Keller - Roanoke - Northeast Fort Worth | July 2023

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Fort Worth increases homestead exemptions for elderly, disabled Fort Worth City Council voted to raise homestead exemptions on property taxes for the elderly— residents age 65 and older—and each taxing unit decides if it will oer the exemption and at what percentage; and the taxing unit must decide before July 1 of the tax year to oer an exemption. BY MARK FADDEN What is a homestead exemption?

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The National Association of Home Builders oers routine home maintenance tips for homeowners looking to maintain their homes’ value and ensure their safety.

property tax relief plan at the time, many cities remained in limbo as to what they could do to lower the tax burden on their residents. Parker went on to say that the council waited as long as it could before taking action. “We thought it was important to do something in this

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Two governing bodies—Fort Worth City Council and Tarrant County Commissioners Court—passed homestead exemptions that will lessen the impact of the property value during tax time.

Sean and Kathy Duy opened Integrity Roong & Construction in Keller in 2004 and have provided service for thousands, according to the company.

disabled persons from $40,000 to $60,000 on June 27. “This is just a continuation of the city of Fort Worth’s leaders to really work aggressively to reduce as much property tax burden on our residents as possible,” Mayor Mattie Parker said. According to a

According to the news release, the exemption for elderly people was last raised in 1984 to $40,000. In 1991, the exemption for disabled people was raised from $20,000 to $40,000. The council’s action comes on the heels of action taken by Tarrant County Commissioners Court on June 6 to approve two new homestead exemptions. The rst exemption is for a 10% exemption on the county tax rate. The second is also a 10% exemption for the county’s hospital district tax. “I’m so excited we are doing this as a council,” Council Member Jared Williams said. “I think of folks like my dad, a retired teacher on a xed income, and know what this will mean for folks like him. This is an important rst step.”

“I THINK OF FOLKS LIKE MY DAD, A RETIRED TEACHER ON A FIXED INCOME, AND KNOW WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR FOLKS LIKE HIM.” JARED WILLIAMS, FORT WORTH COUNCIL MEMBER

The law requires property owners pay their deductible. This can often be a challenge for people during these times. Homeowners sometimes don’t understand the law. We oer nancing and other ways for people to be able to aord their out of pocket. WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART FROM OTHER COMPANIES? We strive to live and conduct our business by the Golden Rule. We nd great satisfaction and joy in helping others. Most of the time, it’s just doing the right thing, the right way. Kathy and I make a great team.

WHAT SERVICES DOES IRC OFFER? We are general contractors, specializing in residential reroong, commercial reroong, roof repairs, gutters, siding, fencing, decks and patios, windows, painting, and ooring work. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOUR BUSINESS FACES? Some of the challenges we face are eectively navigating online technology as it relates to [search engine optimization], online marketing, and advertising. Being based in North Texas, much of our business is storm related.

A homestead exemption limits the increase of an appraised value to 10% annually. This is commonly called a “homestead cap.” A homestead cap may exceed 10% if additional improvements, land or extensive renovations are added to the residence. Qualifying individuals must submit an application to receive the exemption. This is a one-time application. An eligible disabled person may not receive both a disabled and an elderly residence exemption.

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next tax bill for our residents,” Parker said. According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website, homestead exemptions remove

1 Roofs should be inspected by a qualied roofer every three years, and skylights should be inspected so leaks do not develop. 2 Ensure downspouts and gutters do not get clogged with leaves and other debris. 3 Inspect siding each year to see if it needs repainting, and trim shrubs away so they do not touch the siding. 4 Check for split or cracked caulking on windows and doors annually, and replace the caulk as necessary. 5 Moving parts of garage doors need to be oiled once every three months.

6 Air lters require regular replacement, generally once every three months. 7 Regularly check security alarms and circuit breakers . Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 8 Clean each faucet’s aerator every three to four months. Maintain garbage disposals by running cold water through them. 9 Masonry walls can develop a white powder that can be scrubbed o with water and a sti brush. 10 Hardwood oors without polyurethane need to be waxed with a liquid or paste “spirit” wax. Use emulsion wax on vinyl.

city news release, as the Texas Legislature considered options in June, any local action to amend the over-age-65 and disability exemp- tions had to be adopted by July 1 to become eective for the next scal year. With the Texas Legislature still divided on how to formulate a

part of a home’s value from taxa- tion, thereby lowering the taxes on that property. Under the Texas tax code, counties must follow several rules before approving an exemption including: the exemption may be up to 20 percent of a home’s value;

Sean Duy Owner Integrity Roong & Construction 620 Stoneglen Drive, Keller 817-788-8418 www.integrityroongcompany.com

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SOURCE: TARRANT APPRAISAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

WESTLAKE 2341 Highway 377 (817) 490-9072 KELLER 101 Keller Smithfield Rd S (817) 482-8295 Ches to Savings! ®

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