Political

New DACA Regulation Awaiting Permanent Protections

Hispanic Federation welcomes the Biden administration’s new rule for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which codifies the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) memo that created the program in 2012. However, we continue to call on the Biden administration and Congress to deliver meaningful, permanent protections for all undocumented immigrants. “This is a positive step toward protecting hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who are vital for our communities, our economy, and the future of our country. However, it is not enough. This regulation does not make any meaningful changes to update the program, expand eligibility, or provide protections for undocumented immigrants prevented from qualifying for the program due to arbitrary criteria. This year alone, almost 100,000 undocumented youth graduated without DACA protections, without fundamental tools like work permits and protection from removal - all things that would raise their chances for success in our communities. Moreover, the upcoming opinion from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, a conservative majority court that has been hostile toward publicly supported immigration policies in the past, could end DACA and devastate millions of families across the nation. That decision will also impact the 80,000 first-time DACA applicants who are in limbo as a result of Judge Hanen’s decision in 2021. DACA has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals who were able to finish school, apply for work permits, live, thrive - and dream - without fear of deportation or family separation. The future of these undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children should not be tossed from one court battle to another. They deserve better. The Biden administration and Congress must pass bold and meaningful permanent protections for all undocumented immigrants without further delay,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation.

New 988 Mental Health Crisis Lifeline Available

The new 988 lifeline that went live about a month ago is aimed at making it easier for people to get help for mental health issues, but advocates and lawmakers say it needs more resources. On July 16, 988 became the new number for the alreadyexisting National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Within days, the amount of calls and texts to the number jumped. The federal government put hundreds of millions of dollars into the transition. Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., now says there’s more to do. “To make sure that we build that system like the system that has been going on for over 50 years which is now 911,” Cardenas. He’s introduced legislation to boost funding for 988 crisis response and build out mental health services on three different levels. “Where you have somewhere to call – someone will come and somewhere to go,” Cardenas said. Advocates say that means making sure 988 call centers have the staff they need, communities have mobile crisis teams to respond and people have facilities where they can get longer term mental health support. Getting lawmakers to approve more spending can be an uphill battle. But Rep. Cardenas says mental health is a topic where they can find common ground. “Mental health is something that affects way too many families and every community equally and I’m seeing more and more of a bipartisan effort,” Cardenas said.

Lubbock County Commissioners Adopt Proposed Tax Rate

The average property owner will pay more to Lubbock County this upcoming year under the budget and tax rate being considered. While the proposed property tax rate is lower than last year, property appraisals are up an average 16 percent according to the Lubbock Central Appraisal District. A property tax rate of 32.4780 cents per $100 valuation would generate the same revenue on existing properties. In other words, this “no new revenue rate” would leave the average taxpayer’s bill roughly flat from last year. This year’s proposal is 34.7720 cents per $100 valuation, which is also the maxi-

mum rate that does not force an election. The County reports an average homestead’s tax bill to the county would increase from $570 to $656 annually. The budget being considered includes a five-percent pay raise for county employees. Inflation is leading to greater costs for local governments. This tax rate would generate roughly $93.6 million in property tax revenue from the county, up from $85.1 million last year. Local governments across Texas are also seeing a significant increase in sales tax revenue, both factors of strong business activity as well as the cost of nearly everything going up. LISD Trustees Set Property Tax Rate

The vote on a resolution to adopt the property tax rate was on last month's Lubbock ISD's agenda. The board voted unanimously to reduce the rate to $1.13550 per $100 valuation from $1.1514. With an increase in property values, determined by the Lubbock County Central Appraisal District, property owners should still expect to pay more. According to the district resolution, a $100,000 home will pay $48.70 more next year. “That is going to yield more revenue from local taxes, but the district won’t get any more total revenue,” said Board President Zach Brady. “Simply, we’ll get less money

Copyright 2022 by Latino Lubbock Magazine

from the state, because we’re going to get the same amount of money per student.” He said that the state funding contribution will be reduced as more tax revenue is collected. He also takes issue with how state legislation requires the district to call this a raise of the tax rate. “We did not increase the tax rate,” Brady said. “Also, we didn’t adopt the law that requires us to use that language.” Brady points out Lubbock ISD has the lowest tax rate of the major districts in Lubbock County and believes property owners are getting the best out of their money.

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