Local governments in Texas finish their spending plans and set their tax rates in August, an annual exercise that includes some hot topics in this pandemic year, like police spending, public schools and property taxes.
property taxes
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: A surprise accountability test for local politicians
Moving local elections because of the pandemic might seem unremarkable. But it gives voters a rare chance to instantly grade elected officials’ handling of a pandemic and a bad economy, as well as their response to cases of police brutality.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Rising property values — and taxes — during an economic slump
Many Texas property owners are sweating potential increases in their taxes, which are based on property values that don’t reflect a pandemic, an oil price collapse or a slumping economy.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Energy isn’t the whole Texas economy, but it’s a critical piece
This week’s drop in crude oil prices signals trouble for state and local government budgets. Energy isn’t the biggest source of tax money in Texas, but the big one — the sales tax — is already falling.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Coronavirus could threaten local property tax limits
The coronavirus disaster could have a side effect in a seemingly unrelated area: New limits on increases in local property taxes can be suspended when disasters strike. And epidemics, under state law, are disasters.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott on Texas bars and restaurants: Expect an announcement Thursday
“We’re dealing with something … that is not just statewide in scope, not just nationwide in scope, but is worldwide in scope,” Abbott said.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Most Texans want lower property taxes and more school spending, UT/TT Poll finds
It’s not a new contradiction, but it’s persistent: Texas voters think that property taxes are too high and that school spending is too low, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
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Public Education
Analyzing 2019: The 86th Texas Legislature
Texas lawmakers, convinced that 2018’s voters were telling them to get some serious work done, steered (mostly) away from social and cultural issues to concentrate on “meat and potatoes” items voters demanded, starting with schools and property taxes.
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State Government
Analysis: Almost nothing in Texas government has unanimous consent
State officials say local governments shouldn’t use taxpayer funds for things some taxpayers don’t support. That describes just about everything government does.
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2019 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Texas 2019 constitutional amendment election results
Texas voters approved nine amendments to the state constitution, including a proposal making it harder to enact a personal income tax. One amendment was rejected.
