Whether it is from the Wichita County courthouse and Judge Woody Gossom or Taylor County courthouse and Commissioner Chuck Statler, there are plenty opposed to property tax reform. Both of those men were on the West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association 2019 Resolutions Committee* which expressly opposed any property tax reform measures which gave you more say over tax increases.
Lubbock’s outspoken Mayor Dan Pope and Amarillo’s Mayor Ginger Nelson, among many others, worked hard to keep legislators from passing meaningful property tax reform signing letters which opposed the key elements of the reform.
These anti-taxpayer, pro-big spending local government politicians are joined in their positions by members of the state’s media who have no problem misleading you about what property tax reform does.
These anti-taxpayer, pro-big spending local government politicians are joined in their positions by members of the state’s media who have no problem misleading you about what property tax reform does.
In a Dallas Morning News editorial lamenting how property tax reform will hurt the City of Dallas’ ability to spend more, the editors wrote: “Dallas officials estimate that the Legislature’s actions on property taxes and other revenue sources for cities will reduce available dollars to Dallas by about $9 million in the next fiscal year and possibly more in future budget cycles.”
This claim is a lie.
Property tax reform, as passed by legislators and signed by Governor Abbott, does not reduce revenue to any local government. In fact, it allows them to raise up to 3.5% more revenue off of existing property tax rolls each year without permission from residents. That is about double the rate of inflation at the moment and local governments are free to raise property taxes any amount above 3.5% if the voters they serve agree.
Simply put, any claim that property tax reform reduces the net amount of money local government can raise via property taxes year to year is a lie.
* Members of the committee were: Parmer County Commissioner Kirk Frye – Chairman; Hale County Commissioner Harold King; Hutchinson County Judge Cindy Irwin; Oldham County Judge Don Allred; Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler; Wichita County Judge Woodrow W. “Woody” Gossom Jr.; Yoakum County Commissioner Woody Lindsey.
Media & local politicians openly lie about property tax reform as passed
Lubbock’s outspoken Mayor Dan Pope and Amarillo’s Mayor Ginger Nelson, among many others, worked hard to keep legislators from passing meaningful property tax reform signing letters which opposed the key elements of the reform.
These anti-taxpayer, pro-big spending local government politicians are joined in their positions by members of the state’s media who have no problem misleading you about what property tax reform does.
These anti-taxpayer, pro-big spending local government politicians are joined in their positions by members of the state’s media who have no problem misleading you about what property tax reform does.
In a Dallas Morning News editorial lamenting how property tax reform will hurt the City of Dallas’ ability to spend more, the editors wrote: “Dallas officials estimate that the Legislature’s actions on property taxes and other revenue sources for cities will reduce available dollars to Dallas by about $9 million in the next fiscal year and possibly more in future budget cycles.”
This claim is a lie.
Property tax reform, as passed by legislators and signed by Governor Abbott, does not reduce revenue to any local government. In fact, it allows them to raise up to 3.5% more revenue off of existing property tax rolls each year without permission from residents. That is about double the rate of inflation at the moment and local governments are free to raise property taxes any amount above 3.5% if the voters they serve agree.
Simply put, any claim that property tax reform reduces the net amount of money local government can raise via property taxes year to year is a lie.
* Members of the committee were: Parmer County Commissioner Kirk Frye – Chairman; Hale County Commissioner Harold King; Hutchinson County Judge Cindy Irwin; Oldham County Judge Don Allred; Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler; Wichita County Judge Woodrow W. “Woody” Gossom Jr.; Yoakum County Commissioner Woody Lindsey.