Replace Property Tax

Understand the Issue

“Replace the property tax system with an alternative other than the income tax and require voter approval to increase the overall tax burden.”

— Republican Party of Texas legislative priority

The Problem

● Property tax is the worst, most immoral method of taxation levied on Texans.

● No homeowner truly owns their property when that ownership is contingent on the payment of a tax.

● Property valuations are rising at a rapid pace and increasing the overall tax burden on homeowners.

The Solution

● Fully remove the property tax.

● The Legislature will choose the method to replace that funding but it must be approved by the voters.

● This other method cannot be an income tax.

What People Are Saying

“Property taxes create a crushing burden on Texans and preclude true property ownership. I look forward to seeing Texas adopt a more equitable consumption tax as a replacement for the property tax.”

James Dickey, Chairman, Republican Party of Texas

“The evidence supports the case for eliminating property taxes and then offsetting them with state revenue; now the political will is needed to enact such a prosperity-generating reform.”

Vance Ginn, Economist, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Talk to Your Community

Are you all in? Share these sample social media posts to start the conversation with your friends. Use the talking points to drive your message home when talking with friends or reporters. Send the sample Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper to spread the word.

Sample Tweets:

● Keep #taxreform moving in Texas! Replace the property tax so we can truly own our homes! #txlege

● I stand for continued #taxreform. Replace the property tax with a fairer system. #txlege

● I stand with #RPT to abolish the immoral property tax. Time for a fairer system. #txlege

Graphics to share:

Messaging:

● Texans do not truly own their homes as long as we have to pay property taxes to keep them. It’s time to abolish property tax and move to a fairer system.

● Consumption-based taxing methods allow people some control over their tax burden because they have the ability to choose what and how much they consume.

● If we enact only a partial reform, taxing rates can still be raised. The solution is to completely abolish and replace the property tax system.

Letter to the Editor:

Here’s a sample letter to the editor that you can customize, personalize, and submit to your local newspaper. An ideal time is when this subject comes up in the news. Be sure to check and follow your paper’s guidelines for length and submission.

The Only Real Solution for Property Taxes: End them.

Property taxes are the worst, most immoral method of taxation levied on Texans, and it’s time that the system be abolished, not merely reformed.

No homeowner truly owns their property when that ownership is contingent on the payment of a tax. Those who hit hard times are unable to rely on the shelter which they have secured for themselves. As Governor Abbott recently stated, we are “reduced to tenants of [our] very own property with taxing authorities playing the role of landlord.”

Reforming the system may help some, but will not cure the problem . If we enact only homestead exemptions and appraisal caps, the tax burden can still increase if a jurisdiction raises the tax rate. Or, a local school district or municipality could be prohibited from increasing the tax rate, the tax burden would still increase if the appraisal district raises property values.

There are much fairer systems with which to replace this funding source. Consumption-based taxing methods allow people some control over their tax burden because they have the ability to choose what and how much they consume.

Considering the crushing burden of current property taxes and the staggering rate at which they have been increasing, this is obviously an urgent problem that needs a real solution fast . I’m glad that the issue is being discussed and I hope it is resolved by abolishing the property tax in favor of a more equitable solution.

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Talk to Your Legislators

Make a Phone Call

It’s easy — find your state representative and senator and their contact info using the resource list on this page. Call their district office and/or their Capitol office. You’ll speak to an office staffer. Tell them you’re a constituent. Tell them what issue interests you and why. Ask what your legislator plans to do to promote the issue.

Visit the Capitol — or your local district office!

When you call, ask for an appointment with your legislator (or alternatively, their chief of staff or legislative director). Or just drop by their district or Capitol office during regular business hours — leave your card or a note with the staffer.

Testify in a Hearing

The year and a half in between legislative sessions is called the “interim” period. During this period, the House and Senate committees hold hearings to study specific issues, or “charges” that are assigned by the Speaker and Lt. Governor.

This year’s interim charges include important items such as health care reform, reducing the tax burden, school choice, Second Amendment rights, and religious freedoms. Many of the charges relate to planks or priorities from the RPT platform.

Although bills cannot be passed since we’re not within an actual legislative session, these interim hearings are the Legislature’s way of reaching out to you for your opinion on important issues. By studying these issues now, our Senators and Representatives can be prepared to pass bills in 2019 that address the specifics you’ll bring to their attention.

Most of these hearings will include a time for public testimony — that’s your chance to make your voice heard.

Resources:

● Texas Legislature Online — http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/ — your resource for committee hearings, bills from current & past legislative sessions, committee membership, and more

● Who Represents Me — www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ — enter your address and find your elected officials

● Texas Tribune Legislative Directory –– www.texastribune.org/directory/ — find phone numbers, office locations, contact info, & social media accounts for all the Texas legislators & other electeds

● Interim Hearing Tracker — www.texasgop.org/85interim/ — see all the current interim charges that relate to RPT platform planks & committee hearing information

● STAT — www.texasgop.org/stat/ — join the Strategic Texas Action Team to receive alerts when your help is needed to promote conservative policy