Is It Really Property Tax Reform?

The AP via News8Austin: Property tax relief bills run the gamut

House Joint Resolution 35 by Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston: Amends the Texas Constitution to decrease the amount property tax appraisals can increase annually from 10 percent to five percent and extends the cap to all property. Changes to the bill were expected to exempt city and county tax appraisals and commercial property from the lower cap.

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House Bill 1006 by Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock: Limits the amount of increase in property tax revenue a city or county can take in each year. Allows no more than 3 percent growth in revenue annually. Higher growth would trigger an automatic local election, allowing voters to reverse tax increases.

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Senate Joint Resolution Four by Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston: Amends the Texas Constitution to decrease the amount property taxes can increase annually from ten percent to five percent, allowing local governments to opt out of the lower cap.

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Institutes a five percent cap on property tax appraisal growth annually but allows local governing bodies to opt out of the cap. Cities and counties that opt out would be required to appraise property at market value.

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Limits the amount of increase in property tax revenue a city or county can take in each year. Allows no more than five percent growth in revenue annually. Higher growth would trigger an automatic local election, allowing voters to reverse tax increases.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press, All rights reserved.

This isn't reform. This is plugging the dam with silly straws.

Posted by Drizzten at April 13, 2005 04:50 PM