Coalition says Dallas schools, governments suffer because commercial properties don't pay 'fair

[TexasTowelie]

Coalition says Dallas schools, governments suffer because commercial properties don't pay 'fair share' of taxes


A coalition of activists, labor groups and politicians said Monday that commercial property owners aren't paying their fair share of taxes because they win large reductions when they protest their property appraisal values.

Communities United for a Greater Dallas said in a report that the Dallas Central Appraisal District's reductions have deprived the county's local governments entities of more than $1 billion in revenue over the last five years.

The report's release Monday — which the appraisal district played down — came as federal tax returns were due, state legislators debated revenue caps and property appraisals go out in the mail. At a news conference, the coalition's leaders called for greater transparency in the appraisal and protest process.

"It seems it has become very easy for commercial property owners, especially those that own Dallas County's most valuable properties, to win deep reductions in their property values by filing protests with the Appraisal Review Board," said Rena Honea, the president of Dallas' Alliance-AFT, a teacher's labor union.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/dallas-county/2019/04/15/coalition-says-dallas-schools-governments-suffer-commercial-properties-dont-pay-fair-share-taxes