Harrison files bills to require elections for property tax hikes

AUSTIN – Rep. Brian Harrison filed two bills, HB 2220 and HB 2221, to put taxpayers back in control of their property taxes by requiring elections to raise them.

HB 2220 would require effective tax increases go to the voters for approval.

HB 2221 would require any tax increase that goes to a vote to get a supermajority (60%) of the votes in order to pass.

“Texans can never own their homes and are being taxed out of them. Property taxes are unethical, out of control, and should be eliminated. Until then, any effective tax increase should require an election.

“This will end the dishonest shell game between appraisal districts and local elected officials, who often brag about ‘lowering the tax rate’ after voting for effective tax increases so high they’d make Washington Democrats blush,” stated Harrison.

Under current law, taxing entities are able to raise taxes by a certain percentage, depending on the type of entity, without voter approval. Entities across the state year after year raise taxes to just below that voter approval limit, sometimes by as little as a hundred thousandths decimal point; skirting state law.