Just one day after the close of the second-called special session, nearly two-dozen conservative lawmakers are asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call them back to Austin for a third.
On Thursday afternoon, these conservative lawmakers, led by Representative Janis Holt (R-Silsbee), signed onto a letter to the Governor outlining their case for a third special session. Central to their request was the recognition that the legislature failed to provide real property tax relief to all Texans during the special sessions, a top priority for taxpayers.
In the Letter, these lawmakers said, in part, “we request that you bring us back for a third special session to provide necessary property tax relief to our constituents before the end of the year. Texans are crying out for legislation which will make it more difficult for taxing entities to raise property taxes on ALL Texans. Delivering additional property tax relief which lowers all Texans’ property taxes is also a priority.”
These conservative fighters rightly point out two key issues:
First, the Legislature must pass legislation that actually makes it more difficult to raise taxes. This is crucial, since the ability for local taxing entities to rapidly increase spending and taxation is one of the main reasons why the Legislature’s past property tax relief efforts have fallen short, and failed to deliver the relief that was promised.
This requires several decisive reforms:
- Making the “No-New-Revenue” rate a true no-new-revenue rate, eliminating exemptions and loopholes,
- Requiring voter approval for any property tax increase, not just increases beyond a certain threshold,
- Requiring common-sense spending-increase limits on all taxing entities using the standard metric of population growth plus inflation.
Secondly, the Legislature must then pass legislation that begins the process of property tax elimination, by actually lowering the property tax burden.
This begins by:
- freezing school M&O property taxes at their current levels,
- using surplus State revenue to buy down school M&O property taxes, until they are eliminated, which would cut the average property tax bill in half. Permanently.
These Representatives recognize what every taxpayer recognizes: Texas’s property tax system is unsustainable. Despite relief efforts by the Legislature, property tax levies have still skyrocketed by a staggering 37%, or nearly $24 billion dollars, in just the last 7 years. Texans can no longer afford their own homes and businesses.
Signers to the letter to the Governor include:
Janis Holt, David Lowe, Steve Toth, Alan Schoolcraft, Nate Schatzline, Keresa Richardson, Tony Tinderholt, Katrina Pierson, Daniel Alders, Valoree Swanson, Mark Dorazio, Brent Money, AJ Louderback, Andy Hopper, Don McLaughlin, Mike Olcott, Joanne Shofner, Helen Kerwin, Shelley Luther, Mitch Little, Ben Bumgarner, J.M. Lozano, and Marc Lahood.
Taxpayers should thank and support these Representatives for fighting to deliver the real relief and reform they so desperately need, and rightfully demand. It remains to be seen if Governor Abbott will heed their call, and bring the Legislature back to Austin for a third time.
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