Texas Property Taxes Aren’t the Problem — Spending Without Consent Is

Every year Texans ask the same question:

Why do my property taxes keep going up even when tax rates are “cut”?

The honest answer is uncomfortable for politicians, but simple for voters to understand.

Texas does not have a property tax problem.

Texas has a spending and consent problem.

Appraisal Inflation Has Replaced Voter Approval

In theory, property appraisals are meant to reflect market value.

In practice, they’ve become a backdoor revenue tool.

When appraisals rise:

• Governments collect more money

• Taxpayers pay more

• No vote is required

That’s not transparency. That’s taxation without consent.

Cutting tax rates doesn’t fix this if total spending is allowed to grow unchecked.

Spending Grows Without Voters Saying Yes

Local governments routinely fund:

• New programs

• New initiatives

• New administrative layers

Most of these were never presented to voters.

Once spending is baked into the budget, appraisal increases quietly fund it year after year. That’s where the pressure comes from — not because Texans suddenly got richer, but because budgets keep expanding.

Real Reform Means Structural Change

If Texas is serious about property tax relief, reform must include:

• Automatic rate compression when appraisals rise

• Mandatory voter approval for new spending categories

• Caps on total budget growth, not just tax rates

• Clear, plain-language tax notices explaining why bills increased

• School funding reform that doesn’t rely almost entirely on homeowners

Without these changes, “tax cuts” are temporary and cosmetic.

The Principle Is Simple

If voters didn’t approve the spending,

they shouldn’t be forced to pay for it.

That’s not radical.

That’s responsible government.

Real affordability comes from discipline, transparency, and respect for the taxpayer — not slogans.