Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the prevention of a $100 million tax increase in Dallas. In the 84th Regular Session, state lawmakers passed SB 1760, a taxpayer protection bill aimed at improving transparency and accountability in Texas’ property tax system. One of the structural reforms included in the final bill—a new supermajority vote requirement—was recently successful preventing Dallas ISD officials from calling a tax ratification election in November that could have raised property taxes in the district by 13-cents and resulted in an additional $100 million in new spending.
“Unreasonably high property taxes, driven by increased spending at the local level, are a source of major concern and frustration for middle-class Texas families,” said Quintero. “Jam-packed interim committee hearings held all across the state are proof positive that Texans are ready for meaningful and long-lasting property tax reform.”
Quintero continued: “Reforming the process to protect taxpayers from soaring tax bills has already proven to work. In Dallas, homeowners and businesses were recently shielded from a major school tax increase by a new state law requiring local governing bodies to reach broad consensus before raising taxes. This new requirement shows that, when done right, structural reforms can go a long way toward protecting the family budget.”
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