And Representative Burrows files identical bill House Bill 2 in the Texas House
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Today Governor Abbott Lt. Governor Patrick and Speaker Bonnen announced that Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed Senate Bill 2 the Texas Property Tax Reform and Relief Act. Representative Burrows (R-Lubbock) filed the identical bill in the house. These two bills start the conversation for meaningful property tax reform and relief for all Texas taxpayers. At the opening of the 86th Legislative session Governor Abbott told Senators We are going to solve school finance reform and property tax reform this session!.Lt. Governor Patrick added I first came to Austin as a civilian witness to lower property taxes in 2003. It has been a long fight but it is a fight worth having for the people. People desperately need property tax reform our businesses need property tax reform and we have set out on this day a major piece of legislation to set the tone on this major issue..
The average homeowner in Houston has endured a 37 increase on their property tax bill in just four years to nearly $5000 in total and annual property values on an average Dallas home have climbed to over 33 to $5000 too!said Chairman Bettencourt. As appraised values go up tax rates must come downhe added.
The Property Tax Reform & Relief Act of 2019 has five main goals:
(1) Lower the rollback rate from 8 percent to 2.5 percent for taxing units that collect more than $15 million in tax revenues and establish election notice requirements based on whether a school district will or will not exceed a 2.5 rollback rate for Maintenance and Operation property tax.
(2) Requires an automatic tax ratification election in November if the rollback rate is exceeded in a taxing unit.
(3) Creates a property tax administrative advisory board that recommends improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of the property tax system best practices and complaint resolution procedures.
(4) Make information about the tax rates proposed by local taxing units online with a real time tax rate notice for taxpayers and defines easy to understand no new revenue tax rate limits for the public and
(5) Reforms appraisal process on ARB hearings ARB votes and requires all appraisal districts to follow appraisal manuals issued by the Texas Comptroller for better transparency accountability and consistency.
Taxpayers throughout Texas are feeling the crushing effects of skyrocketing property tax bills. A look at the property tax levy growth across the major counties in Texas between 2013 - 2017 shows that Harris County had a 51 increase Bexar County had a 37 increase Dallas County saw a 33 increase and both Tarrant and Travis counties had roughly an 18 increase. Levy growth in the five largest Texas cities during this same time period showed a 38 hike in Houston a 34 jump in San Antonio a 32 increase in Austin a 30 rise in Dallas plus 24 more in Fort Worth. The problem is as appraised property values rise tax rates must come down. Senate property tax hearings start Wednesday at 8 AM.
I have said that the state bird of Texas is no longer just the mockingbird its the construction cranequipped Chairman Bettencourt. These increases impact homeowners and business owners across the state and the time to pass meaningful property tax reform for all Texans is right nowhe concluded.
Highlighting Lt. Governor Patricks (R-Texas) commitment to property tax reform this session he named Senator Bettencourt Chair of the Senate Committee on Property Tax.
