Good morning,

Can state lawmakers really eliminate property taxes?

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Brandon Waltens

Monday, January 31, 2022

Change your email preferences [[link removed]].

It's no secret that property taxes in the Lone Star State have been soaring for years, causing many Texas homeowners to feel like they can never truly own their homes—only rent them from the government.

Three-quarters of Texans say property taxes are a major burden [[link removed]] for their families. Some are being taxed out of their homes.

Texas' big burden has been recognized nationally as well. In February of last year, WalletHub reported [[link removed]] that the state of Texas had the seventh-highest property tax burden in the United States, coming in lower than Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Illinois, and New Jersey, where the annual taxes paid on a home priced at the state median value was $3,099.

Just one year later, another report from the Tax Foundation has Texas ranked [[link removed]] as the state with the sixth-highest property tax rate, preceded only by Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Illinois, and New Jersey. Republicans have controlled the state Legislature and held every statewide office for nearly two decades. Yet despite campaign promises to the contrary, property tax burdens have increased by 181 percent in that time, quickly outpacing several other states.

The Lower Taxes, Better Texas [[link removed]] plan from the Texas Public Policy Foundation would phase out most property taxes by 2033 by reducing government spending, and then dedicating surplus state revenues to be used in their place.

The TPPF-plan would not create any new taxes to achieve the goal of eliminating property taxes.

The plan has three parts [[link removed]]: Lower state spending to create budget surpluses, use state surpluses to lower local school taxes, and redesign Texas’ tax code so local governments are funded primarily by sales taxes.

In 2021, the Texas Legislature passed a new state spending limit [[link removed]] based on population growth plus inflation—the first step in the TPPF strategy to phase out property taxes.

Under TPPF’s plan, surplus state revenue above the new spending cap would then be used to reduce local school maintenance and operations (M&O) taxes, which are essentially statewide property taxes.

Over time, school operations would be funded by state-generated revenue instead of local districts.

Republican primary voters will have a chance to weigh in with a non-binding proposition on their March 1 ballot. The ballot will offer a specific statement and ask if voters agree (“yes”) or disagree (“no”) with this statement: Texas should eliminate all property taxes within ten (10) years without implementing a state income tax.

Early voting in the primary election begins February 14. Election Day is March 1. 🔒 Donate to Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] Today in History

On January 31, 1940, the first Social Security check was issued by the U.S. Government.

Quote-Unquote

"A just security to property is not afforded by that government, under which unequal taxes oppress one species of property and reward another species."

– James Madison​

Update Your Subscription & Information [[link removed]]

John xxxxxx



[email protected]

Your Federal & State Lawmakers

Click the office to find more contact information.

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

John Cornyn - R

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

Ted Cruz - R

(202) 224-5922

Governor of Texas [[link removed]]

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor [[link removed]]

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

U.S. House [[link removed]], District

Update your address so we can display your congressman [[link removed]] -



Texas Senate [[link removed]], District

Update your address so we can display your state senator [[link removed]] -



Texas House [[link removed]], District

Update your address so we can display your state rep [[link removed]] -



Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

Something not right?

Make sure we have your address right [[link removed]]!

Request A Speaker [[link removed]] A product of Texas Scorecard

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646

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).

This message was originally sent to:

John xxxxxx |

If you ever stop receiving our emails, it might be because someone unintentionally removed you from the list. No worries; it is easy enough to reactivate your subscription immediately on our website.

[link removed]

Before you click the link below... If someone forwarded this email to you, clicking the link will end the subscription of [email protected].

Unsubscribe [link removed]