Texas Brewing Property Tax Revolt

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God."
Nehemiah 5:15

Obviously, property taxes are a gigantic issue locally, more from TPPF's Policy Orientation:

Kirk Watson:

• You're going to see "a lot of agreement" on the issue of property taxes next session.
• "It just shouldn't be this frustrating to own a home in the State of Texas."
• "Brewing honesty about how we're dealing with property taxes."
• "The state of Texas relies too heavily on local property taxes."
• State needs to pay more for public education.
• Increase mandatory school homestead exemption to $25,000.
• Would save the average Austin ISD homeowner $120

Paul Bettencourt:

• "I think we're going to have property tax relief" the question is how much?!?
• "We don't cut back our rates as values go up."
• Since 2000, Property taxes have outstripped Inflation + Population by 27% (79.8% vs. 53.2%)
• Need real truth in taxation.

Dick Lavine (CPPP):

• Flat dollar amount homestead exemption helps lower income folks more.
• School districts, unlike other taxing entities, don't gain when property values go up.
• State assistance goes down
• Chairman of the board of local appraisal district.
• Commercial Undervalation - It's easier for commercial property owners to fight assessments than homeowners, so howmowners get the short straw.
• Author's note: There's a limited amount of truth to this, but it's also a frequent excuse D's use as a smokescreen for more spending.

Robert Rivera (Arlington City Council):

• Property taxes pay for about 37% of Arlington's general operations budget.
• Author's note: Off book?!?
• Property tax reform could restrict ability to hand out economic development goodies incentives.
• Author's note: Good!!!
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