According to the United States and Texas constitutions, eminent domain can only be used for a public use. Reflecting these constitutional provisions, SB 18 prohibits taking of private property unless the taking is for a public use.
Small Towns, Big Tax Increases
The city of Whitesboro ignited a firestorm recently when officials suggested adopting a tax rate that would have skyrocketed the average homeowner’s property tax bill by 61 percent. The initial public hearing to discuss the matter drew hordes of angry Whitesboro residents who voiced their discontent. So much so, in fact, that city councilmembers tabled...