By Cristin Ross

cross@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Some veterans owning property in Texas might get a significant break on their property taxes, starting this year — but only if they apply for it.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently signed House Bill 3613, which will allow veterans with a 100 percent disability rating, or who are rated as unemployable by the Veterans Administration, to be totally exempt from property taxes on their homestead, but they’ll need to apply for the exemption before Cherokee County’s tax rolls are certified on July 25, to make sure their tax break begins this year.

“We have a number of veterans who will qualify for this exemption,” Cherokee County Chief Appraiser Lee Flowers said. “All our vets need to bring in a copy of their most recent ratings from the VA to update the information the appraisal district has — the sooner the better, so we can get them exempt before our next tax rolls go out and they actually get exempt in time to avoid pay taxes this year.

“The bill also modified the way existing disabled veteran exemptions are decided,” Flowers added.

Veterans with exactly 30 percent, 50 percent or 70 percent ratings will see an increase in the amount of their exemptions.

“So it’s a good idea for all our disabled vets to get the most up-to-date rating information to us, as soon as possible, since even vets who aren’t rated at 100 percent disabled could see some additional savings on their property taxes, too,” Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer David Thomason said. “Our veterans run the gamut of property ownership — some are living in older model trailer houses, some own $200,000 homes, same as any other part of society — so it’s hard to say how much this will help our local veterans, but every little bit does help.”

The appraisal district sent letters to its veteran property owners in the last few weeks, and is getting a good response to those letters, but reiterates the importance of vets applying for the exemption.

“Don’t think just because you sent your rating in to us, you’ll be exempt,” Flowers said. “Veterans must fill out an application with the district before they’ll start to see any change.”

Officials with the Texas State Comptroller’s office said veterans with mortgages can also take advantage of the exemption, too, as long as they apply for it — the sooner the better.

“Eligible veterans with mortgages may need (their appraisal district’s) immediate confirmation that their homesteads are totally exempt so they can notify their mortgage companies and reduce their escrow payments,” stated a memorandum rom the Comptroller’s office provided to the Daily Progress by the Cherokee County Appraisal District.

Application forms for this exemption are available at the appraisal district or online at the comptrollers Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the veteran’s most recent disability rating letter from the Veterans Administration. Veterans who need a replacement rating letter can contact the Veterans Administration at 1-800-827-1000.

The bill follows a constitutional amendment passed by Texas voters in November of last year.

Flowers said, while he’s pleased state legislators gave the state’s veterans this break, the timing of the action leaves much to be desired.

“The timing has been difficult for appraisal districts and taxing authorities,” he said. “Because appraisal districts do not have complete information on disabled veteran ratings, this has created urgency in obtaining the rating information. Currently, appraisal districts are in the process of beginning their final certifications of tax base which are due by law on July 25.”

The new law takes a significant nip out of several taxing entities’ tax bases.

“As of June 22, I am estimating a loss to net total tax base as follows — county general fund, $3,448,390; county lateral road fund, $3,333,870; JISD, $1,570,000; TISD (Troup), $300,000; city of Jacksonville, $500,000,” Flowers said. “This encompasses only 64 disabled veterans (within Cherokee County). The other jurisdiction losses are under $200,000 at this time.”

Flowers said there are 448 disabled veterans within the Cherokee County Appraisal District’s system, though not all are rated 100 percent disabled or unemployable.