S.A. may give seniors relief on taxes

Volunteering would lower property bills under city proposal

Homeowners 65 and over would have a chance to save on their San Antonio property taxes by volunteering for the city under a policy proposal filed by District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo.

Seniors could organize books at public libraries, answer phones or assist with arts and recreational classes at senior centers, read to others, or participate in other volunteer activities that interest them.

Castillo sees it as a chance to not only help seniors hold onto their homes amid soaring property appraisals and tax bills this year, but also to increase socialization.

“What’s important in the time of COVID is this would help mitigate the isolation many of our seniors are experiencing,” Castillo said.

Someone who volunteers 42 hours over the course of the year could receive up to $300 off their city property tax bill. Castillo asked city staff to outline the budget and performance metrics for a pilot program dubbed San Antonio Volunteer Exemption for Seniors, or SAVES.

City Council last month began setting goals for its annual budget and is expected to review a draft this week. San Antonio also set aside $5 million in its federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for seniors.

Castillo wants her proposal to coincide with both spending plans. District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia, District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, District 9 Councilman John Courage and District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry all support the proposal.

Tax relief has taken the spotlight for City Council since it began budget deliberations. Mayor Ron Nirenberg already has promised some form of assistance. Many homeowners were shocked last month to find their property appraisals, which form the basis of property tax bills, increasing dramatically.

The average home value in 2022 rose by an average of 23.2 percent, from $250,806 to $309,118, according to the appraisal district. The district’s chief appraiser called that increase unprecedented in San Antonio.

As a result, San Antonio is likely to increase its homestead exemption — a tool that decreases the taxable value of a home, thus lowering the taxes paid on it. It remains to be seen by how much the city may increase from its current exemption of 0.01 percent, or a minimum of $5,000 per household.

Since then, many City Council members have hosted workshops helping residents learn how to protest their valuation or access relief.

Castillo said she’d like to see an increased homestead exemption, but reducing the property tax burden should include other approaches as well.

“We are continuing to see those property taxes drastically increase,” she said. “We need to ensure we have every safety measure in place.”

This year, in particular, council offices have received more and

more calls about property taxes. As home values rise, San Antonio and the nation are also experiencing high inflation. Groceries, gas and electricity cost more for everyone.

The city of Boston has a similar program that lets seniors to work off a portion of their property taxes.

Cabello Havrda agreed the city needs to look at all its options, particularly for special needs populations like seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. Her office has heard from many seniors, who may be on fixed incomes, overwhelmed about their soaring home values.

“It’s almost an outcry, coming to us and saying how can we relieve this burden,” Cabello Havrda said.

If the program works well, she could see it expanding to include other populations.

Such a volunteer program for seniors is allowed under the Texas Tax Code, which specifies that those at least 65 years old can work for a taxing unit in lieu of paying taxes on a homestead.

The city already has a few forms of tax relief for seniors on the books. There’s a $65,000 exemption on qualifying homesteads for those age 65 and over. San Antonio also has a tax freeze in place for seniors and people with disabilities. About 45 percent of all homesteads in San Antonio receive a tax freeze.

“We need to come up with alternative and innovative solutions to help alleviate the property tax burden on our seniors, so we can allow our seniors to age in place,” Castillo said.

Castillo