School Property Tax
Read this editorial that is in the Austin American Statesman that explains to all Sun City Residents 65 and older why they should vote in the May 12th election. Forward this on to all your friends. Let’s make sure we get the same tax break every other state homeowner got last year and will get this year. The on May 18th vote for Jack Stroobandt for Sun City Community Association Board of Director.
Let's give older folks a break, too

Most Texas voters probably are not aware that there is a constitutional amendment on the May 12 ballot this year. Yes, another one.
The Texas Constitution is one of the oldest, and longest, in the country. It has been amended more than 400 times since its adoption in 1876 because government power must be explicitly outlined in the document. That's why voters across the length and breadth of Texas are asked to vote on the most minute, technical and obscure issues imaginable.
Next month's election is to fix a problem created when the Legislature approved a reduction in school property taxes in 2005. That change was approved, after numerous failed attempts, in the third special session of the Legislature that year.
When lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction in school property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year, they forgot about the homestead exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities. So the Legislature in session rushed through a resolution in February to fix that oversight.
The state constitution caps school property taxes for homeowners 65 years and older and those who are disabled. But they did not get the same reduction when the property tax cut for schools was finally voted on two years ago.
Voters will have a chance to remedy that at the ballot box on May 12 by approving a constitutional amendment to make the one-third cut apply to those whose homesteads are capped because of age or disability. Voters should approve that amendment.
Only part of the cut was seen in homeowners' tax bills last year. The bigger part of the reduction will occur when tax bills are sent out this fall. If the amendment is approved by voters, as it should be, those with capped property taxes will see the reduction on their tax bills.
Lawmakers recognized the need for senior citizens to be included in the property tax reduction for schools, so they quickly passed Senate Joint Resolution 13 to get the measure on the spring ballot.
Although this constitutional amendment should pass easily, its approval is not guaranteed. A fast-moving, modern state like Texas really should not have to ask voters to approve every niggling change in the structure of government. Texas needs to modernize in many ways, and a new constitution is one of them.
Few of the state's voters are likely to bother to go to the polls to cast a ballot for such an esoteric — though important, especially to senior citizens — amendment. Most won't bother. And they shouldn't have to, really. A technical change like the one facing voters May 12 ought to be handled in the legislative process, not at the ballot box.
But until the Texas Constitution catches up with the rest of Texas, voters will regularly be asked to vote on technical, difficult-to-understand governmental matters framed in impenetrable legalese.
If you do vote May 12, support the amendment on the ballot. Senior citizens deserve the same tax break every other state homeowner got last year and will get this year.
Jack Stroobandt
Visit my blog: http://letsbackjack.blogspot.com/