By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune Feb. 16, 2023

By Sneha Dey, Alex Nguyen and Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune. Texas lawmakers won’t gavel in for the new legislative session until January, but they got their first chance to file bills Monday.

From the KLRN Bexar County Judge Forum hosted by Randy Beamer: What remedy will you offer for homeowners who face increasing property taxes resulting from the rising property appraisals?

The deadline to protest property taxes is May 15, 2019, two weeks earlier than it has been for the last 40 years, and, according to Bexar County Chief Appraiser Michael Amezquita, homeowners should definitely protest.

Nearly 200 neighborhood residents attended the 3rd annual Neighborhood Day hosted by the Bowen Center for Neighborhood Advocacy on June 9 at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church. The event encourages residents to come together to get information and discuss ideas to make better neighborhoods.

Upon receiving their property tax notices Texas homeowners seem ready to channel Peter Finch in the classic movie "Network," by throwing open their windows and yelling, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"  But at whom should that ire be directed?   Some wolves in sheep's clothing at the State Capitol are pointing their fingers at your locally elected officials and pursuing legislation to tightly restrict cities.  But don't be fooled—it's the wolves themselves who have driven up your property taxes.

Bexar County Chief Appraiser, Michael Amezquita answered questions and provided information to residents at a District 1 Property Tax Forum on May 22 at Asbury United Methodist Church. Residents got information and guidance on the appraisal and protest process.

Bexar County Appraisal District officials gave Mahncke Park Neighborhood Association members a rundown on rising property values and a roadmap for protesting their valuations at the May 16 meeting. Most importantly, protests must be filed by May 31 and can be done online or in person. Watch the complete video here or scroll below the video for links to jump directly to key points in the presentation and the Q&A with residents. The meeting began with a presentation by Lynn Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Live Oak Mayor Mary Dennis, joining a panel discussion about property taxes on Oct. 13, said they would be open to any way to reduce the tax burden on residents. But they are wary about how some proposals, including one that calls for eliminating property taxes, would impact growing Texas cities.

REPLAY video: Learn your rights as a taxpayer on this May 28 webcast  of a Town Hall on Property Taxes with Representative Diego Bernal, Senator José Menéndez, Councilman Roberto Treviño, County Commissioner Tommy Calvert and former State Representative Mike Villarreal.