The Real Root Cause of Texas’ Property Tax Problem

Freddie America
Dec 22, 2025
2 min read

Texans are being told the same thing every year: we need more money.

But the truth is simpler — and more uncomfortable.

Texas does not have a revenue problem. Texas has a spending discipline problem.

How the System Breaks Down

The problem doesn’t start with your local appraisal notice. It starts at the top.

The Legislature writes broad tax and spending laws. The Governor signs them into effect. When spending grows faster than discipline, the State begins to rely on surpluses instead of restraint.

That pressure doesn’t disappear — it rolls downhill.

Local Appraisal Review Boards (ARBs) are then left to enforce those policies. They become the last stop in a system that has already failed to control itself. When values rise aggressively and uniformly across communities, taxpayers — homeowners, seniors, and small businesses — are forced to make up the difference.

This is how a spending problem quietly becomes a tax problem.

Why This Matters

Texas’ Constitution promises equal and uniform taxation. That promise means government must control itself before reaching into your pocket.

When the State fails to discipline spending, ARBs are placed in an impossible position — and families pay the price. Property taxes climb. Fees replace taxes. And working Texans are treated like the fallback plan.

That is not fiscal responsibility. That is system failure.

A Better Way Forward

Real reform starts with accountability: