Northcliffe

Articles from the July newsletter

Jul 05, 2006

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Our communities definitely demonstrated that we can make a difference. Our collective communities make up 10% of the City?’s population, but we provided 20% of the total vote. After tallying the number of citizens who voted during early voting, and on election day, the final numbers are:

?• Northcliffe ?– 215
?• Scenic Hills ?– 152
?• Whisper Meadow - 60
?• Fairways ?– 14 (Correction to last month)
?• Fairhaven ?– 11
?• Northcliffe Village - 0 (Whisper Cove & Whisper Knoll)

Congratulations to the residents of Scenic Hills where 33% of their residents voted.

Our thanks to the citizens who worked so hard to spread the word and encourage a wonderful voter turn-out! You all made it happen!

I would like to take a moment to extend the thanks of the Homeowners?’ Association and many of our citizens to Theresa and Freddie Juarez for all of their hard work over the past several years in support of our community. Both served on the Board of Directors for our HOA and attended many City Traffic and Safety meetings on our behalf. Theresa has been publishing the ?“Northcliffe News?” for the past year and has also contributed to it?’s distribution. They have made multiple other contributions that have benefitted the neighborhood immeasurably. Freddie was recently promoted to Senior Master Sargeant in the Air Force and they are being reassigned. We wish them great success as they embark on this new adventure.

FREE LINE DANCE CLASSES: One of our homeowners has been conducting line dance classes that are sponsored by the Methodist Health Care System Everyone is welcome to come to the old Northcliffe Fire Hall on Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please call Dorothy at (830) 606-0501 for more information.

Dorothy also wanted you to know that the following businesses give at least 10% off of purchases for Seniors:
 Ross Dress for less and Milberger?’s Nursery on Tuesdays
 Kohl?’s and Foley?’s as advertised
 Lowe?’s
 Some restaurants including McDonalds
Always be sure to ask at checkout.

Debbie Bell


INFORMATION ON PROPERTY TAXES

We all recently received notice of our 2006 Property Taxes. Residents have probably noticed that the appraised value of your home has increased, and with it, your taxes. Property appraisals in Northcliffe increased this year on the average of 6%. Upon inquiry, we received the following response from the Guadalupe County Tax Office:

Our task at hand is the appraisal of property at market value. In an effort to meet this statutory requirement, we record sales that have taken place over the last year, analyze this sales information, and implement schedule increases based on the information provided. After conducting our 2006 residential schedule analysis, the market indicated an increase to the residential schedule of 6% for the 2006 year. Once this is done, we conduct subdivision analysis, where we evaluate what the implemented schedule increase does to the market value of the property within subdivisions. From this we make adjustments to the entire neighborhood either positive or negative that will get us to market value for the properties within the subdivision.

Generally speaking, you can say that Northcliffe saw the average increase that the rest of the County did for residential.

Again, thank you for your inquiry, and please contact me to discuss this further.

Jamie Reynolds-Osborne, R.P.A.
Deputy Chief Appraiser
Guadalupe Appraisal District
3000 N. Austin Street
Seguin, Texas 78155
830.303.3313 metro
830.372.2874


There are some steps you can take to help lower your property taxes. The following was published in the Seguin Gazette. Where the article states that you must file by April 30, they have informed us that they will accept late applications up until the end of January, 2007.


Texas Law Offers Homeowners Several Exemptions to Help Lower Property Taxes
General Residential Homestead exemption
All homeowners who owned and lived in their principle residence on January 1 are eligible for this exemption. This exemption reduces the taxable value of the home, thus reducing taxes. The filing deadline for this exemption is April 30**.
Homeowners may qualify for the following exemptions in addition to the General Residential Homestead Exemption:
Senior Citizen Exemption
Homeowners may qualify for the Senior Citizens Exemption once they turn 65. This exemption further reduces the taxable value of their home and also creates a tax "ceiling". In some cases, homeowners can transfer the percentage of savings that is created by this exemption from one home to another. As well, over 65 homeowners have the option of deferring their taxes. The benefits of this exemption can be transferred to a surviving spouse who is at least 55 years of age when the spouse who qualified for this exemption passed away. Homeowners should file for this exemption as soon as they turn 65.
Disabled Persons Exemption
Homeowners who are disabled through the Social Security Administration may qualify for the Disabled Persons Exemption. This exemption also reduces the taxable value of their home, creates a tax "ceiling" and in some cases the percentage of savings created from this exemption can be transferred from one home to another. The filing deadline for this exemption is April 30.

Disabled Veterans Exemption

Homeowners who are disabled through the Veterans Administration are eligible for this exemption. The amount of exemption and the reduction in taxable value of their home is dependent upon the percentage of disability. This exemption can be applied to anyone property owned by a disabled veteran. The deadline for filing for this exemption is April 30.
To receive any of these exemptions, an application must be filed with the Appraisal District. There is no charge for filing the application. For more information call the Appraisal District office at 303?¬3313 or stop by the office at 3000 N. Austin St in Seguin or 1101 Elbel Rd. in Schertz.
**You can file a late application until next January.



