Property Taxes in cross hairs in Texas

 Austin Journal:

Recent reports have the state of Texas among the top 10 states with the highest property taxes.

...

The states with the highest median property tax are New Jersey, $8,999; Connecticut, $6,362; New Hampshire, $6,244; New York, $6,103; Illinois, $5,113; Massachusetts, $4,978; Vermont, $4,715; Rhode Island, $4,581; California, $4,536 and Texas, $4,065, according to the report.

The Texas Comptroller's website states that local municipalities decide property taxes and those “taxes provide more tax dollars for local services in Texas than any other source – they help pay for public schools, libraries, playgrounds, city streets, county roads, police, fire protection, emergency medical service and many other services."

The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) recently found that 75% of state residents believe that the taxes are a “major burden for them and their family" with 82% believing it was a critical issue for Texas.

“The way we levy and raise property taxes is not just unsustainable, it is unethical,” said TPPF’s Chief Economist Vance Ginn. “Texans are being forced out of their own homes by insatiable local governments looking to squeeze every dime out of taxpayers. Texans literally can’t afford for the legislature to wait years to address the issue or make small changes to the system. It’s time for bold action. Policymakers now have the opportunity to get it done in the special session.”

...

My property taxes are pretty close to the "Texas median.  To put it into context, on a monthly basis these taxes are more than my monthly mortgage payment was on the first two houses I purchased which included the property taxes.  

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