As fast as state lawmakers try to cut property taxes, local governments are trying to raise them. Just weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new package of property tax relief passed by this year's legislature, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is proposing a new tax hike. Hidalgo wants a 1-cent property tax increase (which would add $10 per $100,000 in property value) to fund early childhood education programs. Hidalgo plans to present the plan at Commissioners Court next month, and if passed there it would go before county voters in November.
Houston State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who has championed property tax reform for years, says this plan would be another complete waste of tax money by Lina and Co. "The state is already doing this," he tells KTRH. "We've spent more than 8.5 billion dollars putting money into the public education system, including Pre-K. Counties shouldn't be in this business, they should be concentrating on what they're supposed to do and not try to get into public education."
Hidalgo's latest tax grab comes one year after she and fellow Democrats on Commissioners Court raised property taxes significantly in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl and the derecho storm (the advertised tax hike was 8% but it was actually closer to 15%). Bettencourt sponsored a bill closing the loophole in state law that allowed last year's tax hike. "Unfortunately, (Hidalgo) keeps trying to invent ways to raise property taxes, and the answer should be no," he says.
"I hope Commissioners Court realizes they shouldn't be in this business," he continues. "It's time to stop these tax and spend increases that are coming out of Harris County Commissioners Court."
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