The failure of property tax relief efforts over the last six years is a perfect example of how local governments are using taxpayer money to lobby against the interests of Texans. 

Most local governments have abandoned any semblance of fiscal sanity. This can be seen in Figure 1, which shows the runway growth of property taxes over the last six years. 

During this same period, the Texas Legislature has spent billions of dollars every year to try to provide property tax relief. The relief is estimated to cost $51 billion in the upcoming fiscal biennium. Yet property taxes have increased $23.6 billion over the last six years, up 38%. The tax relief efforts are not working. 

Why is this happening? 

Perhaps the main reason is that local governments are using taxpayer money to hire lobbyists to make sure the property tax relief efforts fail. Lobbyists have worked to make sure limits on property tax increases are riddled with loopholes.

For instance, even though school tax increases are supposed to be limited to 2.5% and city and county taxes to 3.5% (without voter approval), their tax levies in 2022 increased 12.8%, 9.1%, and 9.4%, respectively. In 2023, when the Texas Legislature appropriated $18 billion dedicated to property tax relief, cities increased their tax levy 10.4%, counties 10.8%, and special purpose districts 22.3%. 

History has proven to us that if property owners want real tax relief, the first step is to get rid of taxpayer funded lobbying by passing Senate Bill 19. This will help Texas legislators start listening to voters and property owners instead of lobbyists representing local government.

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