Homeowners should should have received this tax appraisal notice in the past week or two. If you didn’t get it, contact your property tax office at www.bellcad.org.
Take a look at the three lines where I’ve added green arrows.
1) Total Market Value: This is how much the county thinks your property is worth.
2) Assessed Value: This is the value that you will actually be taxed on for 2024. This number may be different from the Market Value based on your exemptions.
3) Exemptions: These are your tax exemptions which reduce your taxable amount. If you live in your home, you should have the Homestead exemption, which will show as “HS.” If you’re disabled, you should see “DV” or “DP,” And if you’re over 65, you should see OV65. If you qualify for an exemption and don’t see it, you need to have it added. Contact your tax office for more info. DO THIS! It’s easy, free, and can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars per year.
If you feel that their Total Market Value is significantly higher than the actual value of your home, you can protest using the instructions at the bottom of the notice. If you’re not sure of your property value, let me know, and I can send you sales information on comparable sales.
The Library will have a slightly altered schedule during the holidays.
Open 9am-1pm — Friday, December 22
Closed — Saturday, December 23 through Monday, December 25
Open 9am-1pm — Friday, December 29
Closed — Saturday, December 30 through Monday, January 1
The Library has normal hours on all other days.
Thursday, December 21 at 6:30 pm is Holiday Family Night! Bring the whole family for music, activities, stories, and more!
Come on ring hose bells at Holiday Music Time is here on Monday, December 18, 2023! Work with your children on rhyme, rhythm, and more! Babies ages 0-18 months and their special adults come at 9am each Monday morning in November. Children ages 19 months through 6 years come at 10am. Space is Seating is on a first come-first served basis.
Teen Game Time is on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, from 1-3 pm. Teens ages 13 and up drop by the Library to play board games!
Save the Date for an Eclipse Town Meeting!
The Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce and the City of Harker Heights will offer two programs on Monday, January 22, 2024, from 8:30 – 9:30 am and from 6:00- 7:00 pm at the Harker Heights Library and Activities Center (400 Indian Trail, Harker Heights, TX.) We will discuss the total eclipse coming on Monday, April 8, 2024, the Eclipse themed Harker Heights Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7, 2024, in increased traffic and tourism expected that weekend, safe choices for enjoying this incredible event, and possibilities for capitalizing on the festivities.
PARKS & RECREATION:
The 2024 Youth Sports Schedule has been released and can be found on the Parks & Recreation website!
Join us for Crafty Connection on Monday, December 18 from 2:00pm – 4:00 pm Seniors can bring a craft project they are working on at home to socialize and show other crafters. If participants don’t have a craft project, they don’t have to worry a craft will be available for them at the Recreation Center.
Ladies Night Out is on Thursday, December 21 at 5:00 pm. The ladies will be visiting Taqueria Mexico in Harker Heights. Each attendee is responsible for purchasing their own supper. Registration is required and can be done over the phone by calling 254-953-5683 or in person at the Recreation Center.
The Recreation Center hours of operation for the Christmas/New Year holidays will be:
Friday, December 22, 2023 Open 8:00 am – 12:00 pm noon
Saturday, December 23, 2023 Closed
Monday, December 24, 2023 Closed
Normal business hours will return on Tuesday, December 26, 2023.
Friday, December 29, 2023 Open 8:00 am – 12:00 pm noon
Saturday, December 30, 2023 Closed
Monday, January 1, 2024 Closed
Normal business hours will return on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Cold weather is on the way, and it’s time to winterize your sprinkler system. Our sprinkler systems have a backflow valve that sticks up above the ground about 18-24 inches. Because this is exposed to wind, it freezes very easily and can explode under pressure. When temperatures get below freezing, it’s strongly recommended to drain that section of pipe or cover it (or both). Draining it only takes a couple of minutes and a flat-head screwdriver. This can save you a lot of heartache and a $250-$300 repair bill. For the really cold days, or several freezing days in a row , covering it may not be enough. To drain your system, click here: https://www.stillhouseridge.com/info/sprinkler-winterization/. To cover it, you have a few options. Wrap it with some old towels, then cover the whole thing with an upside-down plastic Rubbermaid type of container. Or wrap it with insulation and duct tape a black plastic trash bag over the insulation. Or buy a sprinkler sock made for this purpose; they cost around $20-$50. Check Amazon for insulated sprinkler covers
Thank you Nate Peters for putting together the master trick-or-treat list! And great job, everyone, in the Halloween participation in the “Trick or Treat” and “Halloween Decoration Contest.” Here is the rundown of homes for Trick-or-Treating:
The goal for Stage 2 is to achieve a 10% reduction of the water use by raising public and customer awareness of water demand conditions. Lake Belton dropped below the Stage 2 warning trigger of 578.7 ft-msl on July 31, 2023. The City of Harker Heights receives all of its treated drinking water from Lake Belton.
Irrigation of landscaped areas shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Water use customers are mandated to limit outdoor water use by participating in the watering schedule for outdoor water use effective August 01, 2023.
City of Harker Heights
2023 Mandatory Outdoor Watering Schedule
Stage 2 allows irrigation system use and filling swimming pools on Sundays and Thursdays for street addresses ending in an even number or Saturdays and Wednesdays for street addresses ending in an odd number.
Outdoor water use is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. except with hand-held hoses equipped with a positive pistol grip nozzle or other device that automatically shuts off water flow when the hose is not being used, or hand-held buckets.
Should you have questions, please call the City of Harker Heights Public Works Department at 254-953-5649.
New Texas homeowners…
If you bought your home in 2022, now is the time to file your homestead property tax exemption. It’s completely free to file and will save you $200-$300/year on your annual property taxes. There are also other exemptions available, such as for senior citizens and disabled veterans. If you’re not sure which exemptions you already have, contact us, and we can help you look it up. You only need to file once, and the exemption will be valid as long as you live in your home. File your homestead exemption between January 1 and April 30 at <www.bellcad.org/?fbclid=IwAR3G7SRFF-FZEwp9JYMNz3CRSi_950GmLnKRAuHNkr DQYXEPP7mrdqp4UKA> www.bellcad.org. If you have questions while filling out the form, feel free to ask!
We had a great turnout last year; let’s make this one even better! Come out and meet your neighbors, the Harker Heights mayor, firefighters, and local law enforcement. I’ll provide ice, cups, paper plates, napkins, and plasticware. Bring your own chairs, drinks, and a dish to share. Folding tables and outdoor games are also welcome!
Street repairs completed on Comanche Gap, Prospector, Lakefront, and Iowa. There are still some remaining areas on Comanche Gap that the Engineer is reviewing that failed after the bids were received. Contractor meeting set for early next week to identify the next scheduled street point repair locations.
