be raised this year at the |
|
proposed tax rate of (insert proposed tax rate) for each $100 of |
|
taxable value, excluding tax revenue to be raised from new property |
|
added to the tax roll this year, is (insert amount computed by |
|
multiplying proposed tax rate by the difference between current |
|
total value and new property value). |
|
"The total tax revenue proposed to be raised this year at the |
|
proposed tax rate of (insert proposed tax rate) for each $100 of |
|
taxable value, including tax revenue to be raised from new property |
|
added to the tax roll this year, is (insert amount computed by |
|
multiplying proposed tax rate by current total value). |
|
"The (governing body of the taxing unit) is scheduled to vote |
|
on the tax rate that will result in that tax increase at a public |
|
meeting to be held on (date of meeting) at (location of meeting, |
|
including mailing address) at (time of meeting)." |
|
SECTION 15. Sections 26.044(c) and 26.0441(c), Tax Code, |
|
are repealed. |
|
SECTION 16. This Act applies only to a tax year beginning on |
|
or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
SECTION 17. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010. |