Charter Homestead Exemption

[Charles West]

Mayor Saum and Council Members,

While I agree with the Mayors efforts on reducing taxes, I also want to make sure we stay in sync with State Statutes and instead of being specific on the local homestead option in our Charter and since the City of Lago Vista has already adopted the State maximum allowed and under the current Tax Code it cannot be repealed or reduced I would sugest we adjust the language in the proposed Charter to read something along the lines listed below.

Texas Tax Code § 11.13(n-1) says:

• If a municipality adopted the §11.13 local-option residence homestead exemption for the 2022 tax year, the city may not reduce the amount of or repeal that exemption.

I would like to sugest the following language for the Charter concerning a city level Homestead Exemption:

“The City shall administer any residence homestead exemptions in accordance with applicable Texas law, including Texas Tax Code § 11.13.”

 

[Norma Owen]

Thank you, Mr. West.

I agree that the language you’ve suggested is appropriate for consideration in order to maintain alignment with state law while also giving residents confidence that the City will administer any homestead exemption in accordance with the protections established by the Texas Legislature.

At the same time, I want to recognize the Mayor’s continued advocacy on behalf of the residents of Lago Vista regarding tax relief. His efforts to explore options for reducing the tax burden on our citizens are important, particularly as we work through the long-term infrastructure and financial challenges facing the City. Ensuring that our governing documents reflect both the intent of state law and the commitment of the Council to responsible tax policy is a constructive step in that direction.

The proposed language referencing Texas Tax Code §11.13 appears to provide a clear and legally consistent framework for how the City administers the residence homestead exemption while avoiding conflicts with state statute.

As we move through the Charter review process, I believe our goal should be to ensure the Charter remains consistent with state law while also maintaining transparency and reassurance to residents that Lago Vista will continue to pursue responsible fiscal stewardship and taxpayer protections.

Thank you for bringing this suggestion forward.