Efforts to allow Texans to vote on property tax hikes began as early as 2014 but initially stalled as a result of intense blowback from local governments and their lobbyists. But even these stalled proposals, such as the one now supported by Gov. Abbott, would only slow the growth in taxes if enacted. While they would improve the system, they would not provide net cuts in Texans’ tax bills.
Over the past four years, little progress has been made on reform with no net relief in the tax bills paid, on average. In fact, since 2013, Texas homeowners have been bludgeoned in populated areas of the state. In several areas of North Texas, for example, it’s common to find homeowners who have paid 40 percent increases in city tax bills and 60 percent hikes in school taxes in less than 10 years.
Below we recap the steady — but largely unproductive progress — of property tax reform efforts since State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) made the issue his primary legislative focus and gained traction.
[timeline-express timeline=”History of Property Tax Reform”]
