Property tax cuts and appraisal caps have been big issues in Texas. They were, in fact, a major issue in Dan PatrickÂ’s stunning SD7 victory in the 4-way race for the GOP nomination. But will they be part of Governor Rick PerryÂ’s proposal for the special session on education that begins in a week?

For the fifth time in two years, Gov. Rick Perry is asking legislators to cut school property taxes, but something is missing, so far, in his election-year effort to keep a 2002 campaign pledge.

Facing a Texas Supreme Court order and a June 1 deadline to fix the school funding system, Perry isn't proposing lower limits on how homes are appraised, or valued, for tax purposes, a key factor in escalating property taxes.

In recent years, the governor repeatedly had called for lower appraisal caps or revenue limits on local governments, arguing that without them reductions in property tax rates soon would be eroded by rising property values.

He says he still supports the caps but doesn't want legislators, when they convene April 17, to be distracted by other controversies until they address the court order, which doesn't require action on property appraisals.

Appraisal limits may be debated anyway, with the possibility that Perry eventually will add them to the session's agenda, and they may be more controversial than ever.

I’ll say it flat-out – failure to include them in the proposal, and failure to aggressively seek to have them put in place, will get this broken-glass Republican voter thinking Kinky thoughts on election day in November. Is that clear, Governor Perry?

Posted by: Greg at 09:28 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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