TRAGEDY MOTIVATES HP OFFICIALS TO REEVALUATE FLOOD CONTROL OPTIONS
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SEPTEMBER 2016 I Vol. 36, No. 9 I parkcitiespeople.com I @pcpeople I 214-739-2244
Homeowners Fight Inflated Property Taxes c o m m unity
APPEALS INCREASE AS APPRAISAL VALUES SOAR
News brief: Goff’s demolished after rampant fire 41
By Joshua Baethge
Soaring property evaluations are hammering local homeowners. While tax rates have remained relatively stable over the past five years, tax bills are still on the rise. The North Texas housing boom is largely to blame as strong demand continues to drive up home values. Increasingly, property owners are fighting back. According to the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD), 78,508 residential tax appeals were filed this year – 20 percent more than last year. In 2014, there were only 57,435 appeals. “It’s insane that the government can just send you a letter saying, ‘Here’s what your house is worth,’ without even going into your home,” said North Dallas resident James Hanson. When government entities set their budgets, they try to anticipate how much money will be generated from property taxes. If the revenue is higher than expected, they end up with a surplus. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins believes this money should be returned to the taxpayer. He’s lobbying local agencies to reduce the amount they take to ease the burden on families. “What I’m saying to government is, at a minimum, just take what you said you needed on May 22
JOSHUA BAETHGE
People Newspapers
B E L O W : Demand for housing continues to drive property values higher, increasing the tax burden for residents.
$2.0M $1.8M
$1.6M $1.4M
$1.6M Value $1.4M
$1.2M
$1.3M
Tennis pro goes global on U.S. senior national team 16
D A L L A S C O UN T Y A PPE A L S B Y YE A R
Median Home Value by Year Median Home Value by Year / Park Cities $1.8M
sports
➊ 2016: 78,508 ➋ 2015: 65,416 ➌ 2014: 57,435
$1.2M $1.0M
W HERE T HE M O NEY G O ES
$1.0M
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Year Highland Park
University Park
Median Home Value by Year / Preston Hollow
$1.1M
I M $1M A N I LY T L E
$834M
Co n t i n u e d o n 4 5
$645M
$210M
College District: 6%
HP grad’s legacy continues through scholarship 8
Value
$335M
F O O T B A L L TA B
$800K
S C H O O LS
$600K
$501M
$444M
➊ HPISD: 56% ➋ Parkland Hospital: 14% ➌ Dallas County: 13% ➍ City Government: 11% ➎ Dallas Co. Community
$400K
fo c u s o n p h i la $166M n t $200K hropy
B USINESS
$1.1M
$100K
Scots prepare for return to Class 5A action 2012
75209
insert
2013
Charity brings attention to women’s health issues 40 2014
2015
2016
Year
75220
75225
75229
75230
Eco-friendly restaurant celebrates decade of success 19