Farmers Branch council raises senior and disabled homestead exemptions, approves Ordinance 3750

Farmers Branch — The Farmers Branch City Council voted unanimously July 5 to increase both the over‑65 and the disabled homestead property tax exemptions to $100,000 and approved Ordinance 3750 to implement the change.

The ordinance, passed at a specially called noon meeting, was moved by Council Member Williams and seconded by Council Member Roman and received a unanimous vote. City staff said the action was taken to meet a filing deadline from the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) so the change can apply for the upcoming tax year.

Sheryl Evans Jones, director of finance, presented two sets of options and the administration’s recommendation. “All of these properties qualify for an initial 20% homestead exemption,” Evans Jones said while explaining how the homestead exemption interacts with the senior and disabled exemptions. She told the council the ordinance before them proposes $100,000 for both the senior and disabled exemptions, and she described an alternative for the disabled exemption at $80,000 as a management option.

Evans Jones said qualifying senior parcels number a little more than 23,100 with an average assessed value of about $144,000; parcels that qualify for the disabled exemption number fewer than 150 with an average assessed value near $102,000. She estimated the combined revenue impact to the city’s general fund at roughly $700,000 and said the city expects to accommodate the reduction as part of its ongoing budget process.

Council members discussed comparative local practice and administrative clarity. Council Member Merritt noted nearby cities’ exemption levels and argued the change would place Farmers Branch among peers that offer similar relief. “...we’re actually forward thinking and taking advantage of the opportunities,” Merritt said. Council Member Williams said the proposal made sense given rising property values and inflation: “It makes perfect sense to me why we would do this right now. So, I’m for it.”

Council Member Jackson said he favored the $100,000 level for both classes. Some council members voiced support for the $80,000 option for the disabled exemption as a conservative alternative because average parcel values in that class are lower, but the council approved the ordinance as presented.

The council noted procedural concerns about the special meeting’s timing and public notice; one council member said the ordinance text and numeric estimates had not been posted in the agenda center or included in a newsletter before the meeting. City staff acknowledged the compressed schedule was due to DCAD’s filing timeframe and the Monday holiday.

Ordinance 3750 takes effect according to the city’s implementation process and will be filed with DCAD so qualifying taxpayers can receive the increased exemption for the upcoming tax year. Staff said separate classes such as disabled‑veteran exemptions were accounted for and would not be changed by this ordinance.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 3750 — Approve increase of over‑65 and disabled homestead exemptions to $100,000; mover: Council Member Williams; second: Council Member Roman; outcome: approved, unanimous vote.