Don Huffines, a Republican candidate for governor, said he will curb state spending and eliminate property taxes for homeowners.

According to a report from the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, the state budget has increased by 19%, or $32 billion, since Gov. Greg Abbott was elected. Although the population only increased by 5.4% during that time period, local debt increased by 19% and property tax collection increased by 28%.

“Fiscal responsibility is one of the core tenets of our Republican platform, yet Greg Abbott has allowed our state budget to skyrocket by 19%,” Huffines said. “When I was in the state Senate, I was the only senator in history never to accept a single penny from the federal government – not a single paycheck, pension or per diem. That’s how much I believe in cutting government spending. As governor, I will bring that same commitment to fiscal conservatism back to Texas."

The cost of owning a home is also something Huffines would take aim at, specifically property taxes. The average cost of a home in Texas is $172,500, according to Rocket Mortgage, and the property taxes on that home is $3,907. Out of all 50 states and Washington D.C., Texas has the 45th-highest property taxes.

Huffines said that if he is elected, he will phase out the property tax and put a stronger cap on state spending and, according to his website, would "then prioritize our budget to ensure that public schools are fully funded."

"Texans have some of the highest property taxes in the nation, and they go up every year," he says on his website. "Property taxes force homeowners to make unending payments, much like rent, to the government or face being kicked off their own property. It’s unacceptable that someone can spend three decades paying off a house and then lose it during retirement due to skyrocketing property taxes."