September 20, 2019, Number 36


Download the full .pdf version here: TML Legislative Update 36


SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION:

GET INVOLVED IN THE TML LEGISLATIVE POLICY PROCESS

Several cities and one region submitted legislative resolutions for consideration at the 2019 TML Annual Conference in San Antonio.  The topics relate, among other things, to:

  • Civil service city firefighter age limits;
  • Gas pipeline routing;
  • Gun violence;
  • Railroad crossing delays; and
  • Access to legal notices.

The full resolutions packet is available here.  The resolutions will be debated at the TML business meeting on October 10 at 3:30 p.m.

Each city is entitled to one voting delegate at the business meeting.  The delegate isn’t required to have any special expertise, and an elected official delegate is encouraged but not required.  The delegate can sign up electronically at https://www.tml.org/FormCenter/Member-Resources-5/2019-TML-Business-Meeting-66 prior to the meeting, or sign up in person at a table outside of the meeting room.  Cities are encouraged to sign up their delegate early using the link above. 

All city officials are welcome to attend the meeting, whether or not they are a voting delegate.


Reminder: September 25th Deadline to Submit Tax Rate Calculations to County

Most of Senate Bill 2, the Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019, does not take effect until January 1, 2020. However, S.B. 2 contains a requirement that taxing units submit the worksheets used to calculate the effective and rollback tax rates for the 2015-2019 tax years to their county assessor-collectors. The deadline to do so is September 25, 2019.

The requirement is included in Section 106 of the bill, and specifically requires the “designated officer or employee of each taxing unit” to submit the calculation worksheets to the county assessor-collector. Exactly who is considered to be a city’s designated officer or employee varies from city to city. For some, it may be the finance director. For others, it may be the city manager or city secretary. Many cities have entered into agreements with the county assessor-collector to act as the designated officer or employee. In those cases, it should be easy for the assessor-collector or appraiser to aggregate the calculation worksheets for each taxing unit. Whatever the case may be, cities should either submit the worksheets themselves, or at least see to it that the worksheets are submitted by the deadline.

For more information, League staff has prepared an explanatory Q&A on S.B. 2. Please contact Bill Longley, TML Legislative Counsel, at bill@tml.org or (512) 231-7400 with questions.


DISCLAIMER

TML member cities may use the material herein for any purpose. No other person or entity may reproduce, duplicate, or distribute any part of this document without the written authorization of the Texas Municipal League.