The city hereby provides for participation in the Bastrop County
Appraisal District. The appraisal district shall be authorized to
perform all appraisal and assessment functions required under the
state Property Tax Code. The city shall retain collection functions.
(1987 Code, ch. 1, sec. 12B; 2001
Code, sec. 11.201)
(a) Definitions.
Disabled.
Has the same meaning as set forth in the Texas Tax Code,
section 11.13(m)(1) as it currently exits or may be amended.
Residence homestead.
Has the same meaning as set forth in the Texas Tax Code,
section 11.13(j)(1) as it currently exists or may be amended.
Tax Code.
The Texas Tax Code, as it currently exists or may be amended.
(b) Homestead tax exemption for the elderly.
From and after
January 1, 2021, $10,000.00 of the assessed value of residence homesteads
as defined by law of persons who have attained the age of 65 years
of age, on or before January 1 of the year for which the exemption
is claimed, shall be exempted from city ad valorem tax; provided,
however, that where the ad valorem tax has heretofore been pledged
for the payment of any debt, the taxing officers of the city shall
have authority to continue to levy and collect the tax against the
homestead property at the same rate as the tax so pledged until the
debt is discharged, if the cessation of the levy would impair the
obligation of the contract by which the debt was created.
(c) Homestead tax exemption for the disabled.
From and after
January 1, 2021, $10,000.00 of the assessed value of residence homesteads
as defined by law of an individual who is disabled on or before January
of the year for which the exemption is claimed shall be exempted from
city ad valorem tax; provided, however, that where the ad valorem
tax has heretofore been pledged for the payment of any debt, the taxing
officers of the city shall have authority to continue to levy and
collect the tax against the homestead property at the same rate as
the tax so pledged until the debt is discharged, if the cessation
of the levy would impair the obligation of the contract by which the
debt was created.
(d) Maximum homestead tax exemption.
In no event shall the
tax exemption on any residence homestead exceed $10,000.
(e) Incorporation of Texas Tax Code.
All of the terms and conditions as stated in chapter
11, section 13 of the Texas Tax Code are incorporated herein.
(f) Limitation on ad valorem taxes.
From and after January
1, 2022, a limitation on the total amount of taxes that may be imposed
by the city shall be enacted on the residence homestead of an individual
65 years of age or older.
(g) Repel or rescind.
The governing body of the city may
not repeal or rescind a tax limitation established under article VII,
section 1-b (h) of the Texas Constitution.
(h) Incorporation of Texas Tax Code.
All of the terms and conditions as stated in chapter
11, section 261. Limitation of municipal tax on homestead of the elderly of the Texas Tax Code are incorporated herein.
(1987 Code, ch. 1, sec. 12C; 2001
Code, sec. 11.202; Ordinance 2020-586 adopted 6/8/20; Ordinance
2021-613 adopted 11/8/21)
The property taxes levied by the city each year shall become
due on the 1st day of October of each year for which the levy is made
and shall become delinquent on the following 1st day of February.
Penalties and interest for delinquent taxes shall incur in accordance
with section 33.01 of the state Property Tax Code.
(1987 Code, ch. 1, sec. 12D; 2001
Code, sec. 11.203)
Whereas the city has contracted with an attorney to enforce
the collection of delinquent taxes pursuant to section 6.30 of the
state Property Tax Code, it is hereby provided, as authorized in section
33.07 of the state Property Tax Code, that taxes that remain delinquent
on July 1 of the year in which they become delinquent shall incur
an additional penalty in the amount of fifteen (15) percent of the
amount of taxes, penalty, and interest due to defray costs of collection.
(1987 Code, ch. 1, sec. 12E; 2001
Code, sec. 11.204)
Acting under the authority of the Texas Constitution, article
VIII, section 1-j(b) does hereby adopt the freeport exemption from
ad valorem taxation beginning in tax year 2018.
(Ordinance 2017-527 adopted 2/13/17)