Will Texas Lawmakers Get Rid Of Property Taxes Any Time Soon?

During the previous Legislative session, Texas lawmakers approved a massive property tax cut. While lawmakers celebrated the cut, others wanted more. Not just a cut to property taxes, but some Republican lawmakers and voters want to get rid of property taxes completely.

So it that idea possible? Can Texas lawmakers really get rid of property taxes in Texas? If so, how much would it cost and how soon could it happen?

Will Texas Lawmakers Eliminate Property Taxes?

In short? Don't bet on it happening at all.

According to Texas State Senators would have been tasked with directing that state's budget who gathered together on Wednesday, it would cost Texas $81 billion dollars per year minimum to eliminate property taxes. According to KXAN, that means the legislature would have to cut nearly twice the amount of "discretionary spending" or find other ways of making up that money. One example? Raising the sales tax to at least 22%.

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Two conservative State Senators pretty much poured cold water on eliminating property taxes. State Senator Paul Bettencourt said that the impact on sales taxes would force Texas consumers to travels to other states to buy goods according to KXAN.

He’s hoping to continue his efforts to keep property taxes at bay through a mix of buying down local taxes, increasing homestead exemptions, and limits on local tax rate increases, and

“You have to set up something sustainable. And when we look at these changes, we have to not only pay for it now, but in the future,” he said.

So is the fight over cutting property taxes done? Not at all. In fact, Governor Abbott has said he wants to continue cutting property taxes and wants to get rid of the school property tax rate.

The issue is sure to come up in the next legislative session.