Texans are increasingly growing fed up with consistently rising property taxes and want the legislature to address the issue in the coming special session, according to a new poll. Property taxes have grown by 181% in the last two decades in Texas, much faster than population growth plus inflation, a metric that measures people’s ability to pay for them.
As a result, three-quarters of the state (76%) say property taxes are a “major burden for them and their family,” and 82% say it a serious or somewhat serious issue for the state. More than seven in ten (71%) Texans say they would be very or somewhat upset if “the legislative session ended with nothing done related to property taxes.” Just 23% would not be upset.
Governor Gregg Abbott’s recent call for the Texas legislature to convene a special session includes a request to provide property tax relief.
“The way we levy and raise property taxes is not just unsustainable, it is unethical,” said TPPF’s Chief Economist Vance Ginn. “Texans are being forced out of their own homes by insatiable local governments looking to squeeze every dime out of taxpayers. Texans literally can’t afford for the legislature to wait years to address the issue or make small changes to the system. It’s time for bold action. Policymakers now have the opportunity to get it done in the special session.”
The poll was conducted June 27 – 30th by WPA Intelligence for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. It surveyed 803 registered voters in Texas and has a margin of error of +/-3.5%.