Property values are up by double-digits across Dallas County for 2016. Taxes on assessed values are the main funding source for the county, cities, schools, and the public hospital district.
Even if jurisdictions vote to keep their tax rates the same, the higher values will translate into higher tax bills for many property owners.
Dallas County
Values rose 10.1% for Dallas County as a whole. It's the largest increase seen since 1989.
County Judge Clay Jenkins wants to cut the tax rate so revenues grow by no more than 7.5% -- the amount that the county initially budgeted. However, the rate cut is not supported by the entire Commissioners Court.
The tax rate will be set on September 20.
Cities
The City of Dallas also budgeted for a 7.5% property tax increase. City's property values actually rose 10.2%.
Suburban cities in Dallas County are reporting even bigger value hikes, including:
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33.4% in Hutchins |
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22.6% in Wilmer |
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16.4% in Lancaster |
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13% in Desoto and Sachse |
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12.1% in Richardson |
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11.3% in Garland |
Public Schools
The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) expected property values to go up 11% but the actual increase was only 9.2%.
The Board of Education decided not ask voters for a tax increase. A proposed November election could have raised property taxes by 13 cents per $100 valuation, bringing in an estimated $100 million to fund early childhood education and early college high school programs. Just last year, voters approved a $1.6 billion DISD bond package.
Hospital District
Parkland Memorial Hospital's property tax revenue is expected to grow 10.09% with the current tax rate to $589 million. But the hospital expects to lose at least $40 million from federal government programs that reimburse care for the elderly, poor, and uninsured.
Among the hospital's biggest costs are soaring prescription drug prices, more patients seeking care, and a rise in costly emergency room visits.
With the increases in tax roll values, it will be interesting to see what the collecting authorities decide to do with rates prior to tax bills being mailed later this year. Some may say it is a good problem to have.
