Why I Am Running For HD 65

Cutting Property Taxes in Texas

Property Taxes have become a real threat to property ownership and must be reigned in, but Constitutionally, the state of Texas is obligated to provide free public schools throughout the state, and a limited government must be funded.

"THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 7. EDUCATION Sec. 1. SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS. A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools."

The State's statutory obligation in regard to schools is one of an equal standard across all areas, and the state currently spends over $50 billion annually on education, of which over $30 billion comes from property taxes. Texas could completely remove the school tax burden on property through an increase in the current state sales tax, and/or by other means. I have heard some express concern that some communities do not have sufficient "sales" to generate an offset, but both Constitutionally and under my plan, the burden to raise the necessary revenues is on the state, not the counties/communities.

Eliminating school taxes removes the big gorilla, but what about other property taxes. The services being provided by individual communities, varies substantially; for example, not all provide water and sewer services. It is not the state's obligation to fund the needs of individual communities. For this reason, I believe individual counties should, by 2/3rds voter approval, decide how they should fund their respective governments and services to their communities.

To the degree that any counties continue to use some form of property tax, no one should be allowed to serve on the appraisal board who also serves on the board of, and/or is employed by any entity that receives property tax funds, or is in any way funded by an entity that receives property tax funds. Further, any increase in the current tax rate should be limited to a combination of inflation and population growth.

WAKE UP AMERICA

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