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January 11, 2020
Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Rules
The Bandera County River Authority & Groundwater District (District) will hold a Public Hearing at 9:00 am on February 27, 2020 at the District office, 440 FM 3240 Bandera, Texas 78003.
The subject of the Public Hearing is a variety of proposed revisions, additions, and deletions of the Rules of the District. District Rules are applicable in Bandera County and will apply to water wells, well owners, and groundwater users in Bandera County. In summary, the proposed rules will: (a) incorporate legislative changes made to Chapter 36, Texas Water Code into the District Rules, (b) remove unused, unnecessary, or out of date definitions and rules, (c) add or revise other definitions, (d) simplify, consolidate, or reorganize rules for easier reading and clarity, (e) revise the application process, determination of administrative completeness, and Board consideration of Well Operating Permits, (f) update procedural rules for various public hearings and contested case hearings, and (g) provide an overall cleanup of punctuation, grammar, and other minor revisions in wording.
A copy of the proposed rules will be available for viewing at the District office, 440 FM 3240, Bandera, Texas, which is generally open weekdays during normal business hours, and a copy of the proposed rules will be available for either viewing or downloading at the District website: www.bcragd.org
Anyone wishing to submit written comments on the proposed rules may deliver their comments to the District Office, 440 FM 3240, Bandera, Texas no later than 5:00 pm, February 20, 2020. Written comments may also be mailed to: BCRAGD Rules, P.O. Box 177, Bandera, TX 78003, but must be postmarked no later than February 20, 2020. Anyone may attend the Public Hearing and make oral comments on the proposed rules at the time designated for comments.
The agenda of the February 27, 2020 Public Hearing on proposed rules is:
Open Public Hearing on Proposed Rules
District presentation on Proposed Rules
Receive oral public comments on Proposed Rules Close Public Hearing
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January 10, 2020
Disabled veterans may qualify to have some or all of their property taxes waived
Veterans with a service-connected disability are encouraged to file an exemption application form to have their property taxes lowered. Some veterans may even qualify for a 100 percent exemption of their taxes.
Texas law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by veterans who are disabled, surviving spouses and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. An applicant may claim an exemption on only one piece of property the applicant owner on January 1. The applicant must be a Texas resident to qualify for a homestead exemption.
The other partial exemption is for homesteads donated to disabled veterans by charitable organizations at no cost or not more than 50 percent of the good faith estimate of the homestead’s market value to the disabled veterans and their surviving spouses.
The exemption amount is determined according to the percentage of service-connected disability.
A disabled veteran who received 100 percent disability compensation due to a service – connected disability and rating of 100 percent disabled or individual unemployability from the United States Department of Veterans affairs is entitled to an exemption from taxation of the appraised value of the veteran’s residence homestead. Surviving spouses of veterans who qualified for this exemption or who would have qualified for the exemption if it had been in effect at the time of the veteran’s death are also eligible with certain restrictions.
The surviving spouse of a member of the U. S. armed services who is killed in action is allowed a total (100 percent) property tax exemption on his or her residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the armed services member.
Any eligible person who has not previously received an exemption should file an exemption application by April 30.
For more information about property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses or to file an exemption, contact the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County at 830-796-3039, 1206 Main St. / P.O. Box 1119, Bandera, TX 78003. Information is also available on the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division’s website at https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/ and the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County at www.bancad.org
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January 10, 2020
Property tax information now available for Texas taxpayers
New and updated property tax information has been compiled by the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County and is available now to assist taxpayers. This property tax information is current and covers a wide range of topics, such as taxpayers’ remedies, exemptions and appraisals, and has information for select groups, such as disabled veterans and personas age 65 or older.
“Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, disabled veteran or taxpayer, it’s important you know your rights concerning the property tax laws. “said Wendy M. Grams, Chief Appraiser of the Central Appraisal district of Bandera County. “You can contact us about any property tax issues with full confidence that we will provide you the most complete, accurate and up-to-date available information to assist you.”
This includes information about the following programs:
Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans – The law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by veterans who are disabled, surviving spouses and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. This includes homestead donated to disabled veteran by charitable organizations at no cost to the disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The exemption amount is determined according to percentage of service-connected disability. The law also provides a 100 percent homestead exemption for 100 percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and for surviving spouses of U. S. armed service members killed in action.
