Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB683 by Sheets (Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homestead of certain disabled veterans.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB683, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($3,606,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017 increasing to a negative impact of ($38,903,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2016
$0
2017
($3,606,000)
2018
($18,150,000)
2019
($20,753,000)
2020
($23,515,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from Foundation School Fund 193
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from School Districts
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Counties
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Cities
2016
$0
$0
$0
$0
2017
($3,606,000)
($18,353,000)
($6,677,000)
($6,589,000)
2018
($18,150,000)
($7,054,000)
($7,682,000)
($7,566,000)
2019
($20,753,000)
($7,904,000)
($8,755,000)
($8,605,000)
2020
($23,515,000)
($9,067,000)
($9,977,000)
($9,788,000)
Fiscal Year
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Other Special Districts
2016
$0
2017
($4,641,000)
2018
($5,334,000)
2019
($6,073,000)
2020
($6,915,000)
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend Chapter 11 of the Tax Code, regarding taxable property and exemptions, to provide a total property tax exemption of the residential homestead of a disabled veteran who receives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor disability compensation of at least 80 percent, rather than 100 percent, and a rating of at least 80 percent disabled, rather than 100 percent disabled.
The bill would take effect January 1, 2016, contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment.
Methodology
The bill's provision that reduces the required percentage of disability from 100 percent to at least 80 percent for a veteran to be eligible for a 100 percent residence homestead property tax exemption would create a cost to units of local government and to the state through the operation of the school funding formulas.
The estimate was based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau and from appraisal districts. The estimated number of additional disabled veterans was multiplied by the average taxable value of a disabled veteran's homestead to estimate the value loss. Projected tax rates were applied through the five-year projection period to estimate the tax revenue loss to special districts, cities and counties, and to estimate the school district loss that would be partially transferred to the state. Under the hold harmless provisions of the Education Code, only a small portion of each year's additional school district loss related to the compressed rate would be transferred to the state while in subsequent years 100 percent of the loss would be transferred to the state. Because lagged year property values are used in the enrichment formula, school districts lose enrichment funding (a state gain) in the first year of a taxable property value reduction. In the second and successive years the enrichment loss and a portion of the school district debt (facilities) loss are transferred to the state through the relevant funding formulas.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implication to units of local government is reflected in the table above and is contingent upon passage of a constitutional amendment authorizing the exemption.
Harris County reported that there would have been a significant revenue loss in 2014 of $3,354,353 to the City of Houston, Houston Independent School District, and Harris County.