The governor’s five-point proposal aims to cut property taxes, but opponents warn it could impact public school funding.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott is laying out a new plan he says could help homeowners save money on property taxes, but it’s already drawing criticism.
Over the weekend, Abbott shared details of what he calls a “taxpayer empowerment plan,” arguing some cities raised taxes after the state moved to cut them last year.
In a post on Substack, the governor said he wants to push for major reforms during the next legislative session, and signaled he supports electing lawmakers who back his plan.
The proposal includes five key points:
- Requiring two-thirds voter approval for property tax increases
- Reducing home appraisal increases from 10% to 3%
- Moving property appraisals from yearly to every five years
- Allowing voters to roll back tax increases
- Eliminating school property taxes
Abbott’s campaign also indicated there could be political consequences for lawmakers who oppose the plan.
But the proposal is already facing pushback.
Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative running against Abbott, criticized the idea of eliminating school property taxes, saying it could drain funding from public schools and benefit private entities.
The debate sets the stage for what could be a major issue heading into the next legislative session and the upcoming election.