Texas ranks among the worst states when it comes to property taxes and GOP gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines is seeking to remedy that if he wins the state’s highest office.
“Texas is one of the most prosperous states in the union, with one of the largest economies in the world,” Huffines told the Lone Star Standard. “There is no reason that we need to fund our government by forcing citizens to pay rent for property they own. When I am governor, I will allow the people of Texas to vote on the plan, and we will finally eliminate property taxes in Texas.”
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility recently released a report objecting to the state’s high property tax rates and drafted an initiative that would effectively do away with property taxes.
The article states that Texas' property tax system is "immoral" and proceeds to announce, "The collection of property taxes in Texas is based primarily on both the subjective valuations of appraisal review boards and tax rates established by local taxing entities with almost no feedback from those that are being taxed. It is a system of perpetual rent to the government, ultimately meaning that property owners never truly own their property."
Among the mediums that could replace funding provided by property taxes are sales tax and income tax, according to the article.
Texas has the sixth-highest property tax rate in the country, with only Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Illinois and New Jersey in front of Texas, according to Rocket Mortgage.
According to his website, Huffines, who is against a state income tax to replace property taxes, would give Texans the opportunity to do away with property taxes by a constitutional amendment that calls for dropping state government spending, eliminating wasteful programs and ensuring that "consumption tax swaps are slow and gradual as property taxes fall significantly."
Huffines took Gov. Greg Abbott to task last September for not backing legislation proposed by State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) that would have given "serious, substantial, and lasting tax relief for Texans by using surplus state dollars to buy-down school taxes.”
Huffines, who previously represented Texas' 16th State Senate District, is one of several Republican challengers to Abbott that will face off in the gubernatorial primary on March 1.
