State of Emergency

Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott declared property taxes an emergency item in his biennial State of the State speech, which means the issue is exempt from the constitutional limit that says the Legislature can’t pass bills in the first 60 days of the Session.

Abbott stated, “We can no longer sit idly by while property owners are reduced to tenants of their own property with taxing authorities playing the role of landlord.Our constituents are counting on us. I applaud leaders of the Senate and House for working together in historic fashion on identical bills that limit the ability of taxing authorities to raise your taxes.”

Abbott's resolve is great news for those of us who have been fighting for property tax reform for the past seven years. He is joined in his resolve by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen. 

Believe it or not, there is opposition to property tax reform. Who on earth would oppose property tax reform you may ask? Why it's  the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Municipal League using our own tax dollars to lobby against us. It seems some Texas municipalities aren't keen on asking for more money when they need it.  Which gives us get another reason to support legislation banning tax dollars being used to lobby against tax payers. #tb