Texas’ local property tax is big and fast-growing. In fiscal 2013, local governments received in excess of $45 billion in property tax revenue, making it the single largest tax imposed in the Lone Star State. Of the total levy, school district taxes represented more than half of the overall burden, at $24.9 billion. The number of taxing jurisdictions levying a property tax grew to more than 4,000 statewide, an increase of 10.6% compared to a decade prior.
Local Government
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
FACT SHEET: Understanding Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Taxpayer-funded lobbying (TFL) is a complex and unfortunate feature of state and local governance. While lobbying is typically associated with private interest groups attempting to influence government decisions, taxpayer-funded lobbying flips this model: it involves government entities themselves using public funds to influence legislative outcomes. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s...
May 1, 2026