CITY & COUNTY
News from League City, Houston & Harris County
League City City Council will meet at 6 p.m. July 11 and 25 at council chambers, 200 W. Walker St., League City. Meetings are streamed at www.facebook.com/leaguecitytexas and http://leaguecitytx.swagit.com/ live-chambers. MEETINGS WE COVER population estimate for April 2021. The county saw a 16.8% increase from the county’s population estimate for April 2010. The alleged undercount could be shorting Harris County up to $150 million in federal funding annually, First Assistant County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said. On May 16, commissioners unanimously voted for the county attorney’s office to challenge the 2022 census population estimates. Fombonne said 40,000-45,000 is an estimated undercount. HIGHLIGHTS HOUSTON As Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner nears the end of his second and final term, he shared the city’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2023-24. The budget is the “final one but is also the best one,” said Turner, who was elected to his first term in 2015 and whose second term will expire in January. Turner presented the proposed budget, which was approved in June, at a news conference held at City Hall on May 16. The total proposed budget for FY 2023-24 includes $6.2 billion in expenditures, an increase of $379.2 million or 6.6% from FY 2022-23. The majority of the increase, $199 million, is attributed to higher operations and maintenance costs associated with the city’s water and wastewater system. The proposed budget’s ending fund balance is $401 million, $220 million above the requirement. HARRIS COUNTY The Office of the Harris County Attorney will be challenging the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 population estimates, citing a possible undercount of 40,000- 45,000 residents, after county commissioners approved the effort May 16. As of July 1, 2022, Harris County had a population of 4.78 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The county saw an almost 1% increase from the county’s “I THINK WE NEED TO GO UP TO THE MAXIMUM. PEOPLE CAUSING THE IMPACT NEED TO PAY FOR THAT IMPACT.” NICK LONG, LEAGUE CITY MAYOR, ON INCREASING IMPACT FEES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE QUOTE OF NOTE
League City impact fees set to increase 93% LEAGUE CITY After League City City Council’s two votes May 23 and June 13, most of the fees to add water and wastewater lines to new developments will increase 93% beginning Dec. 1. BY JAKE MAGEE RISING FEES League City’s impact fees are set to nearly double. +93% +93%
Current fees Proposed fees
What happened: Council has approved both readings of an ordinance to increase water and wastewater impact fees. Originally proposed to take effect Sept. 1, council agreed to push the start date to Dec. 1. Impact fees, also known as capital recovery fees, are charged to devel- opers one time so the cost for new development is minimal on existing taxpayers. Here are the changes: • The proposed new fees for resi- dential developments, including single-family houses, range from $11,860-$14,825. • The existing fees for such develop- ments are $6,134-$7,668. • The difference ranges from $5,726- $7,157—a 93% increase.
Residential developments $6,134 $11,860
Commercial developments $7,668 $14,825
SOURCE: CITY OF LEAGUE CITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Additionally, water and waste- water impact fees for commercial developments are proposed to increase based on the size of a development’s water meter: • The proposed new fees, depending on water meter size, range from $14,825-$1.14 million. • The existing fees for such develop- ments range from $7,668-$587,928. • The difference is a 93% increase. • The only proposed increase that isn’t 93% is for a 3-inch line, which is proposed to go from $112,587 to
$158,137—a 40% increase. Council last raised its water and wastewater impact fees in 2019. Zooming in: League City’s existing water and wastewater impact fees for a single-family home are lower than several nearby cities. For instance, Pearland’s fee is $9,265, compared to League City’s $7,668. By increasing the fee to $14,825, League City is on the high end when it comes to such fees when compared to nearby cities.
Seniors, disabled residents receive higher homestead exemptions
HOW IT WORKS A homestead exemption removes part of the value on a homeowner’s property from taxation and lowers the homeowner’s taxes. The following example shows how property taxes owed are calculated based on a home appraised at $300,000 with a homestead exemption of $25,000.
BY MELISSA ENAJE
HARRIS COUNTY Commissioners unanimously voted May 16 to increase the homestead exemption for seniors and disabled homeowners. The increase is applied to the appraised value of a resident’s homestead and will go into effect for the 2023 tax year for bills that go out in October. The impact: Those who are legally defined as disabled as well as those age 65 and older could qualify for an additional $25,000 off the appraised value of their homes. According to Harris Central Appraisal District documents, if residents are over 65 and disabled, they may either receive the over 65-exemption or the disability homestead exemption, but not both. • For those who meet the age or disability requirements, the $25,000 increase raises the 2022 exemption from $250,000 to $275,000. • The savings for qualified persons will average $130 per year. Terms to know: The Harris Central Appraisal District defines a homestead as generally the house and land used as the homeowner’s principal residence Jan. 1 of the current tax year.
$300,000 $25,000 $275,000 = - Appraised value: Homestead exemption: Taxable value:
$275,000
100 =
$2,750
Property taxes owed
$2,750
=
Tax rate
X
SOURCE: HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
people desperate for help. This latest increase of the exemption should negate the impact of rising appraisal values on families across Harris County,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said in a news release. Going forward: Reaching age 65 does not automatically exempt senior homeowners from paying property taxes, according to HCAD guidelines. • Seniors who need to apply can obtain a homestead exemption form online at www.hcad.org under the “popular forms” tab or by contacting the HCAD on weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 713-957-7800.
Quote of note: “Once again, we deliver real savings to
11
BAY AREA EDITION • JUNE 2023
Powered by FlippingBook