Our governments rely on a two-legged stool for revenue: a tax on consumption based on sales price and a levy on the value of our homes and business assets. The former is straightforward; the latter is a nightmare.

Chapter 313, a decades-old law designed to lure companies to Texas with property tax breaks, expires in 2022. Lawmakers looking to renew it face opposition from critics who say it’s unfair to many Texas schools.

While the tax incentive program that helps bring business to Texas has been criticized as too generous, supporters say the tax benefits to the state are greater than the incentives provided.

Limited and temporary property tax discounts, known as Chapter 313 agreements, allow Texas communities to attract major industrial projects, keep Texas competitive and grow jobs — and they do not cost taxpayers a dime. Regular critics of these discounts frequently mischaracterize the program by claiming companies receive taxpayer dollars to locate in Texas, which is…

Texas local governments are getting ready to adopt their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. That means they’ll soon be setting the tax rates that will determine the size of your property tax bill.