What one hand gives, another hand might take away. At least that seems to be part of the necessarily painful conversation in Austin as lawmakers work through the challenges of property tax relief.

The head of a Texas House committee overseeing marquee GOP legislation to constrain property tax increases said Wednesday that he was open to shifting the bill in whatever direction gets it “right.” Hoping to “make the bill better in either direction,” state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and author…

A key Republican state senator has declared his opposition to a GOP priority bill that would restrict local property tax collections, saying it usurps too much control from local officials and the voters who elect them.

As mayors and county commissioners in recent days have sharply criticized legislation that would place strict limits on increasing property tax collections — saying the limits could force cuts in basic services — school district officials have remained on the sidelines as they await proposals to boost school spending.

AUSTIN — The three most powerful players in state government declared their unified support Thursday for an aggressive plan to place a 2.5-percent limit on property tax hikes enacted by school districts, cities and counties.