Files SB 2 the Texas Property Tax Reform and Relief Act of 2017; issues Senate Select Committee interim report
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas After conducting eight blockbuster hearings in seven cities and taking almost 50 hours of testimony that overwhelmingly called for property tax relief Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) today filed Senate Bill2 the Texas Property Tax Reform and Relief Act of 2017 with co-authors Sens. Brandon Creighton Kelly Hancock and Van Taylor and released the Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform and Reliefs interim report. The Select Committee was charged by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to study the property tax process including the appraisal system and to examine and develop options to reduce the tax burden on property owners.
Texas taxpayers have been facing property tax bills that are increasing 2.5 to 3 times faster than median household income" said Senator Bettencourt chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform and Relief.
Throughout Texas in hearing after hearing the Select Committee heard the same message loud and clear: Texans are asking for and deserve property tax relief. Whether it was homeowners testifying that they are unable to keep up with their property tax bills small business owners seeing their hard earned profits go out the window or even big businesses testifying that they are locating new plants and taking jobs out of Texas due to high property taxes they are all saying that property taxes are rising too fast in Texas."
Average home property tax appraisals have risen 22-24 over two years in the Dallas-Fort Worth area 20 in San Antonio over two years and 12 a year in Austin for three straight years. In Harris County average home property tax bills are up 36 in just three years.
From a taxpayer winding up in handcuffs just for asking questions to open collusion between a chief appraiser and appraisal review board chairman in a hearing to protest hearings scheduled on July 3 the stories about what has actually been happening to taxpayers at appraisal districts across the state demand immediate changes in how taxpayers are treated" Senator Bettencourt continued.
The Select Committees interim report contains several examples of poor practices around the state that have already been stopped due to the Select Committees direct questioning of officials involved in the appraisal process. Senate Bill 2 contains substantial changes to appraisal district oversight so the best practices can be adhered to in every one of the county appraisal districts in Texas.
I would like to thank Senate Select Committee members Creighton Hancock Lucio Perry Van Taylor and Uresti as well as a half dozen other Senators who joined the Select Committee at our hearings in various cities plus Lt. Governor Dan Patrick for participating in these hearings. Fifty hours of public testimony has never been taken before in this manner but the need for property tax relief is clear to Texas taxpayers that see their property tax bills rising faster than their paychecks year after year."
Senate Bill 2 and the full interim committee report can be viewed online at: www.senate.texas.gov/ptaxrr.
