the north texas journal v24n21

8/6/2019 The North Texas Journal v24n21

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BI-WEEKLY Volume 24, Number 21 - May 27, 20

Visit our website at www.northtexasjournal.ne


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Gov. Perry: The Dream of Property Ownership is Secure in Tex

Gov. Rick Perry today ceremonially signed Senate Bill 18,

which implements landmark eminent domain reforms to

trengthen private property rights. The governor designated

his legislation as an emergency item for the 2011 Legisla-

ive Session. He was joined by Texas Agriculture Commis-

ioner Todd Staples, Sen. Craig Estes, Sen. Robert Duncan

nd Rep. Charlie Geren for the bill signing.

Im proud to sign into law stronger eminent domain pro-

visions protecting Texas landowners from local and state

government entities that might consider abusing private

roperty rights, Gov. Perry said. Weve come a long way

n the effort to strengthen private property rights through

his legislation, and thanks to the hard work of state law-

makers, particularly Sen. Estes, Sen. Duncan and Rep. Ge-

en, the dream of property ownership is more secure in the

State of Texas now than ever before.

SB 18 requires local and state government entities inter-

sted in acquiring private property to rst make an offer, in

writing and based on an appraisal, to the landowner to pur-

hase the property through a voluntary sale for a fair price.

This prevents entities from making lowball offers knowing

he land can be taken by eminent domain if the landowner

doesnt accept. The bill also requires condemnation peti-

ions to specically state the public use for which the land

s needed, eliminating instances where land is taken with-

out current plans for its use. Additionally, the bill makes itlear that eminent domain may only be used for public use.

We know that Texas is thriving as a state and property is a

valuable asset, but that growth should not come at the ex-

pense of property owners, Sen. Craig Estes said. This is

he most important bill to strengthen private property rights

or landowners.

Further, SB 18 requires a government entity that takes land

o rst have a record vote stating the land to be taken and the

project for which it is being taken. It also requires entitieso provide all appraisals of the property they have during

negotiations to ensure landowners understand the fair mar-

ket value of their land. Finally, this legislation also allows

andowners to repurchase land at the price they were paid

or it if it becomes unnecessary for the project for which it

was taken, or if no actual progress is made toward the proj-

ct in 10 years, even if the project has not been cancelled.

I am proud of the work done by members of the Texas

Senate and House of Representatives to pass this impor

piece of legislation and am pleased to see eminent dom

reforms signed into law, Sen. Robert Duncan said. T

is a strong law that was closely negotiated by major st

holders across the state to secure enduring protections

property owners.

A former farmer, rancher and Texas Agriculture Comm

sioner, Gov. Perry has long made private property righ

priority. Last session at the governors request, the Leg

ture passed a measure allowing Texans to vote on a con

tutional amendment requiring land to be taken only for p

lic use, ending the seizure of property for use by a pri

developer. Additionally, local governments can no lon

condemn an entire area for redevelopment by claiming

blighted without proving that each section is blighted.

amendment also protects Texas landowners against fur

grants of eminent domain authority by requiring each grant to receive a 2/3 vote in each house of the Legislat

Texas voters passed this amendment in November 200

I am proud that our private property owners rights

better protected with the passage of SB 18, Rep. Cha

Geren said. This is a great accomplishment and took a

of hard work from many Texans across the state.

This is a major victory for the people of Texas and a g

accomplishment by Gov. Perry and our Legislature, Aculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. The signin

this bill says, Dont mess with Texas, and dont mess w

Texas land. SB 18 sends a clear message that here in

Lone Star State, we hold dear to our heritage of land o

ership.


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Totally Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption Extended to Surviving Spou

With only ten minutes remaining in the Texas House for

onsideration of non-local Senate Bills, Speaker Straus rec-

ognized Representative Bonnen for an important motion.

I make the motion to move to suspend all necessary rules

o take up and consider Senate Bill 516. Senate Bill 516 is

Representative Fletchers bill, and it is appropriate to get

his done tonight. Its to support our veterans who have

given so much to us, so I move to suspend all necessary

ules to pull this bill up, Representative Bonnen motioned.

The motion prevailed unanimously, and Senate Bill 516

passed 146-0.

This was Representative Fletchers rst bill he led on

November 8, 2010, the rst day of bill ling for the 82nd

Legislative Session. Representative Fletcher asked Senator

Patrick to carry this bill in the Senate, and Senator Patrickdid so proudly and successfully. The enabling legislation

was carried by Doc Anderson in the House and Senator Van

de Putte in the Senate.

By extending property tax exemptions for veterans to

hese deserving spouses, we are recognizing, at least in

mall measure, the very real sacrices that these families

have made in the defense of our country, stated Sen

Patrick.

Currently, a totally disabled veteran receives a 100% p

erty tax exemption. This bill extends the homestead exe

tion to their surviving spouse.

