By Jeff West

SDN Staff Writer

An almost capacity crowd filled the council chambers at Monday’s Snyder city council meeting and Snyder Mayor Francene Noah apparently knew what many of them were there for.

“It’s great to have so many here tonight and let’s go ahead and go down to the item that many are concerned with,” she said.

Assistant Chief Appraiser Toni Shields then explained a new state law that allows taxing entities to cap property taxes for those over 65 and the disabled.

“If the ordinance is passed, the year they turn 65 they get a ceiling (on property taxes), from that point on taxes can’t go any higher, unless they move or make improvements on their home,” Shields said.

The law would cap taxes at the 2004 rate for those currently 65 or older and at whatever rate and valuation is in effect for others when they turn 65.

She discussed various scenarios with council members including what would happen if someone who had a ceiling and makes an improvement on a home.

She gave the example of someone who has a $100,000 house that was capped building a $20,000 bedroom or other improvement.

“The $100,000 portion of the house would keep its original rate and the $20,000 addition would be taxed at the current rate when it was built but the two would be combined for a new ceiling,” Shields said.

She said that the tax ceiling would apply to approximately 17 percent of the population of Snyder currently, but that figure would fluctuate.

Council member David Harrell asked, “Do you have a ball park figure as to how much this would cost?”

“Absolutely not, it would take weeks to figure and then the next week it would change, because different people would go on the plan at different times and so the tax rate could be different for different taxpayers,” she said.

Councilman Ron Shaw spoke about Gov. Rick Perry’s proposed cap on property taxes, “If the governor’s plan goes through and property tax increases are frozen at three percent, this would put a burden on the remaining taxpayers and if those taxes get too high they could leave Snyder for elsewhere. I would like to wait and see what the legislature does before we consider this.”

Harrell asked for a time table for passing the legislation.

“If we do this now or a month from now will it apply to the entire year?”

Assured that it would, he said he could support waiting to vote on the measure.

One audience member spoke up and said that senior citizens generally shopped locally and therefore generated more tax revenue for the city.

Councilman Terry Martin added, “Regardless of what’s going on in the federal government or the state I think we should do what’s best for our citizens. I don’t think this should be based on a possible increased cost. We can deal with Gov. Perry down the road.”

Mayor Noah said she is in favor of the measure but would support tabling the matter for a while. “I want the audience to know that this is not a no vote. It’s a chance to get more information.”

Harrell made the motion to table the issue but to put it on the next agenda “and every agenda until we make a final decision.” That motion was approved unanimously after the mayor suggested that a Sept. 1 deadline be included for a final vote.