ELECTION TO INCREASE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON NOW

By Juan Montoya
The saying that there is nothing certain but death and taxes may still hold true, but this year local voters have a chance to bite the taxman and scale back their property tax burden by at least $120.
With the 210,025 2015 tax statements already sent out by Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre, his office says that if they vote in the ongoing elections, they may help increase their homestead exemption, and reduce their school taxes on their properties.
That is included in a proposed constitutional amendment election now before the voters. The Proposition 1 (SRJ 1), provides for an increase of the homestead exemption for local school district taxes from the current $15,000 of total appraised value to $25,000.

Yzaguirre said that in Cameron County, approximately 61,154 homeowners could see their tax bill decline by $120.
"Current law  provides for an exemption for a residence homestead from ad valorem taxation for public school district," he said. "This would be the first increased relief for a homestead since 1997.
"It is critically important for taxpayers to turn out and vote," Yzaguirre said. "I encourage all eligible voters in Cameron County to participate in the constitutional amendment election."
Coming on the heels of the Tax Ratification Election by voters Tuesday that holds the line on Brownsville Independent School District taxes at $1.15¼ cents per $100 of taxable value, voting in favor of Proposition 1 would help taxpayers fend off any increased appraisals by the Cameron County Appraisal District.
Voters overwhelming approved the TRE by more than 80 percent of the turnout.
According to the BISD website, about $65.8 million – or about 12.4 percent – of the district's budget is made up of local sources, the majority ad valorem taxes. Proposition 1 would impact the homestead exemption of these taxes.The total 2015 levy for the 38 taxing entities in the county totals $282.3 million..
Eastlyy voting sites are listed in graphic below (Click on graphic to enlarge). Early voting will extend from Oct. 19 to Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3. So far, only 372 votes have been cast countywide.