A Boerne, Texas restaurant has taken to social media to air frustrations over spiking property taxes that they claim are strangling small businesses and potentially altering the fabric of their close-knit community.
The Hungry Horse, a local eatery known for comfort food staples like chicken-fried steak and meatloaf, posted on Facebook detailing their struggle with a 50% increase in property taxes last year and another 18% hike this year, the pressure mounts from these tax increases alongside other cost upticks in ingredients, labor, and employment taxes; the restaurant has submitted a proposal to appeal the tax increase. They pointed a finger at selective financial breaks allegedly being given to newcomers like the mega convenience store chain Buc-ee's, which despite not having broken ground on its planned Boerne location, is already set to receive incentive deals from the city, reported MySA.
The post by Hungry Horse, which included what they submitted for their tax appeal, lamented the closures of several other local dining establishments, thereby associating the tax environment with the potential erasure of small-town culture. "Raising our taxes every year is putting many small businesses in Boerne, like us — OUT of business. That is a fact. We do not - can not - raise our prices every year by 18% or more as this property tax thing is doing." the post reads. Boerne residents have reportedly shown their support for Hungry Horse in the post's comments section, highlighting the community's concern over the situation.
While not all closures can be attributed directly to tax increases — for example, Little Gretel’s owner retired after 14 years, and Limestone Grill cited a “variety of factors” for shutting its doors — the narrative of tax-induced hardship forms a rallying cry for those fearing the encroachment of corporations over small businesses. In contrast, Buc-ee's represents looming change, its sales tax rebate agreement with Boerne is touted as a future revenue source despite its construction delay, as mentioned in a statement by Boerne Communications Director Chris Shadrock according to a KENS 5 report.
As outcry grows, city officials seem to acknowledge the strain, Amy Story, President & CEO of the Boerne Kendall County EDC spoke to the need for diversification in tax revenue sources to relieve the burden on property owners, this discussion signals a recognition of the deleterious effects rampantly climbing property evaluations could have on the small business backbone of communities like Boerne.
