Questions and answers

This will give you something to do after you finish the crossword puzzle.    




1.  If the overall real estate values in Rowlett's tax base goes up 5%, and the city doesn't change the tax rate, I  get a 5% reduction in taxes.  Wrong.  Your out of pocket taxes went up 5%.




2.  If the appraisals of the tax base goes up 5% and the tax rate goes up 5%, I get a 5% raise in taxes.  Wrong.  You get a 10% raise in taxes.




3.  If the appraisals of the tax base goes up 10% and the tax rate goes down 5%, my taxes didn't increase.  Wrong.  Your taxes went up 5%.




4.  If you are told your tax rate is only going up 5%, you haven't been told the whole story.  About 1/3 of the residential tax base is increasing about 10% every year......or should  be.  Therefore, the aforesaid 5% plus the year you get the 10% raise in the appraised value of your home, you just got a 15% increase in your taxes. 




5.  Your real estate was appraised at 10% higher, but the tax rate was cut 5% so my taxes went down.  Wrong.  Your out of pocket taxes went up 5%.






You've got to look at tax rate and tax base together to get a clear picture of your out of pocket tax expense.