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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Green, Shannon <br /> <br />From: <br />Sent: <br />To: <br />Subject: <br /> <br />Alexander, Cynthia <br />Tuesday, September 21, 2004 8:21 AM <br />Green, Shannon <br />FW: North Richland Hills: council approves senior tax freeze <br /> <br />For audit committee. C <br /> <br />-Original Message- <br />Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 6:49 AM <br />To: alexanderc@Ci.la-porte.tx.us <br />Subject: North Richland Hills: council approves senior tax freeze <br /> <br />Posted on Tue, Sep. 21, 2004 <br /> <br />Council approves senior tax freeze <br /> <br />By Terry Lee Goodrich <br />Star-Telegram Staff Writer <br /> <br />NORTH RICHLAND HILLS - City property taxes will be frozen for seniors and the <br />disabled beginning next year. <br /> <br />City Council members unanimously approved the tax cap Monday after nearly 70 <br />percent of voters supported the freeze in a nonbinding election Sept. 11. <br /> <br />"The best way to handle this was to put it out to the voters, and the voters have <br />spoken, " Mayor Oscar Trevino said after the meeting. <br /> <br />Taxes will be capped at the 2004 level. The freeze cannot be rescinded without a state <br />constitutional amendment, Councilman Frank Metts Jr. said. <br /> <br />Supporters of the tax freeze said the cap will prevent seniors from being driven from <br />their homes because they cannot afford city taxes. But opponents said the freeze is <br />unfair to other taxpayers. Seniors and the disabled already qualify for a $36,000 tax <br />exemption, they said. <br /> <br />Retiree Marlin Miller, 82, said the cap "will put everything back on the young people. I <br />paid my way all the way, and I don't need help now." <br /> <br />But Bill Jackson, 77, said the cap is "great. Everything is going up, including <br />[property] evaluations, but seniors aren't getting an income increase." <br /> <br />The city's property tax rate is 57 cents per $100 assessed valuation. <br /> <br />1 <br />