Euless council authorizes lawsuit to challenge removal of properties from ad valorem tax roll

The Euless City Council on May 27 authorized staff to file a tax-exemption challenge under the tax code and to sue the Cameron County Housing Finance Corporation and other appropriate parties to seek invalidation of property removals from the city's ad valorem tax roll.

City staff member Mr. Barker presented the item to the council, saying, "This item would authorize and, the filing of a tax exemption challenge under the tax code and the filing of a lawsuit against the Cameron County Housing Finance Corporation and other appropriate parties to invalidate removal of properties in Euless from the ad valorem tax roll." Councilmember Bynum moved approval; Councilmember Ease seconded the motion. The transcript records the council being asked to cast its votes but does not record a numerical tally.

The matter was described by staff as a formal challenge under the tax code to preserve property tax revenue that the city said may have been removed from the tax rolls. The transcript does not include further details on the legal theory, the number or identity of specific parcels beyond the named defendant corporation, or projected fiscal impact. After the vote the meeting proceeded to the public-comment period, and a staff member said the city was "ready to litigate," indicating the council approved moving forward.

The action directs city attorneys and staff to prepare and file litigation; the transcript does not record a vote count or any amendments to the motion. No public comment or council debate about the merits was recorded in the transcript segment for this item.

What happens next: staff and the city's legal counsel will draft court filings and pursue the challenge as authorized. The transcript does not specify timelines, estimated costs, or which outside counsel (if any) will be retained.