By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX – "All you over-taxed Texans, thanks for being here," said Gov. Rick Perry today at rally at the state capitol in support of his Educational Excellence and Property Tax Relief plan.
A couple of hundred supporters, most from taxpayer organization Citizens to Lower Our Unfair Taxes (CLOUT), waved posters and chanted "Three, three, three" as the governor laid out the property tax reduction portion of his proposal that would cap residential property tax appraisals at three percent.
"The days of taxation by valuation are over," said Perry.
The governor said his plan will not only lower residential property taxes by an average of 17 percent, but will also give Texans appraisal relief. His plan would limit property tax revenues for governing entities to inflation plus population growth, a proposal that has brought groans from most cities across the state.
"If local governments want more tax dollars to keep up with inflation and population growth," said Perry, "they should ask the people. You were smart enough to elect them. I think you're smart enough to give them a little advice if they should bust the cap."
Perry said government would be wise to remember, "Taxpayers are more than the source of tax dollars."
Stressing "cut, cap and control" as a way to stop skyrocketing property tax bills for Texans that are "pricing people out of the American dream - home ownership," Perry also promised the crowd, "I can assure Texans that as long as I am their governor, we will never have a personal income tax in this state."
Perry said he will fight for his tax relief and education proposal, noting the only two special interests he cares about are "the school children of the state of Texas and the taxpayers of this state."
The governor said his plan will provide tax relief for businesses; dedicate two-thirds of any state surplus to further reduce property taxes and increase education funding; make education spending more equitable; provide $2.5 billion more for education including results-based incentives; curb rising property appraisal values; control property taxes so taxpayers can see "real tax relief instead of a tax charade;" and end the Robin Hood system of public school finance "forever." He said his proposal will do all that while "continuing to foster and enhance" the state's business climate.
Perry said his plan will ensure "more education for our money and not more money for education."
Joining in support of Perry at the rally were State Reps. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston), Elizabeth Ames Jones (R-San Antonio) and Mike Krusee (R-Round Rock). Bohac told the crowd property tax relief is a must for Texans. "We can't allow the home you can afford today to become the house you are taxed out of tomorrow," he said.
Ed Hendee, executive director of CLOUT, told GalleryWatch that more than 130 members of his organization came by bus from Houston to Austin today for the rally and were joined by other CLOUT members from Bexar and Travis counties. CLOUT is a statewide taxpayer organization with more than 14,000 members that supports property tax relief.
He said the property tax crisis is not just a Houston problem, but a "statewide issue." In Houston alone, said Hardee, property taxes on some homes were 89 percent higher in 2003 than they were in 1996.
Hardee said CLOUT supports capping the rate of property appraisal increases. While the legislature has previously set a cap of 10 percent, he said, it has remained at that rate for more than 20 years. "You should not be taxed out of your house," he said.
Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt agreed. He said property taxes in Texas have gone up at an unrealistic pace in the past six years. "Enough is enough," said the Harris County official. "This is not a problem that started in one county, but it will be finished at the state capitol."
Perry has called lawmakers back to Austin on Tuesday, April 20, for the 78th Legislature's Fourth Called Session - addressing public school finance. Perry's plan will undergo scrutiny Monday, April 19, when public testimony will be taken at a hearing of the Joint Committee on Public School Finance.