Gov. Abbott today made the centerpiece of his re-election campaign an aggressive proposal to reduce skyrocketing property taxes in Texas, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The governor says he will work to limit local property tax increases, from cities, counties, school districts, and other local jurisdictions, to 2.5% a year. That is substantially lower than the 4% cap that the Texas Municipal League and other local government groups succeeded in defeating in the 2017 session.
"Over just the past two decades, property tax increases have increased over 200%," Abbott said.
Abbott's plan would require a public vote if any local jurisdiction wants to raise its property tax over 2.5% in the course of one year.
“With the skyrocketing rise in property taxes, more and more Texans face the risk of being forced out of the homes they have lived in for decades,” Abbott said. “Young families who are just starting out are having trouble affording their first home and businesses are unable to grow and hire more workers. Enough is enough."
Abbott's proposal also requires local elected officials to have to publicly vote on any property appraisal increases. Today, appointed appraisal districts jack up taxes on property owners regularly, simply by dictating that their property is worth more.
Abbott's plan also contains measures to restrict local debt, which is the cause of many property tax increases because property taxes are the major way cities, counties, and school districts repay debt.Abbott wants to require a 'supermajority' of a City Council, County Commission, or School Board to approve any new debt, and require that a city or county's total debt be posted on line, along with the amount of that debt each taxpayer is on the hook for.