When one of our brave soldiers becomes 100% disab

the family of that soldier has to make career decisions.

too often the spouses of these soldiers forgo career oppo

nities and many reduce work hours, affecting their inc

and retirement. The best care that can be given is from

one youve exchanged vows with, said Representa

Fletcher.

With the passage of this legislation, the spouse will re

the total homestead exemption of their current home

they wish to move about the state, closer to family, oa different home, they will receive an exemption on t

homestead in the amount equal to the exemption they

ceived on their former homestead. This will provide

spouse the nancial peace of mind by ensuring that t

property tax exemption continues to be granted and will

expire after the death of the disabled veteran.

Texas House of Representatives Honors U.S. Military by Passing Armed Forces Day Resoluti

House Resolution 467 commemorates our Nations 61st Annual Armed Forces Day

The Texas House of Representatives adopted Ho

Resolution 467, authored by State Represe

tive Four Price, commemorating the 61st An

Armed Forces Day, today, Saturday, May 21, 2

The Resolution recognizes the dedicated ser

and immeasurable sacrice of our nations mil

personnel. Additionally, the Resolution extend

all members of the nations military profound

preciation for their steadfast and courageous eff

on our countrys behalf.

I encourage all Texans to join in recognition

Armed Forces Day by saying a special thank y

to our current and former service members and t

families for all they do and have done to make

country the beacon for freedom around the wor

said Representative Price


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How To Avoid Cellphone Bill ShockARA) - Some 30 million Americans have experienced cel-

ular bill shock, a surprise that comes along with receiving

unexpected - and expensive - charges when it comes time

o pay their monthly wireless bill.

Consumers are increasingly relying on wireless voice and

data devices to keep in touch with family and friends and,of course, to conduct business. For this reason, the Federal

Communications Commission has launched an industry-

wide investigation into wireless billing practices that may

require carriers to notify users of overcharges and sudden

ncreases in their cellphone bills.

The investigation comes on the heels of an FCC survey that

ndicated one in six mobile device users had experienced

unexpected increases in their bills that werent caused by

a change in service plans. The FCC also reports that of the764 bill-shock complaints led in the rst six months of

2010, 67 percent involved amounts that were $100 or more

han the users normal monthly cellphone bill.

Certain providers like Consumer Cellular are also doing

heir part to help customers avoid expensive charges by of-

fering free mobile alerts when customers reach a certain

hreshold of usage. Consumer Cellular users can choose

he usage level at which they would like to be issued an

alert and whether theyd like to receive the message by

email, text message or both.

n addition to nding a provider that noties its custom-

ers as they approach their monthly voice or data allotment,

following are additional steps consumers can take to avoid

bill shock:

Shop smart. Choose a wireless service that allows you to

change plans (both upgrading and downgrading) in the

middle of a bill cycle. This can help you avoid expensive

charges if you absolutely need to go over your minute or

data allotment.

Use minutes wisely. Listen to voicemails once and then de-

ete, since youre using minutes each time you access your

voicemail from your cellphone. Retrieving your message

from a landline can also be a benecial way to save on

minutes.

Consider free alternatives to 411. 411 can cost up to $2 per

use. Save 411 alternatives, such as 1-800-FREE-411 and

1-800-BING-411, in your phone so you can easily ac

them when you need information.

Monitor your cellphone use. If youre unsure about w

you stand on your minutes, check your account on

Many companies also have a number you can text for

dated usage numbers or a toll free number you can calupdates. Be aware of times that your voice and date u

may spike such as holidays, birthdays, unexpected illn

es, and other special times of the year.

The FCC also identied the following common scena

where consumers incur unexpected extra charges:

* Making international or roaming calls without reali

that you will be charged signicantly more for min

used during those calls.* Incurring charges for data plans when you are unaw

that you have such a plan.

* Being charged taxes and fees that were not made c

when you signed up for your plan.

Taking the proper precautions to monitor your cellph

use and enrolling with a provider that will help you

within your limits can end up saving hundreds of dolla

overage fees. Take a minute to review your plan and g

out the best ways to monitor your usage. For more infor

tion on how to avoid overage fees, visit www.consumerlular.com.


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The Smart Way To Go From Renting To Owning

ARA) - If youve paid attention to any news media over

he past few years, you know that the housing market has

dropped off. From a sellers perspective, that makes life aot harder. But for a buyer, it can mean a wider world of

options and opportunities. For those want to become own-

ers rather than renters, its vitally important to make smart

decisions - as the markets have shown.

Many factors contribute to the real estate markets current

luggishness, and one of them is the fact that lenders are

eluctant to give loans to homebuyers. After the housing

market crisis, its not surprising that they would be more

demanding in their lending practices, but for those eager to

buy, it means that you need to present a pristine nancialprole.

Theres no limit to the amount of real estate browsing you

can do - either online or in your ideal neighborhood - but

before you get serious about purchasing a home, take these

ips into consideration.

