Laserfiche WebLink
TAx RATE <br />. While it appears the comparison of two cities by their tax rates appears to be the easiest and simplest <br />method of determining their financial strength, just the opposite is true. There are several different <br />factors that also must be taken into consideration. A sample of the factors include exemptions allowed <br />residents, the condition of their infrastructure (streets, buildings) and the level of services they provide. <br />The table below compares the tax rates of La Porte with three sister cities located along the ship channel. <br />In looking at the gross tax rates for the four cities, Pasadena has the lowest tax. However, if I was <br />thinking of buying a home in the area and chose Pasadena because they had the lowest gross tax rate, I <br />would actually be choosing the city that taxes its residents the most. That is because Pasadena does not <br />provide its residents with a homestead exemption. The other three cities do. All four cities offer their <br />senior citizens an exemption, just at different levels. The table and the graph below show La Porte ranks <br />third in their gross tax rate, are second in the amount a residential homeowner will pay and are first, or <br />lowest, in what a senior citizen will pay. <br />DOLLARS <br />700 <br />500 <br />400 <br />300 <br />200 <br />100 <br />� I <br />PROPERTY TAX COMPARISON <br />BETWEEN SISTER CITIES <br />NO EXEMPTIONS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OVER 65 EXEMPTION <br />TAXES ON AN $85,000 1100E <br />I A PURI F R1i TOWNDI-FH PARI :-J PA�,A6�I Nf <br />La Porte <br />Baytown <br />Deer Park <br />Pasadena <br />Gross Tax Rate <br />.71 <br />.73703 <br />.68 <br />.6475 <br />Gross Taxes on $85,000 <br />$603.50 <br />$626.48 <br />$578.00 <br />$550.38 <br />Homestead Exemption <br />20% <br />20% <br />20% <br />None <br />Net Tax Rate <br />.568 <br />.5896 <br />.544 <br />.6475 <br />Taxes on $85,000 with Homestead <br />$482.80 <br />$501.18 <br />$462.40 <br />$550.38 <br />Senior Citizen Exemption <br />$60,000 <br />$50,000 <br />$45,000 <br />$20,000 <br />Taxes on $85,000 with Senior <br />$ 56.80 <br />$132.67 <br />$156.40 <br />$420.88 <br />In looking at the gross tax rates for the four cities, Pasadena has the lowest tax. However, if I was <br />thinking of buying a home in the area and chose Pasadena because they had the lowest gross tax rate, I <br />would actually be choosing the city that taxes its residents the most. That is because Pasadena does not <br />provide its residents with a homestead exemption. The other three cities do. All four cities offer their <br />senior citizens an exemption, just at different levels. The table and the graph below show La Porte ranks <br />third in their gross tax rate, are second in the amount a residential homeowner will pay and are first, or <br />lowest, in what a senior citizen will pay. <br />DOLLARS <br />700 <br />500 <br />400 <br />300 <br />200 <br />100 <br />� I <br />PROPERTY TAX COMPARISON <br />BETWEEN SISTER CITIES <br />NO EXEMPTIONS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OVER 65 EXEMPTION <br />TAXES ON AN $85,000 1100E <br />I A PURI F R1i TOWNDI-FH PARI :-J PA�,A6�I Nf <br />