ERINAKES: Record Property Tax Cuts, Texas' Largest in History, Pass Legislature in Austin

Voters will need to approve Constitutional Amendment in November before $100,000 Homestead Exemption kicks in

By David Erinakes

AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — Ronald Reagan once said: “We don’t have inflation because the people are living too well. We have inflation because the government is living too well.” Well, with historic and record Property Tax Relief now having been agreed to this week in Austin, the state government's budget in Texas will be living a bit less well – and returning substantial amounts of savings to property owners in future.

That's cause for celebration, and it's thanks to Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dade Phelan, and State Senator Paul Bettencourt – as well a many others. Now we can begin asking ‘what do the taxpayers get in return’ when weighing future requests from the many who have their hands out during Legislative Sessions.
 

• Will we get reading at grade level?
• Will we get expedited repair of roads & bridges?
• Will we get better outcomes for Medicaid patients?
• These, and many other important issues, are all questions worthy of review.

The new property tax bills seem to be a bit confusing for some, but in Jim Cardle’s interview of Senator Bettencourt on Austin's Talk 1370am "Cardle & Woolley Show" Wednesday, many of those questions are answered starting at around minute 42.

As final details emerge from the property tax bills, we as taxpayers need to ask our elected representatives for answers surrounding the appraisal system – and if solutions exist within the bill.

For instance:
 

• Have legislators put a stop to Appraisal Districts ‘banking’ insane home and property values as a hedge against what the legislation proposed?
• Are there any appraisal caps in the bill?
• Will voters approve of the Constitutional Amendment in November that's required to implement the $100,000 Homestead Exemption?

These are worthy questions – and Texas constituents are literally burning up phone lines in many State Legislator's District Offices looking for answers to these, and many other questions.

Communicating the historic nature and level of tax cuts in this session's bills has been a challenge for state legislators, as voter's attention to national issues dominates most of the local news cycles across the nation. But listening to Texans is the most important thing elected officials can do, and on this important issue – the positive affects of which will be felt for decades – their job has only just begun.

David Erinakes formerly worked in the Texas Legislature, is Chief Executive Officer of The E Development Companies, and covers issues at the State Capitol in Austin for Texas Insider.