10-24-05 Regular Meeting of Fiscal Affairs Committee Minutes

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• Green, Shannon From: Alexander, Cynthia Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 2:41 PM To: Green, Shannon Subject: FW: Brenham: city considering tax break options For audit committee. c Original Message Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 2:54 PM Subject: Brenham: city considering tax break options City considering tax break options Brenham Banner Press By ARTHUR HAHN/Managing Editor Friday, November 4, 2005 2:15 PM CST Options on tax breaks for senior citizens who own homes are being considered by the Brenham City Council. The council Thursday held a workshop discussion listed on the agenda as talking about "a property tax freeze for senior and disabled citizens."Another option, however, was thrown into the mix: raising exemptions. The Brenham Louise Giddings Retired Teachers Association has been pressing the council to grant a tax break for senior citizens, saying many of them are lining on fixed incomes. The group has called for a tax freeze for senior and disabled citizens, saying its impact would be less than $20,000 on city property tax revenues. City Manager Terry Robert said he and Mayor Milton Tate met with RTA president Nancy Maass and Patricia Olney, Texas Retired Teacher Association District VI representative, and the discussion was expanded to include an increase in homestead exemptions for senior citizens. A freeze would set the tax bill at the point when a homeowner turned age 65. An exemption would lower the taxable value of the property by a specific amount. The city already provides a $12,000 exemption for senior citizens, Roberts pointed out. But council members could opt to increase that. The current X12,000 exemption lowers the city's tax base by $13.7 million, Roberts said.