Local Government
Texas Two Step in Dallas: Property Tax Relief but Excessive Spending by State and Localities
This commentary was originally published at The Center Square here. It is being republished with permission from the author. If you live in Texas, then your property taxes are skyrocketing. This has made housing less affordable, especially for the neediest among…
Property Tax Bills About to Hit Mailboxes
It is that time of year again! When Texas taxpayers are reminded that they, in fact, do NOT own their homes, but rather pay perpetual rent to the government via the property tax. That’s right, soon property tax bills will…
Last Call for Texas Taxpayers: Final Chance to Challenge Rising Taxes and Local Spending
Every year in August and September, Local Governments across the Lone Star State set about the task of proposing and then adopting their tax rates and budgets for the next year. Last month, TFR reminded Texas taxpayers about the impending…
Under Threat: Local Government Preemption Bill Challenged by Liberal Cities in Court
This Friday, the first of September, roughly 800 new laws passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Governor Abbott are going fully or partially into effect for the first time. One of those bills designed to protect Texans from…
By The Numbers: A Look at the Recent Property Tax Rate and Budget Proposals Across Texas
Earlier this month, TFR reminded Texas Taxpayers that the time of local budget setting and property tax rate adoptions was rapidly approaching. Now, just a few weeks later, many major cities and counties across the Lone Star State have put…
Texas Local Governments Must Limit Spending And Eliminate Property Taxes
Overview Debt A recent report by the Texas Bond Review Board notes that Texas’ total outstanding local government debt is $280 billion, resulting in debt per capita of $8,869. This puts Texas’ local debt per capita in third place of…
Unexpected Twist: Dallas Mayor for Fiscal Responsibility?
In the intricate political landscape of Texas politics, more often than not those politicians that claim to be “Republicans” or “conservatives” advocate for fiscally responsible government, lower taxes, and less spending by government entities. Dallas Changing their Playbook? Yet, in…
Get Involved Now! Local Governments to Adopt New Property Tax Rates
Are you a homeowner? A small business owner? Farmer or rancher? Texas property owner of any kind? If you are, then this information is for you! Tax Rates Every year, local governments in Texas set a budget for their operations…
Texas’ Largest Cities Continue to Burden Taxpayers With Debt
The fiscal watchdog organization Truth in Accounting (TIA) recently published its latest Financial State of the Cities Report for 2023. The report analyzed the financial health of the top 75 cities in America. “The report found that 50 cities did…
State Rep. Harrison Files Landmark Property Tax Bills
“Texans can never own their homes and are being taxed out of them. Property taxes are unethical and should be eliminated.” Can you ask for a better quote from an elected lawmaker on property tax reform? This quote is how…
Taxpayer Champion Seeks to Impose a Spending Limit on Local Governments
On Monday, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Taxpayer Champion State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) filed legislation seeking to impose a spending limit for city- and county-level local governments based on the rate of increase for both population and inflation. In…