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December 8, 2024 – Volume 7 Number 49

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Senior Tax Freeze missing; Any reduction is very unlikely.

* KKB and Parks Board agendas posted for Tuesday.

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, December 10: KKB meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 10: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 17: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 25: Christmas.

Wednesday, January 1: Happy New Year.

…..

Kennedale Observer website:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/index_3.html

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_44.html

Kennedale Observer city council grades:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_26.html

City Council Comparison (May2021-May2023 vs. May2019-May2021):

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_77.html

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council did not meet this past week. They are next scheduled to meet Tuesday, December 17 for their regular monthly meeting.

The city is looking for bids for solid trash and recycling collection due by Friday, December 27.

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Senior Tax Freeze Missing

Back in June of 2023 the city council approved a senior tax freeze. These would be applicable for the city portion of property taxes where properties have a homestead, and the owner is 65 or older. The KISD, the county, and Tarrant County College also have senior tax freezes.

Apparently, this did not happen for Kennedale residents. So, what happened or did not happen? Based on what the city manager and city attorney said the tax freeze is happening, as planned, based on the very clear ordinance [written by the city attorney? – does this make his response a little biased?].

I have sent e-mails to the five members of the June 2023 council asking about their intent regarding the start date for the tax freeze. The majority of that council and the public felt that the tax freeze should have started a year earlier than the current process. (Current council member Michels and Nevarez refused to respond.)

I sent an email to and have received an e-mail from the TAD chief appraiser, Mr. Bobbitt. State law is very clear there are only certain things that TAD can issue reductions for, and this does NOT meet the criteria, so there will be no changes on TAD's end. He also stated that his attorney contacted the Kennedale attorney and stated that, “the way the law reads the first year of the exemption establishes the ceiling amount, which then limits the tax in future years. I can see where the intent was; however, it states that tax year 2024 is the first year and the effective date is January 1st, 2024.”

[Commentary: I have read Texas Tax Code Sections 11.26 and 11.261 and have found NOTHING that suggests the use of the word “start” has to be a year earlier, which is the focal point of the official shoveling going on today. I also found nothing that would have prevented the city attorney from using that earlier year as part of the ordinance, to match the expectations of the majority of the June 2023 council, even with the “start” definition being peddled today. The citizens and the majority of that council hear “the tax freeze will start 2024” and, with good reason, believe the discount to seniors starts then.

The three-page ordinance can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3288/files/attachment/11739 . At the bottom of page 1 it states, "Effective with tax year 2024, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person who is disabled or sixty-five (65) years of age or older shall not be increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person.".

The removing of the noise/busy words leaves, ["Effective with tax year 2024, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed", ... "shall not be increased" …]. That certainly appears that the tax paying senior citizens should not have seen an increase [over the 2023 year] with the statements generated in October 2024. In my opinion, yes, it is extremely clear.

It does NOT say effective with tax year 2024 we will establish a ceiling. It clearly states that the amount of valorem taxes imposed SHALL NOT BE INCREASED.

If you watch the meeting where it was approved, staff gave no indication that it would be a year later than public expectations. The June 20, 2023, meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTm2LdTa_YI&t=303s . There is NO concern by staff of this hurting the city's financing, and no mention of delaying this a year later than the expectations of the public and the majority of that city council. The discussion starts about 2:43:35. The mayor even states it starts on January 1, 2024.

The taxes on January 1, 2024 are the 2023 taxes and by ordinance, effective with tax year 2024 [the October 2024 statements] the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed SHALL NOT BE INCREASED!!!. Yet, the October 2024 statements DID show an increase.]

Last Week

There were no meetings last week.

This Week

This week the KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) and the Parks Board have meetings planned for Tuesday evening. The agendas have been posted (KKB packet) (Parks Board packet).

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Public Hearings

???, the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing for BBA24-01 for the demolition of a single-family house at 6713 Lindale Road. This was originally scheduled for November 14, but the meeting was cancelled.

???, the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing for BBA24-02 for the demolition of a single-family house at 110 Caylebaite Street. This was originally scheduled for November 14, but the meeting was cancelled.

EDC

The next EDC (Economic Development Corporation) board meeting will probably be Tuesday, January 28.

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P&Z

P&Z's next regular meeting might be Thursday, December 19.

Other News....

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2024) for the county. Kennedale is now the fifth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2024TaxRates.pdf ].

Top ten of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.7796050

3. Forest Hill 0.7240940

4. Blue Mound 0.7220330

5. Kennedale 0.7061900

6. White Settlement 0.6798160

7. River Oaks 0.6758270

8. Fort Worth 0.6725000

9. Burleson 0.6627000

10. Grand Prairie 0.6600000

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