Published: 05-27-07
AUSTIN Texas – For Texas taxpayers the record of State Rep. Fred Hill (R-Richardson) adds up to higher taxes. The Dallas Morning News is reporting in today’s edition that residents in Mr. Hill’s home county of Dallas had a “sharp increase” in property tax appraisals – some 20 percent on average. As a result property owners there are paying an additional $18.4 million in taxes.Rep. Hill has been the single greatest obstacle to property tax relief and appraisal reform in the Texas House noted Michael Quinn Sullivan president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. TFR is a non-profit advocacy group seeking to reduce the burden of taxes on Texas’ taxpayers and promote sound budget reforms.
“In last spring’s Dallas County Republican Primary 86.4 percent of the voters cast a ballot calling for a strict limitation on the growth of all government in Texas – state and local. Similarly 87.1 percent of the Dallas County Republican Primary voters wanted to reduce property tax appraisal cap. But standing in opposition to both efforts has been Rep. Hill” said Sullivan.
“Mr. Hill demanded that property tax appraisal reform legislation be sent to the committee he chairs Local Ways and Means and was accommodated by the House Speaker. Rather than listen to the overwhelming call of Texans to reform property taxes because of the overwhelming burden on homeowners Mr. Hill used his power all Session to thwart meaningful reform. He’s fought against the homeowners of his district and the conservative fiscal principles Texans overwhelmingly endorse.”
Sullivan added that three weeks ago the Texas House was presented a $2.5 billion property tax cut but Mr. Hill joined with House Democrats to turn that tax cut into a $4.4 billion spending increase.
“So while 87 percent of the primary voters in his county want tax relief Fred Hill voted to increase spending” said Sullivan. “As homeowners statewide find their property tax bills are skyrocketing thanks to his inaction Mr. Hill is using his time on our dime in Austin to organize inside-baseball speaker-race theatrics.”
