Tarrant County commissioners pass tax relief

Tarrant County - In a landmark decision on June 6, the Tarrant County Commissioners backed a proposal aimed at offering much-desired tax relief to struggling homeowners. This crucial vote reflects a pivotal point in the county's history, offering initial signs of financial ease for residents who have long been strained by the relentless growth in taxes.

This breath of fresh air is particularly noticeable amongst those homeowners currently disputing their tax dues, many of whom have watched their fiscal responsibilities increase persistently over time.

Local homeowner, James Aghayere, puts forth a bleak but pragmatic view on life's certainties.

"You live, You die and you pay taxes," Aghayere said, according to WFAA. "I bought this at 2008. It's been going up. Can't fight it. Can't do it. And so you got to pay it, right? Especially now with inflation on way up."

Yet, for Aghayere and his fellow homeowners, the air of doubt seems to be clearing. The commissioners have endorsed a ground-breaking 10% homestead exemption at the county level. This historic decision reaffirms their commitment to heed the escalating pleas of homeowners feeling overwhelmed by taxes.

Presiding over the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, County Judge Tim O'Hare, stands firm in his commitment to pursue further tax relief for homeowners.

“We cannot tax people out of their homes," O'Hare said. "There's people living on fixed incomes, their seniors, widows or single moms, and you should never run them out of your county because the taxes are too high. And that's where we've gotten for a lot of people right now."

Tarrant County Precinct 2 Commissioner Alisa Simmons is also well aware of the tale of homeowners wrestling with the hike in property taxes. She recognizes the growing concerns about affordability that her constituents have been expressing more frequently.

“We all would like a break," Simmons said. "So, we hope that other entities will as well. Our school districts have to provide some relief. That's where the bulk of the problem comes from. I want homeowners to know that we are property owners too, all of us. And so we experience the same concerns that they do."

"Alisa Simmons and Tim O'Hare are leading the charge,” said Chandler Crouch.

Crouch has been a consistent supporter of homeowners struggling with surging property taxes. He conveyed optimism that the commissioners' recent initiatives will aptly respond to the urgent calls for help from homeowners.

"People call my office every single week because they're getting taxed out of their home and this makes their house a little bit more affordable,” said Crouch.

Crouch predicts that the average savings for Tarrant County homeowners will be around $500. He further underscored the importance of the 10% homestead exemption at the county level, notably for the higher-valued properties in Tarrant County.

“Most people don't understand where their money goes when they pay their tax bill. The state actually doesn't get that money. The money goes towards your county, your school district, JP's hospital,” said Crouch, “Anything that's publicly funded, like your water district, the Tarrant County Community College and the school district is the only one that was mandated by law to maintain a homestead exemption.”

O’Hare has urged Tarrant County homeowners to scrutinize their tax bills to understand where their money is being directed, and then reach out to those tax bodies to request exemptions. He also expressed intentions to advocate for homeowners in September when their final tax bill is due.

"Any break that we can get is absolutely welcome,” said Aghayere.

Credit: Dallas Metro News, WFAA, Tarrant County, KERA News (photo credit)