Panhandle Pain
What to Know: Potter and Randall County homeowners are seeing red after being notified of faster-than-expected property value increases. One elderly Panhandle resident facing higher taxes even remarked: “I think it’s very unfair, especially when you have a single income and you’re retired.”
The TPPF Take: Property values are on the rise across the Lone Star State. But that doesn’t mean tax bills must also grow.
“Local elected officials have the power to offset soaring appraisals with lower tax rates. It’s within their discretion to bring this balance to your tax bill. They need only muster the political will to do so,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Many taxpayers—but especially the elderly and those on a fixed income—need local elected officials to lead in a meaningful way on taxes this year.”
For more on property taxes, click here.
Second Chances for Families
What to know: More than 1,000 Texas youths age out of the foster care system each year.
The TPPF take: Restoring parental rights—in certain circumstances—can lead to better outcomes for these youths.
“Reinstatement can be the answer, when a parent has rehabilitated and can provide a safe and stable home, and both parties—the child and the parent—wish to reunite and re-establish their legal relationship,” says TPPF’s Andrew Brown. “Of course, reinstatement is not appropriate in all cases, and HB 2926 is structured in such a way to allow courts to determine when reinstatement is an appropriate permanency option.”
For more on House Bill 2926, click here.
Pick One
What to know: In President Joe Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress, he seemed torn on the issue of policing.
The TPPF take: He can’t have it both ways.
“Long considered a friend to law enforcement, President Biden began the portion on policing in a way that the rest of his party has abandoned—by recognizing that most police officers serve honorably and heroically,” says TPPF’s Randy Petersen. “But then the lurch to the left occurred and the president promoted the concept of a racist America, and policing as a racist institution.”
For more on the president and policing, click here.