I am increasingly disappointed by government and organization opposition to Senate Bill 2 (Texas Property Tax Reform and Relief Act) filed by Senators Bettencourt, Creighton, Hancock and Taylor (Van). Disappointment blossomed into outrage upon discovery that my school district is pursuing hiring uncertified teachers and is constructing a new boardroom, my city aims to build dog parks (in a city where the average lot is over half an acre), my county has spent a million dollars on a single lawsuit, and the drainage district isn’t really accomplishing its mission to reduce flooding.
When President Kennedy challenged us to, “…ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country…” I do not believe he intended that we provide unbridled access to our bank accounts, yet that is what appears to be occurring at the local level. The growing government opposition to SB 2 is an example of that with local officials aligning themselves against an effort designed to establish automatic controls over tax increases – necessary because of governmental effort to do all they can – not only what they should.
Property taxes in Texas have been out of control for decades thanks to ever increasing property values. Many governments held the line on tax increases but have enjoyed the additional income resulting from a growing tax base. In hearing after hearing across Texas last year, anxious and anguished taxpayers begged the Senate Select Committee on Appraisal Reform to do something. SB2 was filed in response.
The bone of contention by governments arises from a mandatory limit on revenue to 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} above the prior year (plus debt) with an automatic election if revenues increase beyond that limit. This is necessary, in large part, because of the myriad dates and times local governments meet to discuss taxes and spending. Citizens do not have time to babysit local government actions thus automatic controls when taxes are involved – a blessing for Texas families.
Personally, I believe 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} is a pretty good pay increase, certainly more than most receive. Add to that the government “savings accounts” – funds held in “reserve” – that often accumulate from underestimation of revenue year-after-year-after-year. I am thrilled my government is solid because of robust savings but my reserves for three to four months of expenses plus three to four months of debt was drained to create this for them. While we tightened our belts, government tightened the noose and weighed us down with unreasonable tax burdens.
So, taxpayers unite! The time has arrived to stand together against out of control government spending. Local governments will use your money to fight for their right to tax without forced limit and accountability. It takes minutes a day to communicate online with your legislators (find them at www.capitol.state.tx.us), to post on Facebook, Pinterest or Nextdoor. Pick up the phone and call your State Rep and Senate office. Voice your opinion because government special interest will be voicing theirs as tax reform is hotly debated in the Texas Capitol this spring.
If the lady’s school district is already hiring uncertified teachers, she doesn’t explain how restricting their revenue will enable them to do better.
That’s easy – we have a draft that allows ISDs to assess and collect their own taxes but not if the cost is more than what the county tax or appraisal district office would do it for. It would save over $100,000 in my very own ISD.
Talk to some of the state reps and senators in Austin about this woman. Instead of managing her office and seeing to her Constitutionally elected duties, she spends most of her time running around the state capital harassing lawmakers and throwing temper tantrums in the hallways. She’s a joke.
Say what you will but there are also many who appreciate help when fighting for lower taxes themselves! And, by the way, I work 40-60 hours per week performing my Constitutionally required duties, being active in my communities AND running around the Capitol! I have never harassed a lawmaker that didn’t need to be harassed!
And – at least I say would I am – who is We the People?
Let us start with the federal government an additional 1 trillion a year for the next 10 years, plus the 20 trillion already in debt.
Why not do both?
Feds first, the debt is larger. But both is okay if both is truly what you mean.
This lady got kicked out of her own Tax Assessor Association. The last thing we need is her driving any kind of agenda. And for the record, The Dallas Morning News ran a story on Monday saying Bettencourt’s numbers had “…no factual basis…”
“For the record” I would take Paul Bettencourt’s numbers over the numbers or opinion of any news organization in the US. Without question. As for the fact that Ms. Johnson “got kicked out” of the Tax Assessor Association. . why is that a bad thing?
For the record, others publicly disputing Bettencourt’s alternative facts include the Conference of Urban Counties, Texas Association of Counties, the mayors of Frisco, Arlington and most of the largest cities in Texas (not sure about El Paso), the Texas Municipal League and economists with the Center for Public Policy Priorities.
On the other side, we have a state senator who makes a living as owner of a company that challenges tax appraisals and who quit his elected job as Harris County Tax Assessor LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER BEING REELECTED.
So, we have on one side a group of people who have a vested interest in making sure that tax revenues stay as large as possible and continue to grow as quickly as possible, and on the other side a guy who’s made a career of making sure that taxpayers get to pay as little as possible.
And you’re gonna go with the high taxes, screw the taxpayer crowd. Well, that makes sense.
I’m kind of new to politics in Galveston County, but Cheryl is pretty well known as a train wreck. She sued the state of Texas for MORE regulation, and claims she’s a Republican. I’m ready for her to retire and stop using a 20 year old picture…..