Comments on: Texas Property Tax ‘Reform’ – Where’s the Beef?

By: 'Doc'

'Doc' — Mon, 14 May 2007 00:49:18 +0000

I organized a website to start a Prop 13 California style tax reform here in Texas. A mysterious individual showed up begging for the website name saying he was going to wage war against the tax people, I ‘gave in’ and relenquished the site and name, it’s now been 6 months and the website is not up and running as was promised! I believe “they” just wanted the name to get it off the internet. (“they” – you know who “they” are)
Anyway, I later found out that Texas government denies Texan’s the right to an Initiative & Referendum process, that which is necessary to garner voters signatures by petition and get tax relief on the ballot.
My tax assessments just went up $14k on one house and $20K on another house, everybody knows the tax people are just raising the assessments to make up for lost revenue due to the Texas Supreme Courts decision.

In view of the aforementioned, I’m planning on organizing a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against the Tax Assessors office seeking property tax relief… at the very least one’s taxes shouldn’t increase as long as you live in your house. Who cares if your neighbor’s house goes up and they sell to make the profit, you live in your home the taxes should stay the same until you cash out!

By: J.H. Chrysler

J.H. Chrysler — Sun, 14 May 2006 20:07:27 +0000

It’s really too bad they can’t get a grip on this issue. My family was giving some thought to relocating to Austin from Phoneix until I discovered how high the property taxes were there. I am not alone…I’ve read plenty of forums with other potential residents saying the same thing. Texas is simply biting off it’s own foot when you consider how much new economy growth they are preventing because of it. We’re keeping an eye on it to see if they wake up, at very least they are aware of the problem and are at least making some steps toward change. Until a legitimate plan that makes sense comes around, we are staying put. Seems like lowering property taxes dramatically (around 1% would be what I would call fair and reasonable) while adding a state income tax would solve this problem and distribute the burden of the services that money provides fairly. Not just making smokers and home owners pay all the states debts.

By: Steve Crossland

Steve Crossland — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 00:47:40 +0000

Thanks Tom. Sure enough, in today’s (April 21) Austin Statesman, they quote the 33% number again on page A8, 4th column, second paragraph – “…Perry’s plan, which Craddick endorsed, would pay for one-third cut in school property taxes …”

The fact is, nobody in Texas is going to see a one-third cut in propetry tax dollars paid, so I wish they’d quit saying “one-third”. It’s a misrepresentation in terms of how the average citizen thinks, which is that their total ‘property tax bill’ will be cut by one third, which isn’t the case.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 13:51:49 +0000

Steve – you are so on top of this. Thanks for the facts and the clarfication.

I’ve been noticing how inaccurate and I assume lazy much of the reporting is on TV.

Bloggers have their place in reporting too! Thanks for your perspective.

Tom