Property tax reformers scored a big win on Friday when the House Ways and Means committee voted 8 – 1 to advance House Bill 4, a proposal to reduce the rollback tax rate and require an automatic election for large local governments wanting to increase their budgets by more. That pair of structural reforms is...
Over the long-term, lawmakers should be thinking about how to achieve the ultimate prosperity-generating reform: the elimination of property taxes entirely.
It’s time to end forced annexation by giving affected property owners a chance to vote. Only by giving them a voice in the process can we live up to our founding principles.
Texas’ property tax burden is enormous. In 2015, more than 4,100 local taxing entities soaked taxpayers for $52.2 billion in property taxes. That’s enough to ding every man, woman, and child in Texas for $1,900 or cost a family of four about $8,000. Most agree that the burden is too high, but attempts at easing...
Texas’ property tax burden is enormous. In 2015, more than 4,100 local taxing entities soaked taxpayers for $52.2 billion in property taxes. That’s enough to ding every man, woman, and child in Texas for $1,900 or cost a family of four about $8,000. Most agree that the burden is too high, but attempts at easing...
Texas’ property tax burden is enormous. In 2015, more than 4,100 local taxing entities soaked taxpayers for $52.2 billion in property taxes. That’s enough to ding every man, woman, and child in Texas for $1,900 or cost a family of four about $8,000. Most agree that the burden is too high, but attempts at easing...
Texas’ property tax burden is enormous. In 2015, more than 4,100 local taxing entities soaked taxpayers for $52.2 billion in property taxes. That’s enough to ding every man, woman, and child in Texas for $1,900 or cost a family of four about $8,000. Most agree that the burden is too high, but attempts at easing...
The far left group Progress Texas is upset that the Texas Legislature looks poised to rein in out-of-control local governments. Here’s what they wrote yesterday: The Republican-led Legislature will step up its efforts to pre-empt decisions of local voters on issues ranging from local taxes to tree protection, bathroom use, annexation and driving while texting....
Texas’ property tax burden is enormous. In 2015, more than 4,100 local taxing entities soaked taxpayers for $52.2 billion in property taxes. That’s enough to ding every man, woman, and child in Texas for $1,900 or cost a family of four about $8,000. Most agree that the burden is too high, but attempts at easing...
Putting reasonable restraints on the growth of Texas’ property tax will not harm public safety, but it may force local governments to better prioritize their budgets and stop spending like drunken sailors. And that’s something we should all support.
Citizens usually dread when their elected representatives gather to pass new laws because the result is usually higher taxes, more regulations and less freedom, but the upcoming special session provides a unique opportunity for the Texas Legislature to move in the direction of liberty and opportunity. That would be an investment well worth making.
The 85th Texas Legislature rightfully discussed reforms to fundamentally flawed government problems of school finance and property taxes during the 2017 regular session. Texans demand action in these areas because they have long been saddled with poor education outcomes and an overly burdensome property tax system, which ranks 14th highest nationwide. While legislators weren’t able...