Preserving the status quo is unacceptable and the Texas Senate will act
By Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Texans are frustrated with the unsustainable disconnect between constantly
increasing local property taxes and household incomes.
Thats why in 2015 86 of Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment to increase their homestead exemption for the first time in nearly 20 years.
But more must be done to prevent Texans from being taxed out of their homes.
Thats why I appointed a
Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief to identify the scope of this problem and propose solutions to the next Legislature.
The facts are troubling and indisputable. Since 2005 city and property tax levies have increased several times faster than median household incomes. Across the state city tax levies have increased 60 and county tax levies 70 while median household incomes are up 26.
In San Antonio where the select committee held its first field hearing last month city tax levies have increased 55 and county tax levies have increased 62 compared to a median household income increase of 22.
This disparity is the result of a property tax system that allows local governments to establish tax rates resulting in an 8 increase in revenue every year. (For comparison the current two-year state budget increased spending by 3.6 or 1.8 a year.)
Local property taxes must not be allowed to continue to increase at several multiples of the income of taxpayers. Inflation requires additional revenue to provide the same level of services but the 8 revenue cap is simply too high and must be reduced.
The mere suggestion of reducing the flow of revenue to local governments predictably elicits warnings of reduced civil services such as police and fire protection trash collection and road maintenance but potential reforms would only require cities and counties to make their case to voters before dramatically increasing their revenues. Pending voter approval cities and counties retain total control over where to set their tax rates.
In addition automatic rollback elections should be required for any government entity seeking to exceed its revenue cap.
While school districts are required to hold rollback elections when they exceed the 8 revenue cap cities and counties further challenge taxpayers through a burdensome process that requires signatures from 7 of registered voters before holding a rollback election to overturn the proposed increased tax rate and return to the current rate. Signatures must
be submitted within 90 days of the adoption of the higher tax rate. (In smaller jurisdictions the threshold increases to 10 percent of registered voters.)
According to the Texas Secretary of State there are 884830 registered voters in San Antonio and 975415 registered voters in Bexar County. That means San Antonio residents seeking to overturn excessive tax increases by the city must collect 61938 signatures or 68279 signatures to stop excessive county tax hikes in just 90 days.
Treating cities counties and schools the same will eliminate this unequal standard and further protect taxpayers.
The
Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief will continue holding hearings across the state with its next hearing Feb. 11 in Harlingen.
I look forward to the committees recommendations but make no mistake: Preserving the status quo is unacceptable and the Texas Senate will act on this problem during the 2017 legislative session.
