Tarrant County has taken another step towards giving more money back to taxpayers by increasing the homestead exemption to the maximum allowed by state law. Following the implementation of a 10% homestead exemption last year, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court…

In May, local communities across Texas participated in bond elections that saw approximately 250 bond propositions put to a vote.  These propositions collectively amounted to nearly $15.5 billion in new local debt, a significant financial burden with implications for taxpayers…

Local elections were held last weekend all across the state. There were several important items on the ballot, including several sizable bonds, with almost 250 bond propositions totaling $15.5 billion statewide, as reported by the Texas Policy Research Foundation.   Here’s…

Another election is upon us here in the Lone Star State. This Saturday, May 4th, elections for local officials, bonds, and propositions will be held for communities across Texas. Local elections play a crucial role in day-to-day lives of Texas…

Executive Summary The Problem: The Three-Step Solution Our proposal turns restrained government spending into a direct benefit to those with property in Wyoming and a benefit to those without property who rent or lease. Whether someone has property or rents…

This commentary was originally published at The Dallas Express here. It is being republished with permission from the author. Home “owners” in Dallas and surrounding cities find themselves grappling with the weight of unaffordability as property taxes soar, increasing by $120 million despite…

Texas’ Local Debt Crisis: Unpacking the $461.3 Billion Burden In a startling revelation, the Texas Public Policy Foundation reported a significant surge in Texas’ local debt, now towering at an unprecedented $461.3 billion as of the fiscal year 2023. This…

One of the perhaps most underreported outcomes of last week’s election is the overwhelming success of local bond propositions, especially those that will further increase the already rapidly growing property tax burden on Texas taxpayers. Collectively, Texas voters considered nearly…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…