Eliminating School Property Taxes Is Only Path to Guarantee Permanent Property Tax Cuts
July 15, 2024
by the Huffines Liberty Foundation | Commentary
Texas politicians have promised “property tax relief” for decades—three times in the last five years. And failed each time. Many taxpayers saw their property taxes increase this year despite the claims of the “largest property tax cut in history” emanating from Austin.
Even those taxpayers who received some relief this year will see their taxes go back up next year. The reason for this is twofold. First, the state does not rely enough on compression to lower the taxes. Second, the state does not do anything to stop schools and local governments from continuing to raise property taxes.
Eliminating School M&O Property Taxes Is Only Path to Guarantee Permanent Property Tax Cuts
Legislators must stop picking winners and losers on property tax relief and slapping a band-aid on the problem.
The following Q&A explains why the only path to long-lasting property tax relief is through compression and placing stricter limits on property tax increases.
What is compression?
Why aren’t existing limits on property tax increases working?
What happened to this year’s property tax cut?
Why is compression better than increasing the homestead exemption?
Will Texas have to increase other taxes or decrease school funding?
The Huffines Liberty Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan research institute. Our mission is to advance the cause of liberty, prosperity, and virtue in the State of Texas by educating and equipping citizens so they may hold their elected officials accountable and better informed to tackle the toughest challenges.