Leander residents are increasingly wondering whether they can keep a roof over their heads without being taxed out of their homes, not to mention their retirement . Who voters elect for local office, especially for Leander mayor, city council and LISD school board, has a direct impact on monthly mortgage payments and October property tax bills. These elected officials set the property tax rates applied to appraised property values.
The current Run-off Election provides Leander voters the rare opportunity to evaluate two mayoral candidates based on their influence when each previously served in public office.
What was the Total Property Tax Rate trend during each candidate’s tenure on the Leander City Council?
|
Candidate
|
Term(s)
|
Property Tax Rate First Year on City Council |
Property Tax Rate Final FY on City Council |
Percent Change During Term(s) on City Council |
| Troy Hill | 2015-2018 | $0.632920 per $100 valuation |
$0.577867 per $100 valuation |
-8.7% Decrease in Property Tax Rate |
| Vic Villarreal | 2005-2009 | $0.548291 per $100 valuation |
$0.602590 per $100 valuation |
9.9% Increase in Property Tax Rate |
What was the Maintenance & Operations (M & O) Property Tax Rate trend during each candidate’s tenure on the Leander City Council?
|
Candidate
|
Term(s)
|
M & O Property Tax Rate FY Prior to Taking Office |
M & O Property Tax Rate Final FY on City Council |
Percent Change M & O Property Tax Rate During Term(s) |
| Troy Hill | 2015-2018 | $0.41864 per $100 valuation |
$0.361967 per $100 valuation |
-13.5% Decrease in M & OTax Rate |
| Vic Villarreal | 2005-2009 | $0.162749 per $100 valuation |
$0.245659 per $100 valuation |
50.9% Increase in M & O Tax Rate |
Source: City of Leander Finance Department
What other positions with taxing authority have candidates held and what were the property tax rate trends under their term of office?
Mr. Villarreal served on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees from 2010 – 2016. He served as Chairman of the Board during the final year of his term, presiding over the tax rate discussions for Fiscal Year 2016. Note: Chairman of the Board experience is not equivalent to the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who presides over day-to-day operations and execution of policy, which in itself is vastly different in a government institution than a public or private company.
Although the Adopted M & O Tax Rate for each FY remained a constant at $0.09 per $100 of assessed value, the Effective M & O Tax Rate (M & O ETR) fluctuated. The ACC Board has the power to set the Adopted M & O Tax Rate below, equal to, or above the Effective M & O Tax Rate. Setting the Adopted M & O Tax Rate above the Effective M & O Tax Rate more often results in a real dollar property tax increase for the average home (FY 2015 & 2016). The following table created from Tax Rate Workseets provided by ACC’s finance department shows the trend of the Adopted M & O Tax Rate in relation to the Effective M & O Tax Rate (M & O ETR):
| FY | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Adopted M & O Rate | 0.0900 | 0.0900 | 0.0900 | 0.0900 | 0.0900 | 0.0900 |
| M & O ETR | 0.0958 | 0.0911 | 0.09 | 0.0868 | 0.082 | 0.0805 |
| % + / – | -6.05% | -1.20% | 0% | 3.69% | 9.76% | 11.80% |
Source: Austin Community College, EVP Finance; TravisCountyTX/tax-rates
Copyright © 2018 Don Stroud