BULLARD, Texas (KWTX) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday promoted a “taxpayer empowerment” plan he says would rein in local government tax hikes and deliver long-term property tax relief, including new voter-approval requirements for proposed increases.
“Every Texan wants lower property taxes,” Abbott said at an event in Bullard. “This plan gives Texans the power to make that a reality.”
Abbott was joined by Sen. Bryan Hughes and Reps. Daniel Alders, Jay Dean, Cody Harris, Cole Hefner and Joanne Shofner, along with Americans for Prosperity Texas State Director Genevieve Collins.
Abbott argued that rising appraisals and local tax increases are wiping out savings for homeowners, despite what his campaign materials describe as $51 billion in property tax relief delivered this legislative session.
Under Abbott’s five-point plan, local governments would face standardized spending limits. The proposal calls for capping local spending growth at population plus inflation or 3.5% — whichever is lower.
The plan would also require two-thirds voter approval for local property tax increases before they could take effect, shifting final say on tax hikes from local governing bodies to voters.
A third piece would expand taxpayers’ ability to force elections to reduce tax rates. The plan says if 15% of registered voters in a local area sign a petition, they could trigger a rollback election to lower rates.
Abbott’s proposal also targets the property appraisal system. It calls for appraising properties once every five years and lowering the homestead appraisal growth cap from 10% to 3%. The plan would also extend that 3% cap to all properties, which Abbott says would also help renters and businesses by limiting cost growth that can be passed along.
Finally, Abbott’s plan would ask voters to decide — through a constitutional amendment — whether to eliminate school district property taxes for homeowners, arguing school taxes make up the largest share of many Texans’ property tax bills.
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