Lawmakers want to boost public education and rein in property taxes. Will the money last?
In 2006, the Legislature erased a big chunk of school property taxes for homeowners across the state and replaced the lost revenue for schools with new business taxes, an increased cigarette tax and a revamped motor vehicle tax, among other sources. Teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses received a $2,000 pay raise.
Read MoreTax bills offers savings, but how much?
Legislation to rein in property tax collections would have slowed the pace of property tax increases in three Central Texas cities had the measures been in place since 2013, but taxes still would have increased every year, an American-Statesman analysis has found.
Read More‘A lot of upset Texans’: How much property tax relief should you expect? Not much, experts say
AUSTIN — GOP leaders in the Texas Legislature said this is the year they would finally deliver property owners the tax relief they’ve been demanding. First, lawmakers passed legislation that slows how fast property tax bills rise. They called it one of the most transformational tax changes the Legislature has ever passed.
Read MoreAhead of 2020, Texas Republicans take a risk with sales tax swap plan
Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders want to ask voters in November whether to dedicate a one percent hike in the sales tax to raise billions for buying down property taxes.
Read MoreTexas House set to tackle property tax legislation
The marquee effort to constrain property tax growth is likely to reach the Texas House floor this week in what promises to be a free-wheeling debate.
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