Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday Memorial Day Weekend

Posted by rbutler on Friday, May 15 @ 8:34pm

During Memorial Day weekend, Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of certain energy efficient products. The 2009 Energy Star sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day).

The products qualifying for the exemption are:

• air conditioners priced under $6,000 (room and central units)
• clothes washers (but not clothes dryers)
• ceiling fans
• dehumidifiers
• dishwashers
• light bulbs (incandescent and fluorescent)
• programmable thermostats
• refrigerators priced under $2,000.

For more information, see http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx96_1331/

Reduce Your Property Tax

Posted by rbutler on Monday, March 16 @ 4:14pm

The American Homeowner's Association is giving away their Homeowner's Property Tax Reduction Kit, which is normally $29.99. It's got ways for you to check your assessment, identify errors, and how to appeal it.

Having successfully appealed my own taxes in the past, some quick advice:

• For our area, information on filing an appeal can be downloaded from the Collin county assessor's website.
• Find comps. Please be aware, Texas is a non-disclosure state so the sales price is not published. What you will see on certain websites is the loan amount or the asking price.
• Don't be timid.

Keep Allen Beautiful

Posted by rbutler on Wednesday, March 4 @ 7:13pm

Keep Allen Beautiful invites you to join Elizabeth Frisch with A Nurtured World on Tuesday, April 14, from 7 to 9 pm at the Allen Public Library Auditorium and find out how to live a satisfying, financially successful life that also is environmentally sustainable. For more information, visit www.cityofallen.org. To register, email egonzalez@cityofallen.org.

2009 HOA Dues

Posted by rbutler on Saturday, February 28 @ 2:45pm

Please remember, 2009 HOA dues must be paid in full by today. If you have not already sent in your payment, you may use PayPal to send your payment to paypal@maxwellcreek.org. The total due today is $228.80; after today, additional late, collection, and interest fees will apply.

Landscape Update

Posted by rbutler on Monday, February 2 @ 2:36pm

The landscape maintenance company has completed scheduled pre-emergent and fertilization applications to prevent weeds and promote healthy green turf this spring. They have also removed sucker branches, tip pruned Crape Myrtle trees, and cut back ornamental grasses to promote new growth and remove brown winter foliage.