By Representative Phil KIng
In my guest column on February 3 I addressed property taxes as one the chief issues facing our state this legislative session. Texas must take action to relieve the property tax burden which now averages 17 of every home mortgage payment.
I began peeling back the layers of our property tax system this past summer when I was appointed to serve on the House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform. Our committee traveled throughout the state from El Paso to Beaumont listening to Texans hearing their many frustrations with our current property tax system. Wherever we went the testimony of families and business owners was compelling and consistent. The property tax system was never intended to carry the load it bears today and its impact has become highly adverse particularly on those who can afford it the least.
With one of the highest property tax burdens in the country it should be no surprise that Texas now ranks 43 among the 50 states in home ownership. Taking that knowledge my colleagues and I in the Texas Conservative Coalition (a conservative legislative caucus) formulated policy recommendations which we have now proposed to the Legislature. These include:
• The constitutional dedication of twenty-five percent of all future state surplus revenues to school property tax relief.
• A requirement that local taxing entities adjust their tax rates to account for appraisal growth.
• The limiting of property tax appraisals to once every two years.
• Lowering of the 10 appraisal cap along with a requirement that it apply equally to residential and commercial property.
• Requiring that residential use determine the market value" of residential property for appraisal purposes.
• The independent selection of appraisal district board members.
I was recently appointed to serve on the Ways & Means Committee which has jurisdiction over local and state tax policy. Next week we will begin hearing bills and I remain committed to do what I can to improve our broken and burdensome property tax system. It will be an uphill battle but in this economy reform is more important than ever.
It is a pleasure serving you in the Texas Legislature.
