Published: 09-30-08
Calling on Local Officials to Provide Immediate Tax Relief for Hurricane Ike Victims
HOUSTON – Austen Furse Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 17 was joined today by Senator Mike Jackson (R – LaPorte) in calling on local officials to immediately authorize reappraisal of all property damaged by Hurricane Ike.
“There are thousands of people who suffered significant damage or lost their entire homes. It is only fair that they should have their properties reappraised so that we don’t ask people to pay taxes on a home that was washed away by Hurricane Ike” Furse said.
“Existing law authorizes local officials in a disaster area to proceed with a reappraisal process so folks who lose their homes or suffer significant damage pay a fair property tax for the portion of the year after their homes were damaged or destroyed. It is simple and fair and is not too much to ask for our homeowners” added Senator Jackson.
The existing law that allows this reappraisal is Tax Code § 23.02. This law says the Hurricane Ike tax relief plan must be authorized by each taxing jurisdiction (cities counties school districts special services districts etc.). Once the reappraisals are authorized each central appraisal district in the affected areas will at the request of the property owner reappraise each damaged or destroyed property.
Reappraised homes will be taxed at the new appraised value only for the period after the disaster occurred. The previously appraised value would continue to remain in effect for the part of the year before Hurricane Ike. So
if a property were appraised at $200000 before the storm and $100000 after the storm the $200000 value would apply for the 256 days before Ike hit and the $100000 value would apply for the 110 days after Ike hit.
“This tax relief is fair and absolutely called for. I implore local officials at all levels to immediately authorize this tax relief so that our appraisal districts can begin working on this momentous task” said Senator Jackson
“There are those who will say it takes too much time and will cause too much extra work. I say this is the least we can do for those people whose homes were damaged or completely destroyed by this storm” Furse concluded.
More information about the Austen Furse campaign is available at www.AustenFurse.com.
More information about Senator Jackson’s reelection campaign is available at www.SenatorJackson.com.
