Texas property tax reform bill fails to limit possible rate increases during disasters, expert says

Gov. Greg Abbott said the state is looking to roll back the ability for cities and counties to raise property tax rates to fund disaster recovery.

Senate Bill 10 seeks to limit the growth of property tax rates after a disaster. One expert argues, however, the bill fails to meaningfully reform the process because it is written too loosely.

If passed, local governments could calculate two voter-approval rates after a disaster is declared by the president or governor: the current formula and an additional, new formula.

KSAT first reported on the bill last week and noted the bill leaves an important part of the formula undefined.

One of the bill’s co-authors, state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, confirmed through her office that no definition of the disaster relief rate exists.

UTS