Property Tax Exemptions – Non-profit organizations that meet statutory requirements may seek property tax exemptions and must apply to their county appraisal district by a specific date.
Rendering Taxable Property – If a business owns a tangible personal property that is used to produce income, the business must file a rendition with its local county appraisal district by a specified date. Personal property includes inventory and equipment used by a business. Owners do not have to render exempt property such as church property or an agriculture producer’s equipment used for farming.
Appraisal Notices – Normally, taxpayers receive a notice of appraised value from the appropriate local county appraisal district. The city, county, school districts and other local taxing units will use the appraisal district’s value to set property taxes for the coming year.
Property Taxpayer Remedies - This comptroller publication explains in detail how to protest a property appraisal, what issues the county appraisal review board (ARB) ca consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the options of taking a taxpayer’s case to district court, the State Office of Administrative Hearing or binding arbitration if the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the ARB hearing.
Homestead Exemption – A homestead is generally defined as the home and land used as the owner’s principal residence on January 1 of the tax year. A homestead exemption reduces the appraised value of the home and, as a result, lowers property taxes. Applications are submitted to the appropriate local county appraisal district.
Productivity Appraisal - Property owners who use land for timber land production, agricultural purposes or wildlife management can be granted property tax relief on their land. They may a0pply to their local county appraisal district for an agricultural appraisal which may result in a lower appraisal of the land based on how much the taxpayer produces, versus what the land would sell for on the open market.
Residence Homestead Tax Deferral – Texas Homeowners may postpone paying the currently delinquent property taxes due on the appreciating value of their homes by filing a tax deferral affidavit at their local county appraisal district. This tax relief allows homeowners to pay the property taxes on 105 percent of the preceding year’s appraised value of their homestead, plus the taxes on any new improvements to the homestead. The remaining taxes are postponed, but not cancelled, with interest accruing at 8 percent per year.
Property Tax Deferral for Persons Age 65 or Older or Disabled Homeowners – Texans who are age 65 or disabled, as defined by law, may postpone paying current and delinquent property taxes on their homes by signing a tax deferral affidavit. Once the affidavit is on file, taxes are deferred, but not cancelled, as long as the owner continues to own and live in the home. Interest continues to accrue on unpaid taxes. You may obtain a deferral affidavit at the appraisal district.
Protesting Property Appraisal Values - Property owners who disagree with the appraisal district’s appraisal of their property for local taxes or for any other action that adversely affects them may protest their property value to the appraisal district’s ARB.
For more information about these programs, contact the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County at 830-796-3039, 1206 Main St. / P.O. Box 1119, Bandera, TX 78003. Information is also available on the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division’s website at https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/ and the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County at www.bancad.org
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January 10, 2020
Central Appraisal District of Bandera County reminds businesses
to render their taxable property by April 15
If you own tangible personal property that is used to produce income, you must file a rendition with the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County.
A rendition is a report that lists all the taxable property you owned or controlled on January 1 of this year. Property includes inventory and equipment used by a business. Owner do not have to render exempt property, such as church property or an agriculture producer’s equipment used for farming.
“The appraisal district may use the information submitted in the rendition to set property values,” Central Appraisal District of Bandera County Chief Appraiser Wendy M. Grams said.
You can also file a report of decreased value to notify the appraisal district of significant depreciation of your property.
“For example, if your property was damaged by a storm, flood or fire last year, you should file a report of decreased value. The appraisal district will look at your property before assigning a value,” Grams said.
For most property types, renditions must be filed after January 1 and no latter than April 15. A property owner may apply, in writing, for a mandatory extension to May 15.
A 10 percent to 50 percent penalty may be imposed if a rendition is filed late, incomplete or not at all. Property owners who need more time to file their rendition may file a written request with the chief appraiser on or before the rendition deadline to receive an automatic extension, if allowed.
The chief appraiser may extend the deadline another 15 days for good cause shown in writing by the property owner for each type of property.
For more information about rendering property, deadline extension, penalties and rendition forms, taxpayers may contact the Central Appraisal District of Bandera County at 830-796-3039, 1206 Main St. / P.O. Box 1119 Bandera, TX 78003.
Information is also available from the Comptroller’s Property Tax Assistance Division’s website at www.comptroller.texas.gove/taxes/property-tax/.
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