Property Tax Hikes Protested, Fine Halved

Friday, November 28, 1919 regular

City leaders intervened to reduce a citizen's speeding fine and associated court costs by half.
Multiple property owners formally protested proposed increases in their property values, presenting both written and verbal arguments.
The city repeatedly postponed making a final decision on these property tax appeals, deferring action across two separate meetings.

Full Transcript

278 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, November 28, 1919. Roll call ordered by the Mayor. The following members answered present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward; absent, none. Approved for entry A.B. [illegible] The Minutes of the last meeting were read, and upon motion of Councilman Alford, seconded by Councilman Graham, were adopted by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward; nays, none. Councilman Alford moved that the regular order of business be suspended and that the matter of the fine assessed against A. B. Wolf be taken up, and, after a statement of the facts in the case by Judge Brownlee, Councilman Haynes moved that one-half of the fine and costs assessed against the said A. B. Wolf for speeding be remitted. The motion carried by the following vote: Ayes, Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward; nays, none. The following named persons appeared before the Council, and, in addition to their written protests, verbally protested against the action of the Board of Equalization in raising the values on their property, action upon which was deferred: J. A. Belger, Guardian of the estate of Betty Brewster; L. B. Bouchard; Chas. F. Austin; E. C. Gaines; Alfred Waechter. Credits The Council then recessed until Wednesday, December 3, 1919, at ten o'clock A. M. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, December 3, 1919. The Council met with the following members present: Mayor Yett, Councilmen Alford, Graham, Haynes and Ward; absent, none. The matter of tax appeals was taken up, and, after hearing the verbal protests on a number of same, final action was deferred. The Council then adjourned. Jno. [illegible] City Clerk