Bexar County Budget Raises Minimum Wage, Does Not Cut Property Taxes | News Radio 1200 WOAI

Bexar County Budget Raises Minimum Wage, Does Not Cut Property Taxes | News Radio 1200 WOAI


Bexar County Commissioners today approved a FY 2016 budget which increases the county's minimum wage to $13 an hour, but does not provide any relief to property owners, many of whom are facing steep increase in tax bills due to higher valuations, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.

The higher valuations will mean higher tax bills because the tax rate was not cut. Some property owners reported a 50% increase in their taxable value.

Bob Martin, President of the Homeowner Taxpayer Association, pointed out that all property owners, down to low income individuals, will be hurt by the Commission's decision.

"Here's the sad reality," he said. "These people don't even know what's happening to them."

He said many homeowners won't realize that their taxes have gone up until they get a notice from their mortgage holder in April notifying them of a sharp increase in their monthly mortgage payments, an increase many will not be able to afford.

"There is a cliche running around out there, lives matter," Martin said. "I'm going to tell you right now, taxpayer lives matter."

The final vote to approve the budget and the decision to hold the tax rate steady was 4-1, with the only Republican on the Commission, voting no. San Antonio's budget, which will be approved next week, does include a cut in the tax rate to make up for the increase in taxable valuation.

The budget does call for a raise for Commissioners and for County Judge Nelson Wolff.

The budget also agrees to a demand by community groups COPS and Metro Alliance to raise the county's minimum wage to $13 an hour.