Letter to the Newsletter

One of our neighbors wrote an Email with the following information:

There is a new post office that opened on April 3rd in Schertz. It is located on Interstate 35N 17323 IH 35N by the Shipley?’s Donuts. Hours: M-Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10-4pm. It is closed Sun & holidays

Also: FREE family film festival at the Regal Cinemas in Live Oak (off Pat Booker Rd., past the Forum) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. First come, first served. Seating is limited to capacity

Go to www.regalmovies.com for more info.

June 6, 7, 8 - Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie G; Hoodwinked PG

June 13,14,15 - Charlotte's Web G; Spongebob Squarepants PG

June 20,21,22 - Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron G; Madagascar PG

June 27,28,29 - Clifford's Really Big Movie G; Robots PG

July 4,5,6 - Rugrats: The Movie G; Nanny McPhee PG

July 11,12,13 - Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius G; Zathura PG

July 18,19,20 - Rugrats in Paris: The Movie G; Charlie & The Chocolate Factory PG

July 25,26,27 - Wallace & Grommit G; Aquamarine PG

Aug. 1,2,3 - March of the Penguins G; Yours, Mine and Ours PG

Aug. 8,9,10 - Curious George G; Cheaper by the Dozen 2 PG

We welcome any comments and suggestions our homeowners would like to make. Please feel free to write us at our website: ncliffe2000@yahoo.com


The Quarterly Community Meeting will be at the Cibolo Baptist Church on FM 1103 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2006. The Guest Speaker will be Mayor Hal Baldwin. Come and listen to our newly RE-elected Mayor!

SCUM ALERT!!
Monday night, 12 June, a car was broken into and a truck stolen on Whisper Cove right off Mayfair on the Golf Course. The best deterrent is to keep your vehicles in the garage.
NEIGHBOR Notes



Schertz cuts ribbon on $2Mill civic center

The City of Schertz will cut the ribbon on its $2 million, 19,000-square-foot civic center June 30, 1 p.m. The facility is at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building 5 (behind the former Catholic Church). All are invited to cover the event. We will offer refreshments following the ribbon cutting.

Debbie K. Gildea
Public Information Officer
City of Schertz
(210) 658-7477, Ext. 1115


United States Air Force Band to Perform

The United States Air Force Band of the West will perform in concert July 1, 7 p.m., to inaugurate the new City of Schertz Civic Center, and to kick off the Schertz 31st Annual 4th of July Jubilee. It will be standing room only at the free concert, as nearly 1000 tickets have been distributed to requestors. If you are interested in covering the event, please contact me so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Debbie K. Gildea


POOL DETAILS!
The swimming pool opened for the season, Saturday, May 27th. This is a City Pool and is open to the public. Pool hours are Noon to 7p.m. Wednesday through Monday. It is closed for cleaning on Tuesday. The Northcliffe pool will be open on July 4th and closed on July 5th. Rates are as follows:

Daily:
?• $1.25 per swimmer per entry
?• $3.00 daily pass
?• Free for children under age 2 years

Season Rates:
?• Individual rate $55.00
?• 2 member rate $65.00
?• 3 member rate $75.00
?• 4 member rate $85.00
?• 5 member rate $95.00
?• 6 member rate $105.00

Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult (18 years of age or older.)

Swimming Lessons & Pool Reservations:
To sign up for swim lessons or for pool reservations call Yvette at 1-877-248-1872 ext. 107

For more information, contact Sandy Bryant at 210-658-7477, Ext. 1602


City Council Meetings

City Council agenda and minutes are also available on the Schertz website. See what your Councilmen and women are doing for you!

City of Schertz
☺Website - http://www.schertz.com/


STREET SWEEPER- The city sends the street sweepers come through Northcliffe on the last Friday of each month. If there are too many cars on a particular street the city says they will NOT clean your street.

ADVERTISING RATES-the newsletter advertising rates are:
One liners- $3.00 per line
Business card size $15.00
Quarter page (3?½?” X 4?½?” ) $20.00
Half page (7?” X 4?½?” or 3?½ ?“X 9?”) $35.00
Full page (7?” X 9?”) $65.00; Flyer insert $30.00
All prices are for each newsletter published every month. If you would like to advertise in our next newsletter please call Maria 830-606-1130 weeknights before 9 pm. We reach 675+ households located throughout Northcliffe. All ads must be print ready in exact size.
Deadline is July 10th.

REWARD!!

The Northcliffe Golf Course was recently heavily vandalized. Extensive damage was done to two Greens and one fairway. The Golf Course is offering a $1,000.00 reward to the person who provides management with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the guilty party(s). Call (830) 606-7351 or go to the Pro Shop and ask for Todd.