Axe the Tax
What to Know: Residents in Von Ormy, Texas will pay no city property tax after officials recently moved to eliminate it. Per the mayor: “Von Ormy will enter the new fiscal year with zero municipal property tax rate, no City debt, increased police staffing, major road funding and continued investment in sewer infrastructure.”
The TPPF Take: More governments should be working to reduce property taxes, with an eye toward elimination.
“Von Ormy proves what’s possible when you combine principled leadership, outside-the-box thinking, and a commitment to small government. Every city in Texas should look at what’s going on here—and seek to emulate it,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Hopefully more cities in Texas will move to axe the tax.”
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Better Than Ever
What to know: The poverty rate for children fell to a historic low of 13.4 percent in 2025.
The TPPF take: You won’t see this on most mainstream media reports.
“A little over 10% of the country is living below the poverty line, which the Census Bureau set at $32,649 for a family of four,” says TPPF Sherry Sylvester. “Adjusted for inflation, the real median household income jumped 2.6% to $87,460, an all-time high.”
For more on the economy, click here.
Rising Costs
What to Know: Employers are projecting a median 9.2% increase in health costs in 2027, as hospital prices rise, drugs get more expensive and workers and their families simply get sicker.
The TPPF take: Transparency in contracts and direct contracting bypasses the inflated costs and poor healthcare access caused by all of the middlemen.
“Reform is available now, but the resistance from those making so much off of fear in healthcare will fight before losing their business. Businesses and governments that fail to reform face litigation from employees or revolt from taxpayers,” says TPPF’s Dr. Cliff Porter. “Businesses and individuals can not only prevent premium increases; they can reduce costs dramatically.”