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Katy Citizen Watchdog$ |
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We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money. |
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Taxpayer Group Calls For Property Tax Commission |
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Back To Watchdog Archives (“In The News”) AUSTIN – Today the taxpayer advocacy group Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Texas (AFPF-TX) called on Governor Rick Perry to appoint a commission to study out-of-control property taxes in Texas. “Taxpayers across the state are outraged. People are losing their homes as rates and appraisals are increasing beyond homeowners’ ability to pay. Property tax levies across the State of Texas grew an astounding 83.9% from 1996 to 2004. Texas taxpayers deserve property tax relief,” said AFPF-Texas director Peggy Venable. Also signing the letter to Gov. Perry is Houston businessman Ben Streusand. “Taxpayers across the state are complaining about the arbitrary and capricious manner in which property values are assessed and about the subsequent growth of government,” Streusand said. Streusand, who is Chairman of the AFP-TX and AFP-TX Foundation Texas Advisory Committee, said “The current system, which taxes unrealized gain and equity, represents money which never gets to taxpayers’ pocketbooks.” AFPF-TX called on the Governor to protect Texas taxpayers and help more Texans realize the American dream of owning and affording a home. According to the Tax Foundation, Texas property taxes are 13th highest in the nation and according to the US Census Bureau, Texas ranks 45th in home ownership. “We are hopeful that the Governor will take action to protect Texas taxpayers,” said Streusand. The proposed Commission would review the current system and make recommendations to the legislature on how to protect taxpayers. Venable and Streusand stated that taxpayers have no direct control over the process. They called for taxpayer protections which provide some certainty in their property tax payments as well as some control over the growth of government “Local governments are out of control,” said Venable. In their letter, AFPF-TX called attention to soaring property appraisals and the surge in sales tax revenues pouring into the local taxing entities. The Comptroller’s office sent $398.3 million in June sales tax allocations to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts, up 15.5% compared to last June. Since January, sales tax allocations to local governments are running 15.4% ahead of last year. “These revenues are fueling the growth of local governments at a level which will not be sustainable, particularly during economic downturns,” said Houston businessman Ben Streusand. According to a recent study by the DC-based CATO institute, Texas local government debt grew from $100 billion in 2000 to a $146 billion in 2004. This debt is largely financed by future taxes. The letter to Governor Perry read: “In the wake of passage of HB 3 and the taxpayer protections placed in HB 2 which provide some limits on school property tax increases in the future, we are hearing that some school districts are asking for appraisal increases this year to ‘make up’ for future limits on appraisal and revenue increases. We also are concerned that cities and counties are already benefiting greatly from the increased sales tax revenues, but their associations -- the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Counties -- have used taxpayer dollars to consistently fight against any taxpayer protections which would allow taxpayers to determine how much additional revenue these taxing entities may receive.” AFPF-Texas joined Texas Speaker of the House Tom Craddick in calling on Governor Perry to appoint a Property Tax Review Commission. AFP-Texas Foundation specifically asked that the Commission review the appraisal process and make recommendations to the legislature on ways to end appraisal creep, provide an equitable system of taxation, address deficiencies in the property tax appraisal system, and overhaul appraisal caps. AFPF-TX also asked that the Commission be predominantly made up of members who represent “citizens” or “residential homeowners.” The taxpayer group supports appraisal reform and reform of the current tax and expenditure limitation in the state constitution, as well as expenditure reform at the local level. The group supports a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) which will allow government to grown in proportion to increases in population and inflation. Any growth beyond that will require taxpayer approval. Americans for Prosperity and AFP Foundation Phone: 512/476-5905; fax: 512/476-5906 Email: pvenable@afptx.org; website: www.americansforprosperity.org
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Peggy Venable, Americans For Prosperity |
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Date: 07/18/2006 |
