KnowYard News

Texas property tax reform: What's on the table and what it means for DFW

Texas legislators keep debating property tax reform. Here's what DFW homeowners need to know.

• Texas has no state income tax. Property taxes fund local government, schools, and services.
• Average effective rate in DFW: ~2.0-2.2%. Source: Texas Comptroller.
• On a $400K home: $8,000-8,800/year.

DFW water supply: Are we running out?

With DFW adding 200+ people per day, water supply is a real long-term concern.

• DFW draws from multiple reservoirs: Lake Lewisville, Grapevine Lake, Lake Lavon, Lake Ray Hubbard, Richland-Chambers, and others.
• Major providers: Dallas Water Utilities, Fort Worth Water, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD).
• Source: twdb.texas.gov (Texas Water Development Board)

DFW voter guide: How to navigate local elections

National elections get all the attention but local elections have 10x more impact on your daily life.

• Texas voter registration: votetexas.gov
• Deadline: 30 days before an election
• You need: Texas driver's license or state ID, SSN last 4, and a Texas address

Zoning debates in DFW: Why your neighborhood might change

Zoning determines what gets built where. DFW is having major zoning fights right now.

• The "Forward Dallas" comprehensive plan is updating zoning citywide for the first time in decades. Source: dallascityhall.com/forwarddallas
• Key proposal: allowing more multi-family housing in traditionally single-family areas
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — backyard apartments — approved in more areas

Toll road politics in DFW: Who profits and who pays

I moved here from Houston five years ago and could not believe how many toll roads DFW has. You literally cannot get across the metroplex without paying somebody.

School board elections in DFW: Why they matter more than you think

School boards control curriculum, budgets, hiring, and bond packages. They affect your kids daily. Here's why you should pay attention.

• Set tax rates (within state limits)
• Approve budgets ($1B+ for large districts like Dallas ISD, Frisco ISD)
• Hire/fire superintendents

Dallas vs Fort Worth city council: What local government is actually doing

Most DFW residents can name their US senator but not their city council member. Here's what local government is working on.

• Housing affordability — bond package includes $200M+ for affordable housing. Source: dallascityhall.com
• Infrastructure — road repairs, bridge maintenance, drainage improvements
• Public safety — police staffing still below target (DPD has 3,000+ officers, needs 4,000+). Source: Dallas Morning News

DART expansion debate: Why DFW can't agree on public transit

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) has been expanding — slowly — but the politics around it are complicated.

• 93 miles of light rail (largest in the US by mileage). Source: dart.org
• 4 rail lines: Red, Blue, Green, Orange
• Bus network across service area

How to protest your DFW property tax appraisal: Step-by-step guide

Your appraisal notice just arrived and the value jumped 15%. Don't just accept it. Protest.

• You must file by May 15 or within 30 days of receiving your notice, whichever is later.
• File online at your county appraisal district:
• Dallas: dallascad.org

DFW property tax breakdown 2026: Where your money actually goes

Property taxes in DFW are high because Texas has no state income tax. Here's exactly where the money goes.

• Your property is appraised annually by your county appraisal district.
• Dallas County: Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). Source: dallascad.org
• Tarrant County: Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD). Source: tad.org

Dallas Cowboys mock draft exploring what moving up to No. 3 overall would look like, and what it would take - A to Z Sports

Dallas Cowboys mock draft exploring what moving up to No. 3 overall would look like, and what it would take A to Z Sports

Source: news.google.com

Texas property tax reform: What's on the table and what it means for DFW

Texas legislators keep debating property tax reform. Here's what DFW homeowners need to know.

• Texas has no state income tax. Property taxes fund local government, schools, and services.
• Average effective rate in DFW: ~2.0-2.2%. Source: Texas Comptroller.
• On a $400K home: $8,000-8,800/year.

DFW water supply: Are we running out?

With DFW adding 200+ people per day, water supply is a real long-term concern.

• DFW draws from multiple reservoirs: Lake Lewisville, Grapevine Lake, Lake Lavon, Lake Ray Hubbard, Richland-Chambers, and others.
• Major providers: Dallas Water Utilities, Fort Worth Water, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD).
• Source: twdb.texas.gov (Texas Water Development Board)

DFW voter guide: How to navigate local elections

National elections get all the attention but local elections have 10x more impact on your daily life.

• Texas voter registration: votetexas.gov
• Deadline: 30 days before an election
• You need: Texas driver's license or state ID, SSN last 4, and a Texas address

Zoning debates in DFW: Why your neighborhood might change

Zoning determines what gets built where. DFW is having major zoning fights right now.

• The "Forward Dallas" comprehensive plan is updating zoning citywide for the first time in decades. Source: dallascityhall.com/forwarddallas
• Key proposal: allowing more multi-family housing in traditionally single-family areas
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — backyard apartments — approved in more areas

Toll road politics in DFW: Who profits and who pays

I moved here from Houston five years ago and could not believe how many toll roads DFW has. You literally cannot get across the metroplex without paying somebody.

School board elections in DFW: Why they matter more than you think

School boards control curriculum, budgets, hiring, and bond packages. They affect your kids daily. Here's why you should pay attention.

• Set tax rates (within state limits)
• Approve budgets ($1B+ for large districts like Dallas ISD, Frisco ISD)
• Hire/fire superintendents

Dallas vs Fort Worth city council: What local government is actually doing

Most DFW residents can name their US senator but not their city council member. Here's what local government is working on.

• Housing affordability — bond package includes $200M+ for affordable housing. Source: dallascityhall.com
• Infrastructure — road repairs, bridge maintenance, drainage improvements
• Public safety — police staffing still below target (DPD has 3,000+ officers, needs 4,000+). Source: Dallas Morning News

DART expansion debate: Why DFW can't agree on public transit

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) has been expanding — slowly — but the politics around it are complicated.

• 93 miles of light rail (largest in the US by mileage). Source: dart.org
• 4 rail lines: Red, Blue, Green, Orange
• Bus network across service area

How to protest your DFW property tax appraisal: Step-by-step guide

Your appraisal notice just arrived and the value jumped 15%. Don't just accept it. Protest.

• You must file by May 15 or within 30 days of receiving your notice, whichever is later.
• File online at your county appraisal district:
• Dallas: dallascad.org

DFW property tax breakdown 2026: Where your money actually goes

Property taxes in DFW are high because Texas has no state income tax. Here's exactly where the money goes.

• Your property is appraised annually by your county appraisal district.
• Dallas County: Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD). Source: dallascad.org
• Tarrant County: Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD). Source: tad.org

Oracle cuts thousands of jobs, prompting questions about Austin’s tech economy

This is one of those topics where the Austin angle matters. The national conversation doesn't capture what it's actually like on the ground here.

Shot in the head during a South Houston traffic stop, this officer just walked out of the hospital

KHOU has the details on a story unfolding in Houston. This could be relevant to your neighborhood — check the source link for the full story and weigh in.

Source: khou.com

A conversation worth having in Austin: Four high school students accused of kidnapping, torturing classmate

This is one of those topics where the Austin angle matters. The national conversation doesn't capture what it's actually like on the ground here.

Gucci Mane label at center of armed kidnapping in Dallas

This topic has been generating a lot of conversation online. Multiple people are weighing in with strong opinions about how this affects Dallas-Fort Worth specifically.