You may have successfully appealed your property tax appraisal this spring, but local tax attorney Rahul Patel with the firm Patel Gaines says your job of preparing for next year's tax increases begins now, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Patel says all taxing entities are currently in the process of approving their budgets, and that means public hearings. He says citizens concerned about tax increases due to appraisal increases should find out when those public hearings will be held, attend, and speak up.
"I think its always worthwhile," he said of attending public hearings on public entity budgets. "Its the equivalent of asking if it is worthwhile to vote, or know who your City Council member is and vote for those people. I think it is absolutely important."
The City of San Antonio last week proposed a 2019 budget which holds the tax rate steady, but due to appraisal increases of as much as 9% expected next year, that means your taxes are going to go up.
But in addition to the City, Patel says you need to also be heard on your Independent School District's proposed budget, as well as the county, and a whole host of groups you may not know are taking cash out of your pocket.
"Alamo Community College, University Health System, Bexar County, San Antonio River Authority, they each get a piece of the whole," he said.
In fact, the City of San Antonio is only about one quarter of a city taxpayer's total tax bill, which the school district taking the biggest chunk.
He says it is always easier to avoid ad valorem tax increases then it is to protest them once they have been approved and have taken effect, and your chance to do that begins in the coming weeks.