Property taxes

Most Texans want lower property taxes and more school spending, UT/TT Poll finds

by Ross Ramsey

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. Full Story 

Analyzing 2019: The 86th Texas Legislature

by Ross Ramsey

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. Full Story 

Analysis: Almost nothing in Texas government has unanimous consent

by Ross Ramsey

State officials say local governments shouldn't use taxpayer funds for things some taxpayers don't support. That describes just about everything government does. Full Story 

Texas 2019 constitutional amendment election results

by Carla Astudillo and Stephanie Adeline

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. Full Story 

Analysis: Texas doesn’t have an income tax — and isn’t getting one any time soon

by Ross Ramsey

Lawmakers want voters to replace the current constitutional hurdle to a personal income tax in Texas with a marginally higher one. Think of it as insurance against something that isn't likely to happen anyway. Full Story 

Analysis: Property tax relief in Texas, perhaps — but not right away

by Ross Ramsey

A new state law limits the ability of local governments to raise property taxes without voter approval — but not yet. And some are rushing to get one last big increase. Full Story 

Analysis: What do Texas voters want? Meat and potatoes, apparently. And cleaner elections.

by Ross Ramsey

Texans like the Legislature better now. They're worried about elections. And they have mixed feelings about the country's most prominent politician. Some notes on the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story 

As Texas overhauls schools, property taxes, voters wary, UT/TT Poll says

by Ross Ramsey

Texas lawmakers are boasting about ambitious education and property tax legislation they passed this year, but voters don't appear to be completely sold, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story 

Analysis: The Texas legislative session’s over. Now, all lawmakers have to do is sell it to voters.

by Ross Ramsey

Lawmakers are finished with the regular session and now enter the political season, figuring out how to discuss their work in a narrative voters will find appealing in next year's elections. Full Story 

Are the billions Texas lawmakers committed for schools and lower property taxes sustainable?

by Edgar Walters and Aliyya Swaby

An attempt to raise the sales tax to pay for state leaders' ambitious goals failed, raising questions about long-term effects of the property tax limitations in the school finance bill. Full Story 

“The right man at this point in Texas history”: How Dennis Bonnen led the Texas House

by Cassandra Pollock

Dennis Bonnen gaveled out on Monday with much of the same widespread support in the Texas House that accompanied his unanimous election to the speaker’s gavel in January. Full Story 

Analysis: Do as they say, not as they do

by Ross Ramsey

The Texas Legislature did a lot in the 86th regular session, especially if you judge by their spending. Full Story 

To pass school finance and property tax bills, Texas’ legislative leaders chose cooperation over combativeness

by Cassandra Pollock and Emma Platoff

In the past, personalities got in the way of policy at the Texas Capitol. This year, state leaders refused to let that happen. Full Story 

The property tax reform package is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk

by Shannon Najmabadi

The bill aims to slow rising property tax revenues and make it easier for Texans to understand how their tax bills are determined. The House and Senate both approved it Saturday, and it is expected to soon be sent to Abbott for his signature. Full Story 

Texas House, Senate pass school finance bill mandating teacher raises and cutting taxes

by Aliyya Swaby

The $11.6 billion school finance and property tax reform bill is now poised to head to Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story 

Analysis: Texas legislators had a successful session, but not a historic one

by Ross Ramsey

Lawmakers delivered on their promises of school finance and property tax reforms, agreeing to spend $11.6 billion on a combination of education changes and tax cuts. It's big, but is it really "transformative"? Full Story 

Here's what we know about the Legislature's final property tax reform bill

by Shannon Najmabadi

The final version of the bill is expected to require cities, counties and emergency service districts to hold an election before raising 3.5% more property tax revenue than the previous year. Community colleges and hospital districts would need to do so at 8%. Full Story 

Teacher raises and all-day pre-K: Here's what's in the Texas Legislature's landmark school finance bill

by Aliyya Swaby

The $11.6 billion legislation is on a path to the governor's desk and includes property tax cuts, a hike in per-student funding and money to ease the state's reliance on the "Robin Hood" program. Full Story 

Analysis: Texas lawmakers struggling to find a lovable tax

by Ross Ramsey

Even in a legislative session that began with estimates of a generous increase in state revenue, lawmakers spent a lot of time talking about big, big tax bills — all the way to the end. Full Story 

"People were giving us lip service": Texas cities' legislative efforts have struggled this year

by Shannon Najmabadi

When weighing in on issues like property taxes, the main interest group representing cities has encountered skepticism. Full Story