* Pay down your debt. Before you even apply for a mort-

gage, its important that you reduce your debt load. The

smaller it is, the better for your debt-to-income ratio, w

lenders use to determine how much theyll allow yo

borrow. Items like car loans, child support and alimcredit card bills and student loans are all factors that

lender will consider. Paying down debt can have the ad

benet of improving your credit, as well.

* Check up on your credit. Having good credit is ano

essential element in smart home buying - it can affect h

lenders view you, and the terms of your mortgage. The

ter shape your credit is in, the better your potential to

the mortgage of your dreams. Every year, youre enti

to a free credit report from one of the three major repor

agencies, like Equifax. Use it as a starting point that give you an idea of your overall credit picture. Look

areas that can be improved upon and track your progres

checking your credit again after youve put in some w

to bring it up.

* Make the biggest down payment possible. The er

zero-down is over, and for good reason. A down payme

and a sizeable one - can help ease the strain of a mortg

in coming years. A minimum of 20 percent down is a g


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dea, and if you can do more than that, so mu ch the

better. If you dont think you can afford a down

payment of 20 percent or more on a house youre

considering, it might be time to shop around for a

ess expensive home that is more bu dget friendly.

* Be an informed buyer. There is a seemingly end-

ess list of things to know about buying a home,

and the faster you want to buy, the faster youll

need to learn it all. One of the best things you c an

do is take a first-time homebuyer class offered

a reputable organization - some cities even o

them for free. Be sure you know the ins and o

of items like closing costs, adjustable rate ver

fixed rate mortgages, how your credit report

fects mortgage rates and the documentation yo

need to get a mortgage. The more you know,

better equipped youll be to make smart decisi

that will make you a happy homeowner for ye

to come.


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Clearing Clutter And Going Green Go Hand In Hand

ARA) - These days, were all trying to make small chang-

s in our everyday habits to live a little more green, from

witching to energy-efcient light bulbs to carrying reus-

ble shopping bags and composting kitchen waste. But

many dont realize that one of the easiest ways to be more

co-friendly is by de-cluttering and donating gently used

tems that youre no longer using.

We know millions of families across the country are al-

eady clearing out their clutter with spring cleaning, says

Tony Shumpert, vice president of recycling and supply

hain operations for Savers, Inc., a thrift store chain. By

donating these items, instead of simply throwing them

way, you can give back to the community and save quality

goods from polluting the earth. In fact, we operate one of

he largest recycling programs in the world, keeping more

han 500 million pounds of goods out of landlls last year

lone.

But if the thought of going green has you turning red in

xhaustion, consider some of these tips to make the task

asier:

Bring a friend in to help with spring cleaning. Not only

an the two of you spend a great afternoon together, but

your friend can also give you an objective opinion as you

ort through items to keep or donate.

Be organized about getting organized. Start in one cor-

ner of one room, and make your way around the room in

circle. Dont move on to the next room until you are n -

shed with the rst. If you need to take a break, go for it, but

lways return to where you left off.

Designate a specic place for donations. Your clutter

orner should be in a handy, but out-of-the-way location

n your home. Encourage family members to place items -

lothes, toys, housewares - that they arent using any longer

nto the bin. For parents, your children will see that gentlyused items shouldnt be thrown away, and something they

dont want any longer can have a new life with someone

lse.

Be realistic about what you think you want to keep. If you

havent worn that shirt in more than a year, its ready to go.

Another way to determine what to donate is to put items

youre not sure about into a box. Seal it and store it. If you

havent opened that box a year later, donate the entire thing.

Chances are, you dont have a clue whats in the box

dont need it.

* Know your nearest donation drop. Once youve desig

ed items to donate, you dont have to spend hours track

down a location to drop your items off. Simply visit w

communitydonationcenter.com to nd a nearby Comnity Donation Center where you can drop off your go

This site also provides a list of nonprots in your area w

donation home pick-up service where theyll come stra

to your door to collect donations.

Even donations not suitable for resale, or that just d

sell on our shelves, nd a second life with Savers,

Shumpert. A portion of these goods are sent to develop

countries where they support micro-economies and

improve the lives of people in other parts of the world.

maining items are sold to domestic material wholesawho recycle the products into new materials such as wip

rags, car insulation and much more.

Another bonus to donating your gently used goods - Sa

partners with more than 140 nonprots and pays these

ganizations for every item they collect. These partners

turn otherwise unused goods into sustainable funding

supports the nonprots programs and services.

When you donate your unused items to Savers nonppartners, another person can put them to use, which h

save space in landlls, and charitable organizations in y

area will benet as well. And you can feel good about

ing one more step toward living a little greener.


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We Bought Alot So You Can Save Alot

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Visit our website at www.northtexasjournal.ne


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the north texas journal v24n21

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