In a win for Tarrant County taxpayers, the Commissioners Court adopted property tax rates that will lower residents’ tax bills.
This is the third consecutive year that the Republican-majority county government has cut property taxes.
In a special meeting on Monday, commissioners voted 3-1 to approve property tax rates for Tarrant County and the county’s JPS Hospital System that are below the no-new-revenue rates.
The no-new-revenue rate collects the same amount of revenue from the same properties taxed the previous year. The rate goes down as property values go up to keep tax bills generally flat.
This year the average homeowner will pay about $516 in county property taxes, a few dollars less than last year, while median-value homestead taxes will go up a few dollars to about $477.
The approved tax rate will generate an estimated $524 million in net property tax revenue, including an additional $18 million from new properties added to the tax rolls this year.
Hospital district taxes will add another $457 to the average tax bill, about $50 less than last year, and generate approximately $491 million in revenue.
Democrat Commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles temporarily blocked approval of the tax cuts. Both missed last week’s meeting that included a vote on the tax rates. Simmons skipped the vote to protest the cuts, which she said would cause county services to suffer. Miles said he was sick.
State law requires a quorum of four commissioners to vote on tax rates.
Simmons was absent again on Monday, while Miles attended but voted against the tax cuts.
Republican Commissioners Matt Krause and Manny Ramirez joined County Judge Tim O’Hare in supporting the tax savings.
“Delivering property tax relief for Tarrant County taxpayers without sacrificing services and making the county more effective and efficient. That’s a win-win for all citizens and conservative governance in action,” Krause posted to social media on Monday.
“When I ran for this seat, I said I would do all I can to keep the county on solid fiscal footing and the best place to live in Texas. Today’s actions accomplished both. Promises made, promises kept,” added Krause.
“Today’s adopted tax rates saved Tarrant County taxpayers nearly $30 million compared to the no-new-revenue rates, providing real relief to families and businesses,” O’Hare wrote in a statement following Monday’s vote.
From the day I took office, I have fought to lower taxes, cut spending, reduce waste, and prioritize public safety. That’s exactly what we’ve accomplished in Tarrant County for the last three years, all while increasing the quality and quantity of county services.
“This is what responsible, efficient government looks like,” concluded O’Hare.
No ads. No paywalls. No government grants. No corporate masters.
Just real news for real Texans.
Support Texas Scorecard to keep it that way!
