AUSTIN – Though the Texas House and Senate do not yet agree on the best way to provide tax relief, there is a growing recognition of the need for structural tax reform. One critical reform—a requirement that local governing bodies achieve a supermajority before approving a property tax rate that brings in more revenue than the entity raised in the prior year—appears to have much promise, with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick this week signaling that he was “doubling down” on efforts to see it through to completion.
“We commend Lt. Governor Patrick for his commitment to SB 1760 and the critical taxpayer protections within,” said TPPF Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero. “Local property taxes are, right now, crushing homeowners and businesses, deterring investment, and threatening to undermine some of the economic gains made under the Texas Model of governance. Structural property tax reform is an absolute must. The reforms in SB 1760 will help to set the bar high for further property tax increases on already struggling homeowners and businesses.”
James Quintero is director of the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.