Texas Scorecard by Brandon Waltens May 3, 2019
“I hope we get enough votes to make this a constitutional amendment,†said Patrick.Texas’ “Big Three†state leaders aren’t budging on their support for a sales tax increase, as they begin a sprint to pass a sales tax increase before the end of the legislative session just a few short weeks away.
In a joint press conference Friday afternoon, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen echoed similar remarks they made earlier in the year about the importance of property tax reform.
Abbott talked about the recent passage of Senate Bill 2, property tax reform legislation which passed the House this week, calling it “a landmark reform that alters the punishing property taxes in Texas by limiting the ability of school districts to increase property taxes above a 2.5 percent increase.â€
“But, even with the passage of that law, what it will really achieve is to slow the growth of property taxes in Texas,†he added.
But with all the talk about property tax reform early in the session, Abbott said he was often asked by taxpayers about relief.
“If we are able to pass a sales tax increase that will be dedicated to driving down property taxes, we are going to be able to leave this Capitol and inform our fellow Texans that their property tax bills are going to be less than they were this year,†he argued.
Current proposals put a 1 percent sales tax increase on the November ballot for voter approval, with Bonnen adding he was tired of playing “small ball,†and “that penny will be noticeable.â€
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/abbott-patrick-and-bonnen-sticking-with-sales-tax-increase/