AUSTIN — A final judgement has been reached allowing a Gregg County court's grant for relief in a homestead exemption case that involves the Kilgore Independent School District (ISD) taxing citizens at least $4 million more than the legally permitted amount.
The Kilgore ISD is charged with violating Texas Senate Bill 1, which provides a property tax reduction to those claiming homestead exemption in Texas, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office.
Because the Texas Legislature paid for the tax breaks in the state's budget, Texas Senate Bill 1 allowed for the property tax reduction with no affect on school districts. Despite this, some school districts reduced or repealed their local option homestead exemption and assessed a tax rate for homeowners which was in violation of the law, according to the attorney general.
“I am grateful that the court recognized Kilgore ISD’s attempt to siphon money away from Texas homeowners without their vote or consent,” Paxton said in a news release. “Local governments cannot simply ignore laws they do not like. My office will continue to stand up for homeowners in these districts and voters across the state."
The Attorney General's Office will soon begin to seek the same relief in a Carson County court from the White Deer ISD.