Fort Worth Star-Telegram By Eleanor Dearman 5/31/2023
Texas top Republican lawmakers are sparing over cutting property taxes. Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan all agree the reductions are needed, especially given Texas’ nearly $33 billion budget surplus, but Patrick and Phelan for months have had different ideas on the best way to deliver.
The House and Senate didn’t come to an agreement by the end of the day Monday when both chambers adjourned their regular sessions, but the lawmakers were warned to stay close: A special session was coming.
Just hours later, Abbott called what is expected to be the first of several special sessions during which lawmakers take up policy areas of the governor’s choosing. It began immediately, and by the end of Tuesday, both chambers had acted fast and passed their tax cut proposals.
The House went a step further when it adjourned without taking up the Senate’s proposal and with their bill now in the upper chamber.
So what’s proposed?
What is Gov. Abbott asking for?
Over the past several months, Patrick has called for increasing the homestead exemption, while Phelan has favored lowering the state’s appraisal cap for all properties. Abbott has called for property tax cut, but for the most part, hadn’t weighed in publicly on which plan he preferred.
But Abbott’s preference for the delivery of property tax cuts came into focus on Monday night when he called lawmakers back to Austin to make tax cuts and told them specifically how he wants the savings done.
Lawmakers should pass “legislation to cut property-tax rates solely by reducing the school district maximum compressed tax,” he said in his special session proclamation. That means directing state dollars to school districts to lower their property tax rates, which are set locally.
More:
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article275946821.html
