HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 453 A Resolution
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Fort Worth is an elected body, repre-
sentative of the citizens of Fort Worth and is dedicated to minimizing the cost of
government while maximizing its effectiveness; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of Fort Worth exercises direct budgetary control
over the City's Tax Office, thereby ensuring that the City operates an efficient and
effective tax appraisal and collection system; and,
WHEREAS, elected representatives, directly responsible to the citizens of
Fort Worth, have more incentive to minimize the costs of tax appraisal than would
an appointed board with no responsibility for raising taxes; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth strives to comply with the laws of the State
of Texas as found in Article VIII, Section I of the Texas Constitution that states
"Taxation shall be equal and uniform. All property in this State,. . . , shall be
taxed in proportion to its value, which shall be ascertained as may be provided by
law. . ." and Article 7174 of Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes which plainly states,
"Each separate parcel of real property shall be valued at its true and full value in
money. . ."; and,
WHEREAS, the indeterminate implementation costs of new tax appraisal systems
must be borne by the local citizens in each jurisdiction during the phase in of a
new system as well as the normal costs of tax appraisal and collection activities;
and,
WHEREAS, legislation has been proposed that would essentially abrogate the
authority which the Constitution has given Home Rule cities pertaining to taxation
by removing the appraisal function and placing it under merely an appointed board; and,
THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Fort Worth
urges the defeat of any legislation purporting to reform tax appraisal in Texas by
providing for a reduction of local authority over tax appraisal while increasing
costs for local government such as proposed in House Bill 846 commonly referred to
as the Peveto Bill.
RESOLUTION FILE NO.
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CITY of FORT WORTH