Good morning,

Texans deserve a property tax cut, now.

Everyone is tired of politicians’ vague promises about ill-defined property tax “reform.” We’re not impressed by them bragging about slowing the growth of the burden in the future. It’s past time for something real and tangible.

That’s the subject of today’s Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Monday, August 16, 2021

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But First…

SCOTX Keeps Ban on Local Mask Mandates

After a number of school districts, cities, and counties began issuing their own local mask mandates, in defiance of an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott expressly prohibiting the action, the Texas Supreme Court is temporarily upholding Abbott’s prohibition. Brandon Waltens has the initial report [[link removed]].

But some local governments – like the Dallas Independent School District, where classes are getting started – are saying they aren’t bound by Abbott’s order or the Supreme Court ruling. Visit the Texas Scorecard website [[link removed]] throughout the day as the situation develops.

Texas’ Property Tax System Means You Never Actually Own Your Own Home, Farm, Or Ranch

While both the regular session [[link removed]] and first special session of the Texas Legislature ended without even a hint of property tax relief, this latest special session offers taxpayers the best chance for something real in twenty years. And, perhaps, could set the tone for eliminating property taxes in Texas.

Texas has the 6th highest property tax burden in the nation [[link removed]]. Of the nine states without an income tax, Texas still has the second-highest property tax burden (following only New Hampshire).

In a recent poll [[link removed]], 76 percent of registered voters agree property taxes are “a major burden for them and their family,” and an overwhelming 82 percent believe property taxes in Texas are a “serious issue.” Most troubling for incumbents? Of those polled, 71 percent would be upset “if the current legislative session ended with nothing done to address property taxes.”

🚨 Bad News Alert 🚨

The regular legislative session ended [[link removed]] this spring with lawmakers doing nothing to substantively reduce property taxes or move to eliminate the burden.

The first special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott ended with lawmakers doing nothing to substantively reduce property taxes or move to eliminate the burden.

So far in the second special legislative session… well, you can guess.

A 10% Tax Cut Today?

With his own 2022 primary election [[link removed]] heating up, both of Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agendas [[link removed]] have included “property tax relief” from the “available general revenue.”

How much “general revenue” is available, and how much will lawmakers devote? That second question depends on you; we will hit on it momentarily.

As for the first… According to the Office of the Texas Comptroller [[link removed]], approximately $7.85 billion in general state revenues was not expended by lawmakers.

That is a big pile of money [[link removed]] over-collected from your pocket. Legislators should give it back.

For comparison, local governments in 2020 collected approximately $70 billion in property taxes. Of that, approximately $55 billion was collected by school districts.

This means – theoretically – if lawmakers are so inclined, the available $7.85 billion in surplus “GR” dollars could be used to reduce your property tax burden by 10 percent.

…If lawmakers are so inclined... It is up to the taxpayers and voters to “incline” the politicians.

And Then… Keep On Cutting

Given the stronger spending limit [[link removed]] adopted by the legislature earlier this year that will impact future state budgets, surplus revenues will become an enduring feature of the Texas budget.

So, yes, that big pile of money [[link removed]] could be getting bigger and bigger. Your challenge, and the challenge for your fellow taxpayers, is to demand that legislators today develop a mechanism so future surpluses fund relief and property tax elimination.

Lawmakers could dedicate those surpluses [[link removed]] to continuing to cut property tax burdens in future years – eventually eliminating [[link removed]] school property taxes altogether. And if legislators chose to cut spending… well, those property tax reductions could happen even faster.

State Rep. Tom Oliverson [[link removed]] (R–Cypress) has filed legislation [[link removed]] that would do this.

Unless lawmakers act now, under pressure from citizens, that big pile of money will be spent growing government rather than setting a foundation for real property tax relief and elimination.

The way the budget process “works” today, state government spending grows because lawmakers merely have to ask if the state treasury has the cash. Because of that big pile of money, the answer is always “YE$.”

By dedicating budget surpluses to property tax elimination, future state spending will be weighed against giving families ongoing relief.

Citizens Must Speak Out Now

Your legislators must be hearing from their constituents. Find the contact information for members of Texas House [[link removed]] and Senate [[link removed]] in our Directory of Elected Officials [[link removed]]. (Don’t let anyone use “my legislator is a Democrat” as an excuse not to call and write; the legislators don’t pay attention to party labels when spending your money.)

Texas taxpayers deserve to see action now. A report from the Texas Public Policy Foundation shows property taxes have skyrocketed by 181 percent [[link removed]] in the last 20 years. (A period, coincidentally, in which the Texas GOP held every statewide office and commanding majorities in both legislative chambers.)

It is time for 20 years of (misplaced?) trust to be rewarded with an actual reduction in property tax burdens. It’s time for Republicans to deliver on their party’s platform [[link removed]] to “abolish” property taxes.

So, you want to eliminate property taxes? You want real relief? There has never been a better time than now. Your legislators just need to be hearing from you.

Quotes

“Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.”

– John Locke​

“The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property.”

– Karl Marx​

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🔒 Donate to Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] Today in History

On Aug. 16, 1828, the first Irish colony was established in Texas, along the Nueces river.

Number of the Day

8x

At 268,597 square miles, Texas is more than eight times as large as Ireland’s 32,595 square miles.

[Source: atlas; author calculation]

Your State Lawmakers

Click the office to find more contact information.

Governor of Texas [[link removed]]

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor [[link removed]]

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

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Produced by Michael Quinn Sullivan and Brandon Waltens, the Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is delivered weekday mornings (though we'll take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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