Local property tax hikes faced an uphill battle this November, election results show
Voters in Community Impact’s coverage areas approved just over half of the local bond propositions and tax rate elections on the November ballot, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Statewide, 40% of tax rate elections and 45.9% of bond propositions passed, according to data from the office of Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican and property tax policy…
Read MoreAppraisal cap made little impact on taxpayers: Cap on some property appraisals helped feed higher tax rates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 9, 2025 Appraisal cap made little impact on taxpayers Cap on some property appraisals helped feed higher tax rates. (AUSTIN) — A state limit on the appraised values of some Texas properties led to higher county tax rates and higher countywide property tax levies in 2024, according to a new study….
Read MoreCould Dean’s value-added tax replace property taxes? Here’s what tax policy experts say
Republican state Rep. Jay Dean of Longview recently proposed a bill to replace school maintenance and operations property taxes with a value-added tax. The news might sound like music to the ears of Texas property owners, who have vociferously spoken against property taxes as their tax bills have continued to climb.
Read MoreTexas cities, counties may face new limits on raising property taxes
Lawmakers on a key Texas Senate panel Friday advanced a proposal to put a tighter limit on how much more cities and counties can collect in property taxes each year without asking voters.
Read MoreTexas Senate passes bill targeting tax-funded financing structures like Austin’s Project Connect
Local government property tax rates are split into two distinct portions: one for maintenance and operations, and one for interest and sinking, or debt service on bonds used for specific projects. Operations revenue isn’t meant to repay debt, and vice versa, which Bettencourt said prompted his legislation.
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