LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATURE 1st CALLED SESSION - 2017
 
July 24, 2017

TO:
Honorable Dennis Bonnen, Chair, House Committee on Ways & Means
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB84 by Metcalf (Relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB84, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($921,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019, contingent upon passage of a constitutional amendment authorizing the exemption.

Additionally, there would be a negative impact of ($734,042,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021, contingent upon passage of a constitutional amendment authorizing the exemption.

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
2018 $0
2019 ($921,000)
2020 ($232,747,000)
2021 ($501,295,000)
2022 ($803,422,000)




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
2018 $0 $0 $0 $0
2019 ($921,000) ($279,830,000) ($82,369,000) ($84,253,000)
2020 ($232,747,000) ($378,524,000) ($178,540,000) ($180,718,000)
2021 ($501,295,000) ($487,291,000) ($287,449,000) ($287,918,000)
2022 ($803,422,000) ($612,605,000) ($409,876,000) ($406,260,000)

Fiscal Year Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from
Other Special Districts
2018 $0
2019 ($62,162,000)
2020 ($134,539,000)
2021 ($216,284,000)
2022 ($307,941,000)

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would amend Chapter 23 of the Tax Code, regarding property taxation and appraisal methods and procedures, to reduce the limitation on the annual increase in the appraised value of a residence homestead (appraisal cap) from 10 percent to 5 percent.

The bill would take effect on January 1, 2018, contingent on approval by the voters of a constitutional amendment (HJR 22).

Methodology

Contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment, the bill would require appraisal districts to reduce the limit on the growth in the appraised value of a homestead from 10 percent to 5 percent per year creating a fiscal impact on the state and units of local government. The year-to-year percent change in value for a large random sample of homesteads listed on the appraisal roll in each of the two most recent years was calculated and the results were sorted by percent change. The value loss resulting from the proposed limitation was calculated for homesteads that increased in value more than five percent. Value lost to the existing 10 percent value limitation on homestead property was excluded. The results were extrapolated to all Texas homesteads.

Value losses would occur in proportion to future real property growth rates. Mathematical modeling supported by historical data from the existing 10 percent cap shows that, when property value growth rates are relatively stable, value losses increase substantially in the second year after the imposition of a value growth cap and then increase at a decreasing rate. The value loss was adjusted in the second and succeeding years of the analysis to reflect this growth pattern.

In the first year of a taxable value loss, state recapture is reduced (a state loss). Because of the use of lagged year property values, in the second and successive years of a taxable value loss, state recapture is further reduced and the previous year's school district loss related to the Tier 1 rate is generally transferred to the state through the Tier 1 funding formulas (a state loss).

In the school district enrichment formula (Tier 2), property values do not reflect the first-year value loss because of the one-year value lag. Because the formula does reflect a tax collections decline in that year, school districts lose Tier 2 funding creating a state gain. In the second and successive years a large portion of the previous year's enrichment loss is transferred to the state (a state loss). 

The school district debt (facilities) funding formula does not reflect the first-year taxable value loss because of lagged property values. In the second and successive years a small portion of the previous year's school district facilities loss is transferred to the state (a state loss).

Local Government Impact

The estimated 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.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
UP, KK, SJS