AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on reforming local property tax in Texas. The paper, The Freedom to Own Property: Reforming Texas’ Local Property Tax, by Center for Economic Freedom Senior Policy Analyst Kathleen Hunker, Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero, and Center for Fiscal Policy Economist Vance Ginn, Ph.D., examines alternatives to the complicated and burdensome property tax system in Texas.
“Texas’ local property tax system is in need of a complete overhaul,” said Quintero. “Right now, Texas homeowners and businesses struggle with the 14th worst property tax system in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation’s latest national rankings. It’s critical that we begin to think outside the box when it comes to reforming the system.”
“Responsible government isn’t just a question of prudent spending,” said Hunker. “It’s also about ensuring that taxes inflict the smallest amount of pain possible.”
“The only path that allows Texans the freedom to own property, save tax dollars over time, and contribute to substantially more job creation and economic growth is by eliminating local property taxes and replacing lost revenue with a reformed sales tax,” said Ginn.
To read the full report, visit: http://txpo.li/freedom-to-own-property
Kathleen Hunker, J.D., is a senior policy analyst with the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
James Quintero is director of the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Vance Ginn, Ph.D., is an economist in the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.