S.B. No. 567




AN ACT
relating to requiring a taxing unit to include in the public notice of a hearing on the adoption of an ad valorem tax rate certain information relating to the taxing unit's budget and appraisal roll. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 26.06, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The notice of a public hearing may not be smaller than one-quarter page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the headline on the notice must be in 24-point [18-point] or larger type. The notice must: (1) contain a statement in the following form:
"NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX INCREASE
"The (name of the taxing unit) will hold a public hearing on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by (percentage by which proposed tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or effective tax rate calculated under this chapter) percent. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted. "The public hearing will be held on (date and time) at (meeting place). "(Names of all members of the governing body, showing how each voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase or, if one or more were absent, indicating the absences.)"; and (2) contain the following information: (A) a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference, expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the amount budgeted in the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for each of the following: (i) maintenance and operations; (ii) debt service; and (iii) total expenditures; (B) a section entitled "Total Appraised Value and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the unit in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as calculated under Section 26.04; (C) the total amount of the outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the taxing unit; (D) the unit's adopted tax rate for the preceding tax year and the proposed tax rate, expressed as an amount per $100; (E) [(B)] the difference, expressed as an amount per $100 and as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the proposed tax rate compared to the adopted tax rate for the preceding tax year; (F) [(C)] the average appraised value of a residence homestead in the taxing unit in the preceding tax year and in the current tax year; the unit's homestead exemption, other than an exemption available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older, applicable to that appraised value in each of those years; and the average taxable value of a residence homestead in the unit in each of those years, disregarding any homestead exemption available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older; (G) [(D)] the amount of tax that would have been imposed by the unit in the preceding tax year on a residence homestead appraised at the average appraised value of a residence homestead in that year, disregarding any homestead exemption available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older; (H) [(E)] the amount of tax that would be imposed by the unit in the current tax year on a residence homestead appraised at the average appraised value of a residence homestead in the current tax year, disregarding any homestead exemption available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older, if the proposed tax rate is adopted; and (I) [(F)] the difference between the amounts of tax calculated under Paragraphs (G) [(D)] and (H) [(E)], expressed in dollars and cents and described as the annual increase or decrease, as applicable, in the tax to be imposed by the unit on the average residence homestead in the unit in the current tax year if the proposed tax rate is adopted. SECTION 2. Subsection (c), Section 44.004, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) The notice of public meeting to discuss and adopt the budget and the proposed tax rate may not be smaller than one-quarter page of a standard-size or a tabloid-size newspaper, and the headline on the notice must be in 18-point or larger type. Subject to Subsection (d), the notice must: (1) contain a statement in the following form:
"NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE
"The (name of school district) will hold a public meeting at (time, date, year) in (name of room, building, physical location, city, state). The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited." The statement of the purpose of the meeting must be in bold type. In reduced type, the notice must state: "The tax rate that is ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the district publishes a revised notice containing the same information and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to discuss the revised notice."; (2) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year's Budget," which must show the difference, expressed as a percent increase or decrease, as applicable, in the amounts budgeted for the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins in the current tax year for each of the following: (A) maintenance and operations; (B) debt service; and (C) total expenditures; (3) contain a section entitled "Total Appraised Value and Total Taxable Value," which must show the total appraised value and the total taxable value of all property and the total appraised value and the total taxable value of new property taxable by the district in the preceding tax year and the current tax year as calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code; (4) contain a statement of the total amount of the outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness of the school district; (5) contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Rates with Last Year's Rates," which must: (A) show in rows the tax rates described by Subparagraphs (i)-(iii), expressed as amounts per $100 valuation of property, for columns entitled "Maintenance & Operations," "Interest & Sinking Fund," and "Total," which is the sum of "Maintenance & Operations" and "Interest & Sinking Fund": (i) the school district's "Last Year's Rate"; (ii) the "Rate to Maintain Same Level of Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service," which: (a) in the case of "Maintenance & Operations," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be distributed to the district under Chapter 42, would provide the same amount of maintenance and operations taxes and state funds distributed under Chapter 42 per student in average daily attendance for the applicable school year that was available to the district in the preceding school year; and (b) in the case of "Interest & Sinking Fund," is the tax rate that, when applied to the current taxable value for the district, as certified by the chief appraiser under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, and when multiplied by the district's anticipated collection rate, would impose taxes in an amount that, when added to state funds to be distributed to the district under Chapter 46 and any excess taxes collected to service the district's debt during the preceding tax year but not used for that purpose during that year, would provide the amount required to service the district's debt; and (iii) the "Proposed Rate"; (B) contain fourth and fifth columns aligned with the columns required by Paragraph (A) that show, for each row required by Paragraph (A): (i) the "Local Revenue per Student," which is computed by multiplying the district's total taxable value of property, as certified by the chief appraiser for the applicable school year under Section 26.01, Tax Code, and as adjusted to reflect changes made by the chief appraiser as of the time the notice is prepared, by the total tax rate, and dividing the product by the number of students in average daily attendance in the district for the applicable school year; and (ii) the "State Revenue per Student," which is computed by determining the amount of state aid received or to be received by the district under Chapters 42, 43, and 46 and dividing that amount by the number of students in average daily attendance in the district for the applicable school year; and (C) contain an asterisk after each calculation for "Interest & Sinking Fund" and a footnote to the section that, in reduced type, states "The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds, were approved by the voters of this district."; (6) [(3)] contain a section entitled "Comparison of Proposed Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence," which must: (A) show in rows the information described by Subparagraphs (i)-(iv), rounded to the nearest dollar, for columns entitled "Last Year" and "This Year": (i) "Average Market Value of Residences," determined using the same group of residences for each year; (ii) "Average Taxable Value of Residences," determined after taking into account the limitation on the appraised value of residences under Section 23.23, Tax Code, and after subtracting all homestead exemptions applicable in each year, other than exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older or their surviving spouses, and using the same group of residences for each year; (iii) "Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed Rate per $100 Value"; and (iv) "Taxes Due on Average Residence," determined using the same group of residences for each year; and (B) contain the following information: "Increase (Decrease) in Taxes" expressed in dollars and cents, which is computed by subtracting the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for the preceding tax year from the "Taxes Due on Average Residence" for the current tax year; (7) [(4)] contain the following statement in bold print: "Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of changes in tax rate or property value."; (8) [(5)] contain the following statement in bold print: "Notice of Rollback Rate: The highest tax rate the district can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is (the school district rollback rate determined under Section 26.08, Tax Code). This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a rate in excess of the rollback rate of (the school district rollback rate)."; and (9) [(6)] contain a section entitled "Fund Balances," which must include the estimated amount of interest and sinking fund balances and the estimated amount of maintenance and operation or general fund balances remaining at the end of the current fiscal year that are not encumbered with or by corresponding debt obligation, less estimated funds necessary for the operation of the district before the receipt of the first payment under Chapter 42 in the succeeding school year. SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies to the public notice required in connection with the ad valorem tax rate of a taxing unit beginning with the 2006 tax year, except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section. (b) If the governing body of a taxing unit has adopted an ad valorem tax rate for the taxing unit for the 2006 tax year before the effective date of this Act, the change in law made by this Act applies to the public notice required in connection with the ad valorem tax rate of that taxing unit beginning with the 2007 tax year, and the law in effect when the tax rate was adopted applies to the 2006 tax year with respect to that taxing unit. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 567 passed the Senate on April 22, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 0; May 27, 2005, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 28, 2005, House granted request of the Senate; May 29, 2005, Senate adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 567 passed the House, with amendments, on May 25, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, two present not voting; May 28, 2005, House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 2005, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, three present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor