Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) and members of the Texas Democratic Congressional delegation called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to suspend any raises, interest, and penalties on Texas property taxes for the current taxable year.
“Texans are facing an unprecedented crisis due to the coronavirus,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “We implore Governor Abbott to offer hardworking Texans a financial reprieve during this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.”
“Freezing all raises, interest, and penalties on property taxes for the year would bring much-needed relief to property owners across our great state,” said Congressman Vela. “My undersigned colleagues and I are committed to doing what we can to help ease the burden the coronavirus pandemic has placed on Texans’ lives, and I hope that Governor Abbott recognizes the urgency and importance of granting our request.”
“Texas families and small businesses are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Freezing property taxes this year will ease costs for our constituents while reserving sufficient resources for frontline services that are critical in Texas. As a member of the Bipartisan White House Task Force, I am committed to fighting for working families and small businesses as we move towards long-term economic growth throughout the Lone Star State. I would like to thank my colleagues in the Texas Delegation for their hard work alleviating burdensome financial obligations for our constituents during this crisis.”
In the letter, Congressman Gonzalez was joined by other Members of Congress from the Texas Delegation: Congresswomen Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) and Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Colin Allred(TX-32), Marc Veasey (TX-33), and Filemon Vela (TX-34).
The lawmakers wrote:
“Property taxes, more than any other source, provide the most tax dollars for local services in Texas. We are well aware that those funds are put to good use for public schools, libraries, playgrounds, city streets, county roads, police, fire protection, emergency medical service, and many other important services.
However, today there is no greater need than taking care of the hard working people of Texas and assuring our business community survives and continues to thrive after this pandemic is over.
It is, therefore, essential that we lessen the burden on those we serve to the extent that we can. Today, the undersigned members of the Texas Congressional Delegation ask you and the Texas State Legislature to suspend any raises, interest, and penalties on Texas property taxes for the current taxable year. Additionally, the last thing our fellow Texans need is a change in property appraisals leading to an increase in property taxes.”
The full letter is available here and below:
May 13, 2020
The Honorable Greg Abbott
Office of the Governor-State of Texas
P.O. Box 1248
Austin, TX 78711-2428
Dear Governor Abbott,
The State of Texas is in a time of crisis and we cannot abandon our Lone Star State. Government is asking citizens and the businesses that employ them to tighten their belts and accept losses. We are also asking working families in Texas to do more with less. We, as public servants, must look for ways to ensure Texans can save some money in order to use it for other much-needed purposes at this critical time.
Property taxes, more than any other source, provide the most tax dollars for local services in Texas. We are well aware that those funds are put to good use for public schools, libraries, playgrounds, city streets, county roads, police, fire protection, emergency medical service and many other important services.
However, today there is no greater need than taking care of the hard working people of Texas and assuring our business community survives and continues to thrive after this pandemic is over.
It is, therefore, essential that we lessen the burden on those we serve to the extent that we can. Today, the undersigned members of the Texas Congressional Delegation ask you and the Texas State Legislature to suspend any raises, interest and penalties on Texas property taxes for the current taxable year. Additionally, the last thing our fellow Texans need is a change in property appraisals leading to an increase in property taxes.
We all believe in raising property taxes when times are good, and property values have indeed increased. However, we are living in an unprecedented and challenging time, and increasing this burden on our people is the wrong path forward. Our economy is hurting and we, as a people, need time to recover from our losses.
This simple relief will allow our fellow Texans to pay the same amount of property taxes they paid when times were good, while at the same time continue to provide the budgetary support to those essential services that are funded by property tax dollars throughout the state.
As we all prepare to adapt to the new normal that we will face on the other side of this crisis, we urge you to take action on this important matter today. Freezing property tax values in this time of crisis is a Texas value. We urge your immediate action on this issue and look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Vicente Gonzalez
Member of Congress
Henry Cuellar
Member of Congress
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Member of Congress
Marc Veasey
Member of Congress
Colin Allred
Member of Congress
Veronica Escobar
Member of Congress
Lizzie Fletcher
Member of Congress
Sheila Jackson Lee
Member of Congress
Filemon Vela
Member of Congress
Sylvia R. Garcia
Member of Congress
 and members of the Texas Democratic Congressional delegation called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to suspend any raises, interest and penalties on Texas property taxes for the current taxable year.){kind=link}