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More than 15 percent still protesting
rates
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Due to a "clerical error," more than 140 jurisdictions in Travis County will have some major headaches, and possibly some upset taxpayers, as they must now wait to set their true tax rates for next year for at least another month.
The City of Austin, Austin ISD, and other Travis County taxing authorities will have to wait when it comes to setting how much they will tax property owners.
"We incorrectly certified [the tax roll]," said Travis County Chief Appraiser Patrick Brown Thursday.
By law, an appraisal district must certify the values of the property listed on its tax roll with 90 percent of the property not under protest by July 20.
This year, a mistaken query falsely identified 90 percent of the property not under protest, Brown said.
In reality, about 15 percent of people are still protesting their property taxes, he said.
"Part of the problem due to the large number of protests this year," Brown said. "They're maybe figuring out that this is a way they can save some money."
More than 90,000 people protested their property taxes this year in Travis County, compared to 62,000 last year, said Brown.
Brown said the tax rolls should not change from the original estimates sent out in error.
The Austin City Council could vote on a maximum property tax rate as early as next week, but could not set a final tax rate until the roll is certified.
The 2010 budget is set on recommendations to raise property taxes by $69 per year for the median household, arriving as a way to shore up a nearly $30 million budget shortfall for 2009-2010.
In a memo to the mayor and city council members, Austin's Chief Financial Officer Leslie Browder said the city is working with the Law Department to determine if the delay will affect "truth-in-taxation" requirements required by law leading up to the adoption of a tax rate, and whether it will affect the city's budget schedule.
The police, fire, EMS, Municipal Court, health and human Services, library and parks and recreation departments will present their budgets to the city council at a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The next day the city will hold a public hearing.
The Austin Energy, Economic Growth and Redevelopment Office, Austin Water Utility, Solid Waste Services, Watershed Protection, Public Works, Austin Transportation Department, Aviation, Convention Center, and Planning and Development Review departments will present their budgets on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If needed, the city will again host a public hearing the next day and hold more budget presentations on Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The budget approval readings will take place from Sept. 14 to 16.
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