\n Tarrant County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare speaks alongside Gov. Greg Abbott and Commissioners Manny Ramirez and Matt Krause during a property tax relief event in Fort Worth. | Tim O\u2019Hare\/Facebook <\/p>\n
Tarrant County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare (R-Tarrant County) says the county\u2019s tax and spending reforms have saved families and businesses more than $1.1 billion over four years, a record Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) highlighted in Fort Worth on Aug. 20 while pressing for statewide property tax relief.<\/p>\n
Abbott appeared with O\u2019Hare, Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez (R-Precinct 4) and Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause (R-Precinct 3) to promote his statewide property tax reform program. Tarrant County adopted an Aug. 13 resolution<\/a> endorsing the plan, according to an Aug. 20 release<\/a> from the governor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is very achievable for jurisdictions across the entire state to do exactly what Tarrant County has done,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cAnd that is to cut property taxes while fully funding operations in a robust, growing city like Fort Worth and county like Tarrant County.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Hare details four-year record<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Governor Abbott, for highlighting the work we\u2019ve done reducing property taxes in Tarrant County,\u201d O\u2019Hare wrote in an Aug. 20 post<\/a>.<\/p>\n O\u2019Hare credited three adopted rounds of county and JPS Health Network tax rates below the no-new-revenue level and a proposed fourth, 20% homestead exemptions for both entities and more than $70 million in county operating-budget reductions. He said the combined policies saved families and businesses more than $1.1 billion over four years.<\/p>\n Official county records<\/a> show that Tarrant County and JPS each offer the maximum 20% general homestead exemption. Commissioners increased both exemptions from 10% to 20% in June 2024, as The Dallas Express reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Commissioners cut the fiscal year 2025 budget by more than $50 million after an $8.1 million reduction the previous year, as The Dallas Express documented<\/a>. O\u2019Hare\u2019s latest post places the four-year operating-budget reduction above $70 million.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we set about to go change that and to provide actual property tax relief for Tarrant County residents and businesses,\u201d O\u2019Hare said during the Aug. 20 appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last four years, we have cut both entities\u2019 property tax rates each year below the no-new-revenue rate,\u201d O\u2019Hare said.<\/p>\n \u201cNot one service has been cut. We\u2019ve done it with good fiscal management,\u201d O\u2019Hare said.<\/p>\n Fourth rate cut still awaits final vote<\/p>\n Commissioners adopted a third consecutive round of lower county and hospital district tax rates in September 2025, as The Dallas Express reported<\/a>. The county\u2019s fiscal year 2027 budget<\/a> recommends a county rate of 18.6 cents per $100 of valuation, down from 18.62 cents, and projects $6.4 million less property tax revenue than the prior budget.<\/p>\n Commissioners still must formally approve the proposed county and hospital district rates. Texas taxing entities must set their rates by the September 30 deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n