As Texas continue to struggle economically under the weight of government-ordered shutdowns in response to the Chinese coronavirus, calls for meaningful tax relief are becoming increasingly louder and more urgent.
Now a grassroots coalition made up of 226 conservative grassroots political leaders representing 210 unique organizations, precincts, and districts has signed onto a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott with a simple message: “Tax relief is needed NOW to alleviate the burdens on families, empower entrepreneurs, and enable employers to further engineer the economic recovery Texans need, want, and deserve.”
The full letter can be read below.
Dear Governor Abbott:
While infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have fallen far short of dire projections, the still unfolding economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting government-ordered shutdowns have far surpassed the expectations of regular everyday Texans. In other words, the economic harm to Texas families and businesses is inestimable.
Thus far, more than 2 million Texans have been forced out of their jobs. Meanwhile, many of those who have retained jobs have been relegated to lower wages and other declines in income.
Before the pandemic, Texans were already forced to pay for more government than they could afford, with a growing number of homeowners taxed out of their homes due to property taxes. Now, it is time to put Texas taxpayers first. Without immediate reforms, we can only expect these onerous levies to rise due to the economic destruction caused by the government-ordered shutdown.
Homeowners across the state are already receiving appraisals they fear will result in substantially inflated tax bills from their local governments during the pandemic, and business owners struggle even more to pay sales and franchise taxes.
Your focused leadership on meaningful tax relief for all Texans would again convey your concern for the well-being of regular Texans. Tax relief would alleviate the burdens on families, empower entrepreneurs, and enable employers to further engineer the economic recovery Texans need, want, and deserve.
Such relief can be accomplished through increases in the homestead exemption, requiring local taxing jurisdictions to compress their tax rates, and reducing the sales tax and franchise tax. Tax relief must be built to 1) deliver measurable results, 2) benefit every Texas taxpayer, and 3) provide lasting relief for years to come.
Your leadership in a renewed fight for Texas taxpayers would provide a strong boost to Texans who are looking to pull themselves through this crisis and cause the Lone Star State to shine brightly as the premier leader in a post-COVID-19 nation. We ask that you fight for Texans and work to significantly reduce the burden of government on their lives.
Texans deserve relief, and there is no time left to waste.
Sincerely, the undersigned conservative grassroots political opinion leaders.
The full list of signers can be viewed here.
