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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1160rJ A Resolutiow6 OPPOSING MANDATORY CONSOLIDATION OF PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS WHEREAS, the House Select Committee on Central Appraisal Districts has scheduled an open public hearing for July 8, 1986; and, 'WHEREAS., it has been reported that certain interest groups support passage of 'legislation that would mandate the consolidation of property tax collections under central appraisal districts, and, WHEREAS, existing law adequately provides for taxing units or a majority of voters to establish consolidated tax collections on a local option basis if it is determined that such actions are in the best interest of the respective taxing units and their constituencies (Section 6.24 and Section 6.26, Property Tax Code; also, under provisions of the Interlocal Cooperation Act), and, WHEREAS, based on Fort Worth's experience with the Tarrant Appraisal Dis- trict, the City strongly believes that mandated consolidated tax collections would be more costly and less efficient (i.e., under the central appraisal district system, the City's cost has in- creased 117 percent in only five years, over the City's cost of performing its own appraisal functions FY 1981-82) and, WHEREAS, there is no discernable incentive for a collection entity other than a taxing entity to maintain an adequate rate of collection (inadequate collection rates can result in lower credit ratings and increased financing costs as well as loss of interest income), --and, WHEREAS, mandated consolidated tax collections and the resulting consoli- dated tax statement would deny homeowners the present flexibility to spread payments of 2 or 3 tax statements (depending upon the school district in which located) during the period of 'October through January, and, WHEREAS, under- mandatory consolidated tax collections, the City could lose the flexibility of contracting with one law firm to collect all delinquent accounts -- which include weed liens, paving liens, demolition liens, sales taxes and hotel occupancy taxes, in addi- tion to delinquent ad valorem taxes, and, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS 1) That the City of Fort Worth strongly opposes all efforts to the amend the Property Tax Code to mandate the consolidation of property tax collec- tions; a F7 C rrY OF FORT WORTH rvr".Vvl ^rq firiL*T lmr^rop"xr