Amarillo-area Republicans have announced their support for tax relief legislation.
Recently, the Randall County Republican executive committee voted to adopt a resolution supporting House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2 which call for a number of tax relief reforms, the chief being a reduction in the property tax rollback rate from 8 percent to 2.5 percent. That means that if a local government wanted to raise your taxes above 2.5 percent in a year, they would simply have to ask your approval first.
Precinct chair Andrew Holley said he supported the resolution based on Republican voters’ support for property tax reform legislation.
“Every level of the party, from the primary voters to the people who help craft the platform, have expressed their desires for the items enshrined in the Texas Republican Legislative Priorities to pass in the legislature,” Holley said.
The move comes shortly after Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson signed a letter with several other mayors opposing the 2.5 percent rollback rate. Nelson also testified on the bill, saying she was speaking on behalf of the citizens of Amarillo.
“To be clear, the proposed rollback number of 2.5 percent in the filed version of the bill is not a workable proposal for us … ” Nelson said in her testimony, citing cost drivers in cities.
This vote highlights the continuing debate in Amarillo and across the state between elected officials and voters on the need for property tax reform legislation.
