Protesters on a downtown street corner Tuesday afternoon complained of property tax inequities, arguing that commercial property owners pay billions of dollars less than they should in Texas.
"What do we want," a protester shouted into a megaphone at the corner of St. Mary's and West Market streets.
The answer from the crowd with him was "real values."
The protesters, representing several different groups, took on the topic of property taxes that commercial property owners pay.
They marched in front of the Homewood Suites River Walk and said such property owners pay 40 percent less taxes than they should because their properties are valued below what they are worth.
"It's time for these building owners to pay their fair share," said Guillermo Vazquez, founder of Texas Workers Alliance. "San Antonio commercial properties like this one here obviously need to do more because they also use our streets and services in San Antonio."
Richard Reeves is a city employee but came to the protest as a homeowner.
"I'd really like to see them pay their fair share," Reeves said. "Real value for real taxes."
Jessica Guerrero of Fuerza Unida said because commercial properties do not pay their fair share, cities, school districts and such do not get the tax money they deserve.
"Our schools just don't have the funds adequate to serve our kids well," Guerrero said. "Across Texas, we have lost an estimated $4 billion or more in tax revenues in the last five years."
The Bexar Appraisal District sides with the protesters.
Chief Appraiser Michael Amezquita said he has been trying for years to get the tax code changed so that commercial properties pay based on their value.
Amezquita wrote in an email: "The Texas Legislature requires appraisal districts to appraise at 100% of market value but doesn't provide for mandatory sales disclosure nor do they require tax payers to provide income and expense evidence to support their position that the property has been excessively appraised."
He also wrote that the owners of commercial properties frequently sue appraisal districts over values.
"In the last year our litigation volume has doubled from an average year of $5 billion to $10.3 billion. 99% of the litigants are suing based on E and U appeal. This is where the shift occurs in taxation, when commercial owners are appraised at 40% less than market and residential taxpayers are appraised much closer to market. This disparity in the treatment of taxpayers is codified in the Tax code as equal and uniform appeal. It is shameful."
Despite the protesters and the appraisal office, commercial property owners argue that the process they use was established by the Legislature and they are just following the rules.
They also say appraisal districts want to value the business, not just the land and buildings, and that appraisal districts often settle rather than fight valuations in court.
No commercial property owner wanted to comment publicly on the issue for fear of retribution.
The Bexar County Appraisal District also reported that the Homewood Suites River Walk property value has been appealed every year and court cases were filed in 2008, 2009 and 2013.
The district reports a 2013 value has not been established on that property, but that if it were appropriately valued it would bring in another $150,000 in taxes, most of which would go to the San Antonio School District.